Coordinating conjunctions join elements of equal grammatical weight, such as two nouns, two clauses, or two phrases, and they shape the logical relations between them.
y / e
Use y to add similar ideas, and switch to e before words beginning with /i/ or /hi/ sound to maintain the sound flow.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| y | and | |
| e | and (before /i/ or /hi/ sound) |
They are coming ___ tomorrow.
o / u
Use o to present alternatives, and change to u before words that start with /o/ sound to avoid doubling the vowel sound.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| o | or | |
| u | or (before /o/ sound) |
pero
Use pero to introduce a contrast or exception, and it appears between two clauses when the second idea qualifies or opposes the first.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| pero | but |
sino / sino que
Use sino to correct a negative statement with a contrasting noun or phrase, and use sino que when the correction introduces a new clause with a verb.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| sino | but rather / instead | |
| sino que | but rather / instead (before clause) |
ni
Use ni to join two or more negative alternatives, and it can start a phrase or clause that continues the negation.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| ni | nor / not even |
también
Use también to add an affirmative idea that aligns with a previous one, and it typically appears before the verb or at the start of the added sentence.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| también | also / too |
tampoco
Use tampoco to add a negative idea that matches an earlier negation, and it often appears at the beginning of the clause for emphasis.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| tampoco | neither / not either |
más que
Use más que to introduce a preference, correction, or emphasis when contrasting two ideas, and it can link phrases or clauses.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| más que | more than / rather than |
summary
Coordinating conjunctions like y, o, pero, sino, and ni signal addition, choice, and contrast at the same grammatical level, while small changes like e/y and u/o help the sentence flow smoothly.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025