Free English Grammar Course

MODULE 01 · LESSON 10 OF 11

Join ideas with and, but, or, so and because

Your goal: Join two ideas in one sentence with and, but, or, so and because.

Level: FoundationAbout 10 to 15 minutes6 questions

Grammar words in this lesson

joining word: a word that connects two ideas, such as and, but, or, so or because. Also called a conjunction.

Five joining words

A joining word connects two ideas and shows how they belong together.

Word	It shows	Example
and	one more thing	I closed the door and turned off the light.
but	a contrast	The room is small, but it is bright.
or	a choice	We can walk, or we can take the bus.
so	a result	It was late, so we went home.
because	a reason	We went home because it was late.

So and because

So and because are a pair. Because introduces the reason. So introduces the result. Use one of them, not both: Because it was raining, we stayed inside. Or: It was raining, so we stayed inside.

The because part can come first or second. When it comes first, put a comma after it. When it comes second, you normally need no comma.

Commas with and, but, or and so

When the joining word connects two complete sentences, put a comma before it: I called Sara, but she did not answer. When both parts are very short, you can leave the comma out.

When the second part has no subject of its own, do not use a comma: I called Sara and left a message.

Add a point with also, too and as well

Too and as well go at the end: Lina speaks Arabic. She speaks French too. Also goes before the main verb or after be: She also speaks French. She is also a good cook.

Longer linking words such as although and however are taught in Module 08, lesson 8: Contrast and time: although, despite, however, while.

Common mistakes

Not this	Say this
Because it was late, so we went home.	Because it was late, we went home.
I was tired, I went to bed.	I was tired, so I went to bed.
She speaks also French.	She also speaks French. / She speaks French too.

Practice: answer first, then check

Say or write your answer before you open it. Your answers are not sent or saved.

Choose: I wanted to call you, (but / so) I lost my phone.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: but
Why: Losing the phone is a contrast with what the speaker wanted, so use but. So would introduce a result.
Choose: The shop was closed, (because / so) we came back the next day.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: so
Why: Coming back is the result of the closed shop. So introduces a result. Because introduces a reason.
Complete: Would you like tea ___ coffee?
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: or
Why: The sentence offers a choice between two things, and or is the word for a choice.
Join with because: We stayed at home. It was raining.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: We stayed at home because it was raining.or Because it was raining, we stayed at home.
Why: The rain is the reason, so because goes in front of it. If the because part comes first, put a comma after it.
Add too in the right place: My brother plays the guitar.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: My brother plays the guitar too.
Why: Too normally goes at the end of the sentence. In the middle of the sentence, use also: My brother also plays the guitar.
Correct the mistake: Because the bus was late, so I missed the meeting.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: Because the bus was late, I missed the meeting.or The bus was late, so I missed the meeting.
Why: Because and so do the same job from two sides. One of them is enough to join a reason and a result.

Make it yours

Write five sentences about your week. Use and, but, or, so and because once each.

More practice

Exercises on this topic:

Linking Words: Contrast, Reason, and Result Exercise

Browse all exercises

Want to keep track of the lessons you’ve done? Create a free account or sign in to save your progress.