A1 · Beginner

and, but, or, so and because

These five small words join words, phrases or clauses. And adds, but contrasts, or gives a choice, so gives a result, and because gives a reason.

And

Join words, phrases or clauses with and. In a list, use commas and put and before the last item.

  • She speaks Spanish and French.
  • I opened the window and turned on the fan.
  • We have apples, pears and plums. And comes before the last thing in the list.

But

Use but when the second idea is different from what you expect.

  • He studies a lot but he often fails.
  • I like jazz, but my sister doesn't.

You can also use but not before the contrasting part.

  • I'd love to come, but not on Saturday. But not contrasts with the first part.

Or

Use or for a choice. When you mean neither of two things, use or after a negative verb, not and.

  • Shall we go by bus or on foot?
  • He doesn't drink tea or coffee. He likes neither of them; for the neither meaning, a negative sentence uses or, not and.

Some conjunctions have two parts: either... or, both... and and neither... nor.

  • You can have tea either hot or cold. Either... or is a two-word choice conjunction
  • Both my brother and my sister live abroad. Both... and joins two things

So and because

So goes before the result. Because goes before the reason. The same fact can be said with either.

  • I was hungry, so I made a sandwich. So gives the result.
  • I made a sandwich because I was hungry. Because gives the reason.

A because clause can come first. Then put a comma after it.

  • Because it was cold, we wore coats.
  • We wore coats because it was cold. No comma when the because clause comes second.

More words for a reason

As and since can also give a reason. They are more formal than because.

  • As it was late, we went home. As gives the reason; more formal than because.

Short answers with because

A short answer to a why question can begin with Because, without repeating the main clause. Do not use this standalone fragment in formal writing.

  • A: Why are you leaving? B: Because I am late. Because begins the short answer.

Watch out

Decide the intended meaning first: which came first, the reason or the result?

✗I was tired, because I went to bed early.

✓I was tired, so I went to bed early.

The early night was the result of the tiredness; use so for the result and because for the reason.

✗Because I was ill, so I stayed at home.

✓Because I was ill, I stayed at home.

For the same reason-result pair, use because or so, not both.

✗He was late because of the bus was slow.

✓He was late because the bus was slow.

Because goes before a clause with a verb; because of goes before a noun.

What comes next

See when, while, before, after, until and as soon as for when, while and before, Although, though, despite and other contrast links for contrast, and Reason, purpose and result: because, as, since, so that and in order to for longer patterns.

Practice

Eight questions. Choose one answer for each.