A2 · Conjunctions — Lesson

Coordinating conjunctions

Join two equal clauses

and

addition: She works hard and she earns well.

but

contrast: He's smart but lazy.

alternative: Tea or coffee?

result: It rained, so we stayed home.

for

reason (formal): He was tired, for he had worked all day.

Subordinating conjunctions

One clause depends on the other

because

reason: I stayed home because I was ill.

although / even though

contrast/concession: Although it was cold, she wore a t-shirt.

when / while

time: I was reading when you called.

condition: If it rains, we'll stay home.

before / after / until

sequence: Wash your hands before eating.

Connectors (linking adverbs)

Connect ideas between sentences — more formal

however

contrast: It was expensive. However, it was worth it.

therefore

result: It rained. Therefore, we cancelled.

also / in addition

addition: She is kind. She is also very patient.

for example

example: She loves sport, for example swimming.

however and therefore connect SENTENCES (with full stop or semicolon). but and so connect CLAUSES within a sentence.

because vs because of

Common confusion — different grammar follows each

because + clause

I stayed home because I was ill.

+ subject + verb

She left because she was tired.

because of + noun

I stayed home because of my illness.

+ noun phrase

We were late because of traffic.

Common mistakes

Where learners go wrong most often

Although it rained, but we went.

→

Although it rained, we went.

No 'but' after although

Despite it rained, we went.

→

Despite the rain, we went.

Despite + noun phrase

He is tall so that he plays basketball.

→

He is tall so he plays basketball.

"So that" = purpose; "so" = result

although vs but / despite vs however

although (mid-sentence)

Although she was tired, she worked late.

but (joining clauses)

She was tired but she worked late.

despite / in spite of + noun/-ing

Despite being tired, she worked late.

however (new sentence)

She was tired. However, she worked late.

Recap

Addition

and · also · in addition

and she works hard

Contrast

but · although · however

but she's lazy / however, she works

Reason

because (+ clause) · because of (+ noun)

because I was ill

Result

so · therefore

so we stayed / therefore we cancelled

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