Welcome to our lesson on basic English grammar! Today, we are going to learn about conjunctions. Don’t worry, it sounds like a big word, but it’s actually very simple! Conjunctions are like linkers – they help us connect words, phrases, and ideas together in sentences. In this lesson, we will focus on four very common and useful conjunctions: and, but, because, and or. These are essential for speaking and understanding English at the A1 level. Let’s start learning about these important linkers and how to use them to improve your spoken English!

What are Conjunctions? Linkers in English Grammar

Think of conjunctions as bridges. They connect different parts of a sentence. They help you make longer and more interesting sentences. Learning to use conjunctions like and, but, because, or will make your English sound more natural and fluent. For beginners, understanding these basic conjunctions is a great first step in mastering English grammar.

How to Use ‘And’: Adding Information

We use and to add similar things together. It’s like saying “plus”. We use it to connect two nouns, two adjectives, two verbs, or even two sentences when they are about similar ideas. It’s a very useful linker for building longer sentences and listing things. Let’s look at some examples of how to use ‘and‘ in English:

Examples of ‘And’

• I like apples and bananas. (Connecting two nouns – fruits)
• She is happy and excited. (Connecting two adjectives – feelings)
• He can run and jump. (Connecting two verbs – actions)
• The sun is shining, and the birds are singing. (Connecting two sentences with similar ideas – nice weather)
• My house is big and comfortable. (Connecting two adjectives describing a noun)
• We went to the park and played football. (Connecting two actions in a sequence)

Remember, and is for adding things that go together or are similar. Practice using ‘and‘ in your daily conversations to list items or connect similar ideas. This is a key part of basic English conjunctions.

How to Use ‘But’: Showing Contrast

We use but to show a contrast or something different. It’s like saying “however” or “on the other hand”. But shows that there is a change or an opposite idea coming. It helps to create sentences with contrasting information. Understanding ‘but‘ is crucial for expressing different perspectives in English. Let’s see some examples of using ‘but‘:

Examples of ‘But’

• It is sunny, but it is cold. (Sunny and cold are contrasting weather conditions)
• I want to go, but I am tired. (Wanting to go and being tired are contrasting feelings)
• She is rich, but she is not happy. (Rich and not happy are contrasting states of being)
• The car is old, but it is very fast. (Old and fast are contrasting descriptions of a car)
• He studied hard, but he failed the exam. (Studying hard and failing are contrasting outcomes)

But is very useful for showing opposite ideas. When you want to say something that is different or unexpected after the first part of your sentence, use ‘but‘. This is an important conjunction for spoken English practice.

How to Use ‘Because’: Giving Reasons

We use because to give a reason or explanation for something. It answers the question “Why?”. Because introduces the cause of an action or situation. It’s essential for explaining why something is happening. Learning to use ‘because‘ effectively will help you explain your thoughts and actions clearly in English. Let’s look at examples of using ‘because‘:

Examples of ‘Because’

• I am happy because it is my birthday. (Birthday is the reason for happiness)
• He is sad because he lost his toy. (Losing a toy is the reason for sadness)
• She is tired because she didn’t sleep well. (Not sleeping well is the reason for tiredness)
• We are staying home because it is raining. (Rain is the reason for staying home)
• The shop is closed because it is Sunday. (Sunday is the reason for the shop being closed)

When someone asks “Why?”, you can often start your answer with ‘because‘. ‘Because‘ is a key conjunction to use when you want to explain the reason behind something. Practice using it to explain your actions and feelings. This is vital for improving your spoken English and providing context.

How to Use ‘Or’: Showing Choices

We use or to show choices or alternatives. It’s like saying “either this one or that one”. Or gives you options to choose from. It’s used when there are two or more possibilities, and you want to ask someone to choose or you are presenting alternatives. Understanding ‘or‘ is important for asking questions and offering choices in English. Here are some examples of using ‘or‘:

Examples of ‘Or’

• Do you want tea or coffee? (Tea and coffee are the choices)
• Is it red or blue? (Red and blue are the color choices)
• We can go to the cinema or the park. (Cinema and park are the activity choices)
• Would you like to eat now or later? (Now and later are the time choices)
• Is your name John or David? (John and David are the name choices)

When you are asking someone to choose between options, use ‘or‘. ‘Or‘ is very helpful in questions and when giving alternatives. Practice using ‘or‘ to ask questions and offer choices in your daily English conversations. This is a fundamental part of basic English conjunctions.

Let’s Practice! Fill in the Blanks

Now it’s time to practice using and, but, because, and or. Choose the correct conjunction to complete each sentence below:

1. I like cats ___ dogs.
2. She is tired ___ happy.
3. He is eating ___ he is hungry.
4. Do you want to play inside ___ outside?
5. The weather is hot ___ sunny.
6. I want to buy a car ___ I don’t have money.
7. She is crying ___ she hurt her knee.
8. Would you like juice ___ water?
9. They are friends ___ they play together every day.
10. The book is long ___ interesting.

Answers to Practice

1. I like cats and dogs.
2. She is tired but happy.
3. He is eating because he is hungry.
4. Do you want to play inside or outside?
5. The weather is hot and sunny.
6. I want to buy a car but I don’t have money.
7. She is crying because she hurt her knee.
8. Would you like juice or water?
9. They are friends because they play together every day.
10. The book is long but interesting.

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Keep practicing, and you’ll become a confident English speaker! Remember to use and, but, because, and or in your everyday conversations. Good luck, and happy learning!