Common Conjunctions

Conjunctions are small words that join words, phrases, or short ideas. Common conjunctions help you show addition, choice, contrast, reason, result, and order. In this module, you learn and, or, but, because, so, and then.

And joins two words or two phrases. It shows addition. Use and when both parts go together.

Or joins two words or two phrases. It shows choice or another possible thing. Use or when one part is possible, or both are options.

But joins two words or two short ideas. It shows contrast. Use but when the second part is different from the first part.

Because joins an idea to its reason. It answers why. Use because when you want to give the cause of something.

So joins an idea to its result. It shows what happens after something. Use so when the second part is the effect of the first part.

Then shows order in time. It tells you what comes next after another action or idea. Use then to show the next step or the next time.

Choose and for addition, or for choice, and but for contrast. Choose because for a reason, so for a result, and then for order in time. You can now join words and short ideas with common conjunctions and show simple relationships clearly.