Unit 4 - Conjunctions
Conjunctions
Unit 4 - Conjunctions
1.
Let's go out this evening.
I'm sorry, I can't meet you today because I'm busy. I can meet you tomorrow or Saturday.
Tomorrow I'm busy too so I can't come. Is Saturday OK?
Sure, I'm free all
day, so let's go out!
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2.
Do you like flying?
No, I don't.
Why not?
Because I can't sleep well and airports are really boring.
Right. The first
time airports are really exciting, but then
they are a little boring.
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3.
What season do you like?
My favorite season is spring, because the weather is perfect and things are growing.
I really like winter and fall.
Why? It's very cold.
Yes, but there is snow in the winter and red leaves in the fall. They are very beautiful.
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Key Vocabulary
|
evening |
season |
Grammar
Conjunctions are words that conjoin things - they connect sentences and parts of a sentence. This unit deals with five conjunctions: and, but, or, so and because.
And
And is often used
to join nouns, for example:
- I like spaghetti and pizza.
And is also used to show time sequence, for
example:
- I ate spaghetti for lunch and pizza for dinner.
But
But is used to show
an exception or conflict. For example:
- I like spaghetti, but I don't like hamburgers.
Or
Or is used to show
choice, for example:
- You can eat spaghetti or pizza for dinner.
So
So is used to show
the result of something. For example:
- I like all Italian food, so I like pizza.
So can also be used give additional information,
for example:
- I like Italian food, and so does my brother.
Because
Because is used to
show the cause of something. For example:
- I eat a lot of pizza because I like it.
- I study English because I want a good job.
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There are many other specific usages of the above conjunctions, but they usually center around the main concepts outlined here.
Grammar Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the correct conjunction. Use and, but, or, because, or so.
Example: I have a pen and a pencil.
1. I like rice fish for breakfast.
2. Jenny is kind smart.
3. She wants coffee not cake.
4. He works very hard, he's really tired.
5. Sue can't come tomorrow she's sick.
6. He plays soccer every day he's very good.
7. I can meet you today not tomorrow.
8. David likes small dogs not big dogs.
9. She can speak French not Itialian.
10. David's very happy he's got a new job.
Answers
1. = "and";2. = "and";
3. = "but";
4. = "so";
5. = "because";
6. = "so";
7. = "but";
8. = "but";
9. = "but";
10. = "because";
Exercise 2
Join the two sentences to make one sentence. Use and, but, or, because, or so.
Example: I have a pen. I have a pencil. - I have a pen and a pencil.
1. I like coffee. I like tea.
2. She has a cat. She doesn't have a dog.
3. I don't have much money. I can't buy a computer.
4. She isn't here. She's on vacation
5. Do you write with your left hand? Do you write with your right hand?
Answers
1. = "I like coffee and tea.";2. = "She has a cat but she doesn't have a dog.";
3. = "I don't have much money so I can't buy a computer.";
4. = "She isn't here because she's on vacation.";
5. = "Do you write with your left hand or your right hand?";
Exercise 3
Let's go out this evening.
I'm sorry, I can't meet you today because I'm busy. I can meet you tomorrow or Saturday.
Tomorrow I'm busy too 1. I can't come. Is Saturday OK?
Sure, I'm free all day, 2. let's go out!
Do you like flying?
No, I don't.
Why not?
1. I can't sleep well and airports are really boring.
Right. The first time airports are really exciting, 2. then they are a little boring.
What season do you like?
My favorite season is spring, 1. the weather is perfect 2. things are growing.
I really like winter 3. fall.
Why? It's very cold.
Yes, 4. there is snow in the winter 5. red leaves in the fall. They are very beautiful.
Answers
1. = "so";2. = "so";
3. = "Because";
4. = "But";
5. = "because";
6. = "and";
7. = "and";
8. = "but";
9. = "and";