Using Coordinating Conjunctions to Combine Ideas | Page 2
(A-Level, Basic)
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Different Relationships
You can use and, but, or, and so to combine two or more ideas into one sentence. These coordinating conjunctions show different relationships between the ideas. Study the examples below.
And (black and white)
Use “and” to put two similar ideas together. “And” works like + (plus) in 1 + 1.
You can write,
Mary speaks French. John speaks Italian.
It is a nice day. The children are playing outside.
I have a dog. My sister has two cats.
You can also combine these ideas into one sentence using “and.”
Examples
Mary speaks French, and John speaks Italian.
It is a nice day, and the children are playing at the park.
I have a dog, and my sister has two cats.
My favorite color is blue, and my friend’s favorite color is green.
The sky is blue, and the grass is green.
Both Jack and Susan work. Jack works in a bank, and Susan has a small business.
My sister and I like sports. I like to play soccer, and my sister likes to play basketball.
Carlos is cooking dinner, and the children are playing outside.
But (poor, but happy)
Use “but” to combine two sentences when the ideas are opposite or show a contrast. You can also have a contrast when you think something will happen, but the opposite happens.
You can write,
Many people do not have much money. They are happy.
Janet wants to go to a restaurant. Carlos wants to stay home.
It is a nice day. It is very cold.
These sentences are not very clear. You can combine the ideas into one sentence using “but.”
Examples
Many people do not have much money, but they are happy.
Janet wants to go to a restaurant, but John speaks Italian.
It is a nice day, but it is very cold.
I like pizza, but Mary prefers spaghetti.
I am hungry, but I have no food in the house.
I am tired, but I have work to do.
My father is very tall, but my mother is short.
The children want to play in the park, but they have homework to do.
Ahmed wants to buy a new car, but he does not have enough money.
So (hungry, so eat)
Use “so” to combine two ideas when one idea is the result of the other or one idea is the reason for another.
You can write,
I am hungry. I am going to eat a sandwich.
It is Sunday. My parents are at home.
I do not have a car. I take the bus to work.
You can also combine these ideas into one sentence using “so.”
Examples
I am hungry, so I am going to eat a sandwich.
It is Sunday, so my parents are at home.
I do not have a car, so I take the bus to work.
I am very tired, so I am going to bed early.
You are late, so you need to hurry up!
Fatima is sick, so she is not at work today.
I have a test on Monday, so I need to study this weekend.
The children have homework, so they cannot go play outside.
It is cold outside, so put on a sweater.
Two Meanings of ”Or”
The coordinating conjunction “or” has two meanings. You know the meaning because of the context (or the situation where you use it).
1. Or (stay, or go)
Use “or” to combine two ideas when there is an option or you can choose between them.
You can write,
We can stay home. We can go to a restaurant.
Do you usually have dinner at home? Do you go out?
I usually drive to work. I walk when the weather is nice.
You can also combine these ideas into one sentence using “or.”
Examples
We can stay home, or we can go to a restaurant.
Do you usually have dinner at home, or do you go out?
I usually drive to work, or I walk when the weather is nice.
We can have coffee at home, or we can go to the coffee shop.
I can cook dinner, or we can go to the restaurant.
Note. Many of these sentences use the same subject, so you can delete the second subject, for example,
We can go to a restaurant or cook at home.
Do you usually have dinner at home or go out?
We can have coffee at home or go to the coffee shop.
2. Or (else) (eat well, or get sick)
The coordinating conjunction “or” also shows a condition. If something happens (or does not happen), there is a bad or negative consequence.
When you use “or” with this meaning, you can also say or write, “or else.”
Examples
Eat well, or you will get sick.
I need a job, or I cannot pay my bills.
Put on a sweater, or you will be cold.
I must leave at 5, or I will miss the bus.
Study hard, or you will not pass the course.
You can also use “or else.”
Eat well, or else you will get sick.
I need a job, or else I cannot pay my bills.
Put on a sweater, or else you will be cold.
I must leave at 5, or else I will miss the bus.
Study hard, or else you will not pass the course.
Assess Your Learning
Practice 1. Practice using coordinating conjunctions.
Practice 2. Practice combining sentences with coordinating conjunctions.
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