Common Conjunctions
Learn Common Conjunctions in English. Join ideas clearly with and, but, or, because, and so.
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.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use and to join two things that are both true ✨. |
| Use and to add one word or phrase to another ➕. |
| The two parts have equal value with and ⚖️. |
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.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use or to show a choice between two things 🔀. |
| Use or to show another possible word or phrase 🌈. |
| The joined parts are different options with or 🚪. |
But joins two words or two short ideas. It shows contrast. Use but when the second part is different from the first part.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use but to join two parts with contrast ⚡. |
| The second part changes the first idea with but 🔄. |
| Use but when two parts do not match in the same way 🚫. |
Because joins an idea to its reason. It answers why. Use because when you want to give the cause of something.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use because to give a reason for an idea 🧠. |
| The part after because tells why something happens ❓. |
| Because links a result to its cause 🔗. |
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.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use so to show a result from the first idea ➡️. |
| The part after so tells what happens next 🎯. |
| So links a cause to its effect 🔗. |
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.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use then to show the next action in time ⏭️. |
| Then can join short ideas in a clear order 🕒. |
| The part after then happens later than the first part 📅. |
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.