Unit 109: and / but / or / so / because

Master conjunctions

A. and / but / or / so / because

We use these words (conjunctions) to join two sentences. They make one longer sentence from two shorter sentences:

sentence A + and + sentence B
The car stopped and the driver got out.

B. and / but / or

• We stayed at home and (we*) watched television.
• My sister is married and (she*) lives in London.
• He doesn't like her and she doesn't like him.
• I bought a newspaper but I didn't read it.
• Do you want to go out or are you too tired?
* It is not necessary to repeat 'we' and 'she'.

Study the sentences. We use and between the last two things:

• I got home, had something to eat, sat down in an armchair and fell asleep.
• Ann is at work, Sue has gone shopping and Chris is playing football.

C. so (the result of something)

• It was very hot, so I opened the window.
• The water wasn't clean, so we didn't go swimming.
• They like films, so they often go to the cinema.

D. because (the reason for something)

• I opened the window because it was very hot.
• We didn't go swimming because the water wasn't clean.
• Lisa is hungry because she didn't have breakfast.

Because is also possible at the beginning:

• Because the water wasn't clean, we didn't go swimming.

E. In these examples there is more than one conjunction:

• It was late and I was tired, so I went to bed.
• I always enjoy visiting London, but I wouldn't like to live there because it's too big.

and

The car stopped and the driver got out.
stayed at home and watched television
is married and lives in London
got home, had something to eat, sat down in an armchair and fell asleep

but

bought a newspaper but didn't read it
enjoy visiting London, but wouldn't like to live there

or

want to go out or too tired

so

very hot, so opened the window
water wasn't clean, so didn't go swimming
like films, so often go to the cinema

because

opened the window because very hot
didn't go swimming because water wasn't clean
hungry because didn't have breakfast

109.1 Write sentences. Choose from the boxes and use and/but/or.

I stayed at home.
I bought a newspaper.
I went to the window.
I wanted to phone you.
I jumped into the river.
I usually drive to work.
Do you want me to come with you?
I didn't have your number.
Shall I wait here?
I didn't read it.
I went by bus this morning.
I watched television.
I swam to the other side.
I looked out.
  1. I stayed at home and watched television.
  2. I bought a newspaper I didn't read it.
  3. I .
  4. I I didn't have your number.
  5. I I went by bus this morning.
  6. I swam to the other side.
  7. shall I wait here?

109.2 Look at the pictures and complete the sentences. Use and/but/so/because.

Hot

1

Tennis

2

Museum

3

Hungry

4

Late

5

Goodbye

6

  1. It was very hot, so he opened the window.
  2. They didn't play tennis it was raining.
  3. They went to the museum it was closed.
  4. Bill wasn't hungry he didn't eat anything.
  5. Ann was late she didn't hurry.
  6. Sue said left.

109.3 Write sentences about what you did yesterday. Use and/but etc.

  1. (and) In the evening I stayed at home and studied.
  2. (because) I I was tired.
  3. (but) I got up early.
  4. (and) went to work.
  5. (so) I took a taxi.
  6. (because) I wasn't hungry.
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Interactive English Grammar • Unit 109 • Page 226-227