A1/A2 · Grammar
And, but, or and because
After this page you can join two ideas with and, but, or, because and so, join a because part to the rest of the sentence in writing, and use the subject only once.
Rules
1.
and: add one more thing
- I have a brother and a sister.
- Tom is a cook and his wife is a teacher.
- We buy bread, milk and eggs.
and adds one more thing or one more idea. It joins two words or two sentences.
and joins …
- two words: tea and cake · Leeds and York
- two sentences: I'm tired and I'm hungry.
- three or more words: Ben, Lucy and Ahmed (commas between the first words, then and before the last one)
When the subject is the same, you can say it only once: Sofia lives in Leeds and works in York.
and → one more thing: a cat and a dog
bread, milk and eggs: and before the last word
2.
but: something different
- My flat is small but nice.
- Marek likes his job, but he doesn't like his boss.
- I speak Polish, but I don't speak Russian.
but shows a contrast. The second idea is different from the first, or it is a surprise.
A comma before but?
- short: no comma: cheap but good
- two long parts: a comma is possible: Lucy likes London, but she doesn't like the weather.
- Without the comma, the sentence is also correct.
but → a contrast or a surprise
small but nice · …, but he doesn't …
3.
or: a choice
- Do you want tea or coffee?
- Is the meeting on Monday or on Tuesday?
- You pay by card or in cash.
or gives a choice between two or more things. You often use it in questions.
Questions with or
- Is your flat big or small? – It's small.
- The answer is one of the two things, not yes or no.
In negative sentences, you usually use or: I don't eat meat or fish.
or → a choice: tea or coffee?
Answer with one thing: Tea, please.
4.
because: the reason · so: the result
- Ben is at home because he is ill.
- Sofia gets up early because she starts work at six.
- Ben is ill, so he is at home.
because gives the reason: it answers why? so gives the result: what happens then. After both words comes a subject and a verb.
One fact, two ways
- I take a taxi because the bus is late. (the reason)
- The bus is late, so I take a taxi. (the result)
Before so, you usually write a comma. Before because, you usually write no comma.
because → why? the reason
so → the result: …, so I take a taxi.
5.
Two rules for writing
- We stay at home because it is cold.
- My sister works in a hotel.
- Tom and Anna live in Cardiff.
In writing, a part with because cannot be a sentence alone. Join it to the other part. The subject comes only once: do not add he, she or they after it.
Right and wrong
- not: We stay at home. Because it is cold. → We stay at home because it is cold.
- not: My sister she works in a hotel. → My sister works in a hotel.
- not: I like Leeds because is friendly. → I like Leeds because it is friendly.
because + the other part in one sentence
one subject: My sister works (not: My sister she works)
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