English Grammar

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Grammar Focus

Basic conjunctions join ideas in simple sentences. They help you explain your thoughts clearly and make your sentences complete.

• And connects two similar ideas:
  “I like pizza and pasta.”
• But shows a difference or surprise:
  “I like tea but not coffee.”
• Or gives a choice between things:
  “Do you want juice or water?”
• So shows the result of something:
  “It was cold, so I wore a jacket.”
• Because is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a reason and connects a dependent idea to the main sentence:
  “I stayed home because I was sick.”

🎧🗣️ Why This Grammar Matters for Listening and Speaking

Basic conjunctions are very important in everyday English because they connect ideas in sentences, making conversations easier to understand. When you listen, these words help you follow what someone is saying, and when you speak, they help you explain your thoughts clearly.

• When talking with friends, family, or teachers, you often need to add information to give more details:
  “I like apples and bananas.”
  “She plays the guitar and sings.”
  This helps your listener understand all parts of your idea.

• To show a difference or surprise between ideas, use “but”:
  “I wanted to go to the park, but it started to rain.”
  “He likes coffee, but she prefers tea.”
  This shows that two ideas are not the same or opposite.

• When making choices or asking questions, “or” gives clear options:
  “Do you want water or juice?”
  “Should I call you today or tomorrow?”
  This helps the listener know what you are offering or deciding between.

• To explain cause and effect, “so” shows what happens because of something else:
  “I was tired, so I went to bed early.”
  “It’s cold outside, so wear a jacket.”
  This helps listeners understand the reason behind an action or result.

• “Because” is important to give reasons in explanations:
  “I stayed home because I was sick.”
  “She left early because she had a meeting.”
  This helps your listener understand why something happened.

Using these conjunctions naturally in your speaking makes your sentences longer and your meaning clearer. When you hear these words in conversations, stories, or instructions, they signal how ideas are connected, helping you understand better. Practicing with these conjunctions will improve your ability to talk about your thoughts and follow others in everyday English.

Now, let’s practice your grammar skills with a game.

Understanding grammar is not just for writing. It also helps you speak more clearly and understand others better. In this lesson, you learned how to use and, but, or, so, and because to join ideas. These small words make a big difference! They help you explain your thoughts, give reasons, show choices, and connect sentences in everyday conversations. The questions below will help you practice speaking naturally using these words in real-life situations.

Introduce Yourself:
Can you tell us two things about yourself using and or but?
➤ For example: “I am from Mexico, and I am a teacher.”
➤ Or: “I like music, but I don’t play an instrument.”

Talk About People You Know:
Choose one friend or family member. What can you say about them using and or but?
➤ For example: “He is tall and friendly.”
➤ Or: “She is funny, but sometimes quiet.”

Make a Choice:
What do you like better: pizza or pasta? Answer using or.
➤ For example: “I want pizza or pasta.”
➤ Or: “I can drink tea or water.”

Explain a Reason or Result:
Can you describe something you did because of a reason, or tell what happened so something else happened?
➤ For example: “I studied hard because I had a test.”
➤ Or: “It was hot, so I opened the window.”

Talk About Your Plans:
What will you do today or tomorrow? Try to use so or because to explain.
➤ For example: “I will go to the store because I need food.”
➤ Or: “I am tired, so I will rest.”