Prepositions and questions, part 4 of 5

And, But, Or, So, and Because: Conjunctions in English

And adds (tea and milk), but contrasts, or gives options, so gives the result, and because gives the reason: I eat because I am hungry.

A1 · 12 minBefore:Prepositions of time

The idea

What a conjunction is

It is the word that joins two ideas and says how they are related.

Adding or contrasting. It's big and cheap. It's big, but it's old.
Choosing. Coffee or tea?
Result or reason. I'm sick, so I'm home. I'm home because I'm sick.

When to use it

To speak in longer sentences instead of short pieces and explain why you do something. These expressions go with it:

Short answers

And you?
Because I want to.
Or not.
But why?

To keep telling

and then
but also
or maybe
so now

Set phrases

salt and pepper
more or less
sooner or later

Examples

Adding
Ana and Leo are my cousins.
Contrasting
The hotel is small, but it's nice.
Choosing
Do you want rice or beans?
Giving a reason
I study at night because I work all day.
Saying the result
It's cold, so I'm wearing a coat.
Two actions
I eat breakfast and go to work.

How to build it

3 steps

Have two ideasTwo short sentences:It's late. I'm going home.
How are they related?Adding, contrast, option, result, or reason:Resultado: so
Join themThe word goes between them:It's late, so I'm going home.

Two ideas

Idea 1I'm hungry,
and / but / or / so / becauseso
Idea 2I'm making a sandwich.

Two things

Thing 1Do you want tea
and / oror
Thing 2juice?

The rule

The five

Word	Use	Example	Note
and	adding	bread and butter
but	contrast	It's old, but it works.
or	options	Red or blue?	In negatives: I don't eat meat or fish.
so	the result	I'm sick, so I'm staying home.
because	the reason	I'm staying home because I'm sick.

So or because: the same idea, turned around

With so (result second)	With because (reason second)
It's hot, so I'm opening the window.	I'm opening the window because it's hot.
The store is closed, so we're going home.	We're going home because the store is closed.

How to pronounce it

and
/ænd/, /ən/
In a sentence it is weak: /ən/.
but
/bʌt/
The vowel is /ʌ/.
because
/bɪˈkɔz/
Stress on cause; fast speech: "cuz".
so
/soʊ/
It ends in /oʊ/.

Check

I am hungry, (blank) I am eating. Which one goes in the blank?

Don't confuse it with why

Why are you late?

Asks for the reason

Because the bus is late.

Gives the reason

Why asks for the reason. Because gives it.

Part 5: wh- questions

In real life

But and so usually have a comma before them: It is late, so I am going home. Because usually does not: I am happy because it is Friday.

Frequently asked questions

Can I start a sentence with because?

Yes, especially to answer why: Why are you happy? Because it is Friday. In formal writing, join it to the other idea.

How do I say "neither... nor" in a simple way?

Use a negative with or: I don't like milk or cheese.

Does so always mean the result?

Between two ideas, yes. But so also means "very" before an adjective: It is so hot.

In short

Adding and; contrast but; options or.
Result so; reason because.
In negatives, use or: I don't eat meat or fish.
The second idea needs a subject: but it is good.

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