Conjunctions

Conjunctions — also called connectors, linkers, or connectives — are the words that join ideas together in English. Whether you are connecting two words, two phrases, or two entire clauses, you need a conjunction to show the relationship between them. Mastering conjunctions and linking words is essential for building natural, well-connected sentences — from simple A1 structures to advanced B2 writing.

There are 3 types of conjunctions and 8 relationships they express:

Type	What it does	Examples
Coordinating	Joins equal elements (word + word, clause + clause)	and, but, or, so, because
Subordinating	Joins a dependent clause to a main clause	when, although, because, unless
Correlative	Works in pairs to connect balanced elements	both...and, either...or, neither...nor

Relationship	Question it answers	Key conjunctions
Addition	What else?	and, both...and, not only...but also
Contrast	What's different/surprising?	but, although, even though, whereas
Reason	Why?	because, since, as
Result	What happened next?	so
Time	When?	when, while, before, after, until, as soon as
Condition	Under what circumstances?	if, unless, as long as, provided that
Purpose	What for?	so that, in order that
Choice	Which one?	or, either...or, neither...nor

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to choose the right conjunction for each relationship — starting with the five essential coordinating conjunctions at A1 level and progressing to advanced conditional and purpose conjunctions at B2.

Coordinating Conjunctions: And, But, Or, So, Because

Coordinating conjunctions join equal grammatical elements — two words, two phrases, or two independent clauses. At A1 level, you need five essential coordinating conjunctions.

Memory aid — FANBOYS: English has seven coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. At this level, focus on four of them — and, but, or, so — plus because, which is technically a subordinating conjunction but is introduced here because of its close relationship with so (reason ↔ result).

Conjunction	Function	Example
and	Adds information	I like coffee and tea.
but	Shows contrast	He is rich, but he isn't happy.
or	Gives alternatives	Would you like juice or water?
so	Introduces a result	She was tired, so she went to bed early.
because	Gives a reason	He studied hard because he wanted to pass.

And — Adding Information

Use and to connect similar ideas, list items, or add information.

She speaks French and German fluently.
I bought bread, cheese, and a bottle of milk.
The children were excited and happy on Christmas morning.

But — Showing Contrast

Use but to introduce something unexpected or different.

The film was long, but it was really interesting.
She can play the piano, but she can't play the guitar.
I called her, but she didn't answer the phone.

Or — Offering Choices

Use or to present alternatives. It can also mean "otherwise" in warnings.

Is your sister older or younger than you?
We can go to the park or stay at home.
Hurry up, or you'll miss the bus! (= otherwise)

Because & So — The Reason-Result Trap

⚠️ Error Zone — This is the #1 mistake at A1 level.

Because introduces the REASON (answers "why?"). So introduces the RESULT (answers "what happened next?").

They point in opposite directions in a sentence:

Direction Example

because Result ← Reason She stayed home because she had a cold.

so Reason → Result She had a cold, so she stayed home.

Quick test: Cover the conjunction. Does the blank introduce WHY something happened? → because. Does it introduce WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? → so.

It was raining, ___ we took an umbrella. → Result → so

We took an umbrella ___ it was raining. → Reason → because

	Direction	Example
because	Result ← Reason	She stayed home because she had a cold.
so	Reason → Result	She had a cold, so she stayed home.

Comma Rules with Coordinating Conjunctions

Two clauses: Use a comma before the conjunction — I was hungry*,** so I made a sandwich.*
Two words or phrases: No comma needed — I like coffee and tea.
Lists of three or more: Comma before the last "and" is optional — bread, cheese*,** and milk.*

👉 Practice Coordinating Conjunctions →

Subordinating Conjunctions: Time & Reason

Subordinating conjunctions join a dependent clause (incomplete idea) to a main clause (complete idea). The dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Time Conjunctions

Conjunction	Meaning	Example
when	At the moment that	When it started raining, we ran inside.
while	During the time that	She was reading while her brother was playing.
before	Earlier than	I always have breakfast before I go to work.
after	Later than	We went for a walk after we had finished lunch.
until	Up to the point when	Please wait here until I come back.
as soon as	Immediately when	I'll call you as soon as I arrive.

For a deeper look at time clauses, tense rules, and the "no future after time conjunctions" rule, see Time Clauses.

Reason Conjunctions: Because, Since, As

All three introduce a reason, but they differ in formality and emphasis:

Conjunction	Register	Emphasis	Example
because	Neutral	Strong — new, important reason	He took a taxi because he was late.
since	Formal	Weak — known or obvious reason	Since she is the oldest, everyone respects her.
as	Formal	Weak — background reason	As the weather was nice, we had a picnic.

⚠️ Watch out — "Since" has two meanings:

Reason: Since you're here, let's start. (= because)

Time: I've lived here since 2010. (= from that point)

Context usually makes the meaning clear. If the sentence uses present perfect, since is almost always about time.

Clause Position: Front or Back?

Subordinate clauses can go before or after the main clause. When the subordinate clause comes first, use a comma.

Position	Example	Comma?
Front	Before you leave, turn off the lights.	✅ Yes
Back	Turn off the lights before you leave.	❌ No

This flexibility applies to all subordinating conjunctions — time, reason, contrast, and condition.

👉 Practice Subordinating Conjunctions →

Contrast, Concession & Correlative Conjunctions

At B1 level, you need conjunctions that express more nuanced relationships: contrast (showing differences) and concession (acknowledging a surprising fact), plus correlative pairs that work together.

Concession Conjunctions: Although, Though, Even Though

These conjunctions introduce a fact that makes the result surprising. They differ in strength and formality:

Conjunction	Strength	Register	Example
though	Mild	Informal	Though the instructions were clear, I made mistakes.
although	Medium	Neutral	Although the hotel was expensive, the rooms were small.
even though	Strong	Neutral	Even though she studied all night, she failed.

All three mean "despite the fact that" — choose based on how surprising the contrast is. Use even though when the contrast is extreme.

The "Although vs Because" Trap

⚠️ Error Zone — This is the #1 mistake at B1 level.

Both although and because connect a reason to a result, but the logic is opposite:

Logic Result is... Example

because Expected Logical She got the job because she had great experience.

although Unexpected Surprising She got the job although she had no experience.

Quick test: Is the result EXPECTED or SURPRISING?

Expected → because (the reason explains the result)

Surprising → although/even though (the reason should have prevented the result)

	Logic	Result is...	Example
because	Expected	Logical	She got the job because she had great experience.
although	Unexpected	Surprising	She got the job although she had no experience.

Contrast Conjunctions: Whereas & While

Use whereas and while to draw a direct comparison between two facts — neither is surprising, they are simply different.

Tom is outgoing, whereas his brother is shy.
I enjoy swimming, while my sister prefers running.
Some people prefer working from home, whereas others find the office more productive.

Note: While has two meanings — "during" (time) and "but/whereas" (contrast). Context makes the meaning clear: if both clauses describe ongoing actions, it means "during"; if they describe different facts, it means "whereas".

Don't confuse conjunctions with prepositions: Although and even though are conjunctions — they need a clause (subject + verb). For the preposition equivalents (despite, in spite of + noun/gerund), see Contrast & Concession.

Correlative Conjunctions: Paired Connectors

Correlative conjunctions always come in pairs. Each pair has a specific meaning:

Pair	Meaning	Example
both...and	Two things are true	He speaks both French and Spanish.
either...or	One of two choices	You can have either the chicken or the fish.
neither...nor	Not one, not the other	Neither Mark nor his wife could attend.
not only...but also	Two things, with emphasis	She is not only a singer but also a dancer.

Key rule — Parallel structure: The grammatical structure after the first word must match the structure after the second word.

✅ She is both talented and hardworking. (adjective + adjective)
❌ She is both talented and works hard. (adjective + clause — not parallel)

👉 Practice Contrast, Concession & Correlative Conjunctions →

Advanced Conjunctions: Condition & Purpose

At B2 level, you need conjunctions that express conditions (what must be true) and purpose (what you want to achieve).

Conditional Conjunctions

Conjunction	Meaning	Register	Example
unless	If not	Neutral	You won't pass unless you study harder.
as long as	On the condition that	Neutral	You can borrow my car as long as you return it by Friday.
provided that	On the condition that	Formal	You are welcome to stay provided that you follow the rules.

The "Unless" equation: Unless = if...not. It introduces the only condition that would change the expected outcome.

You won't pass unless you study. = You won't pass if you don't study.

Unless he apologises, I refuse to speak to him. = If he doesn't apologise, I refuse to speak to him.

Tip: As long as and provided that set a positive condition (do X, and Y will happen). Unless sets a negative condition (if X doesn't happen, Y is the consequence).

Purpose Conjunctions: So That & In Order That

Use so that to explain the purpose or intention behind an action. In order that is a more formal alternative.

Pattern	Example
Main clause + so that + subject + can/could/will/would	She left early so that she could avoid traffic.
Main clause + in order that + subject + may/might (formal)	He locked the documents in order that no one could access them.

⚠️ Don't confuse "so" with "so that":

So (alone) = result — I was tired, so I went home. (What happened?)

So that = purpose — I left early so that I could avoid traffic. (What was the goal?)

Quick test: Is the second clause about an intention (what someone wanted to achieve)? → so that (purpose). Is it about something that actually happened as a consequence? → so (result).

Mixed Practice: Choosing the Right Conjunction

At B2 level, the real challenge is distinguishing between similar conjunctions in context. Here is a quick decision guide:

If the sentence needs...	Choose	Not
A reason (why?)	because, since, as	so, although
A result (what happened?)	so	because
A surprise/concession	although, even though	because
A direct comparison	whereas, while	although
A negative condition	unless	as long as
A positive condition	as long as, provided that	unless
A purpose/goal	so that	so

👉 Practice Advanced Conjunctions →

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct	Explanation
She was tired, because she went to bed early.	She was tired, so she went to bed early.	Going to bed is the RESULT of being tired, not the reason. Use so for results.
She got the job because she had no experience.	She got the job although she had no experience.	No experience should prevent getting the job — this is a surprising result, so use although.
Both Tom or his brother came.	Both Tom and his brother came.	Both pairs with and, not or. The correct pairs: both...and, either...or, neither...nor.
Although she was tired, but she kept working.	Although she was tired, she kept working.	Don't use although and but together — they both express contrast, so one is enough.
I've lived here since a long time.	I've lived here for a long time.	Since needs a specific point in time (since 2010), not a duration. Use for with durations.
You can't leave unless you finish not your work.	You can't leave unless you finish your work.	Unless already means "if not" — don't add another negative, or you create a double negative.
She left early so she could avoid traffic.	She left early so that she could avoid traffic.	When expressing purpose with a subject + modal verb, use so that (not so alone) in formal writing.

Quick Summary

Conjunction Selection Guide

Step 1 — Identify the relationship:

Relationship	Ask yourself...	Go-to conjunctions
Addition	What else is true?	and, both...and, not only...but also
Contrast (surprise)	Is the result unexpected?	although, though, even though
Contrast (comparison)	How are two things different?	whereas, while, but
Reason	Why did it happen?	because, since, as
Result	What happened next?	so
Time	When did it happen?	when, while, before, after, until, as soon as
Condition (negative)	What must happen to avoid X?	unless (= if not)
Condition (positive)	What condition must be met?	as long as, provided that
Purpose	What is the goal?	so that, in order that
Choice	Which option?	or, either...or, neither...nor

Step 2 — Check the structure:

Rule	Example
Coordinating conjunctions join equal elements	word + word, clause + clause
Subordinating conjunctions need a main clause	Although she was tired, she kept working.
Front subordinate clause → add a comma	Before you leave,* turn off the lights.*
Correlative pairs need parallel structure	both noun and noun ✅

Practice Tips

Master "because vs so" first: This is the foundation. Every time you write a sentence with because or so, pause and ask: "Am I giving a reason or a result?" Getting this right at A1 makes everything else easier.
Build a conjunction journal: When you read articles or listen to podcasts in English, write down every conjunction you notice. Group them by relationship (reason, contrast, time, etc.) to build your mental map.
Practise clause position: Take any sentence with a subordinating conjunction and rewrite it with the subordinate clause at the front, then at the back. Notice how the comma rule changes.
Test correlative pairs aloud: Say each pair with a simple sentence: "Both X and Y", "Either X or Y", "Neither X nor Y." The rhythm helps you remember which words pair together.
Upgrade your writing from A1 to B2: Take a paragraph that only uses and, but, so, and because. Rewrite it using although, whereas, unless, so that, and correlative pairs. This single exercise develops range and precision.

Practice All Exercises

Practise conjunctions and linking words with multiple choice exercises online — every question comes with answers and explanations. These conjunctions exercises (also useful as connectors exercises and sentence connectors practice) cover coordinating, subordinating, correlative, and advanced conjunctions from A1 to B2:

Set	Topic	Level
Set 1	Coordinating Conjunctions: and, but, or, so, because	A1
Set 2	Subordinating Conjunctions: Time & Reason	A2
Set 3	Contrast, Concession & Correlative Conjunctions	B1
Set 4	Mixed Conjunctions & Advanced Usage	B2

Now try the exercises to practice what you've learned!

Learn Conjunctions (and/but/or/because/although/so)