A1 · Beginner

And, But, Or, So: The Connector Four

The four little words that join ideas: and adds, but contrasts, or offers, so shows the result. Sentence glue, level one.

Coordinating Conjunctions

The sentence glue

And, but, or and so are the glue of English: they join two ideas into one sentence. Each one has its own job.

➕

And — adds

one more of the same

I like tea and coffee

➖

But — contrasts

the opposite direction

I wanted to go, but I was tired

🎲

Or — chooses

one of two options

Do you want tea or coffee?

🎯

So — the result

the second idea follows

It rained, so we stayed home

⚠️ And adds, but contrasts, or chooses, so shows the result.

The Formula

idea + connector + idea

Two ideas, one connector in the middle. The connector tells the listener how the ideas fit together.

⚙️The same skeleton in all three forms

And — adds

Iliketeaandcoffee

I liketeaandcoffee

But — contrasts

Iwanted to go,butI was tired

I wanted to go,butI was tired

Or — chooses

Doyouwantteaorcoffee?

Do you wantteaorcoffee?

So — the result

Itrained,sowe stayed home

It rained,sowe stayed home

Common Mistakes

Four glue slips

The glue cracks when the connectors swap jobs: adding with so, contrasting with and, or choosing with and.

✗

I like tea so coffee.

→

✓

I like tea and coffee.

💡 Two likes being added take and.

✗

He studied hard but he passed the exam.

→

✓

He studied hard so he passed the exam.

💡 A result takes so. But flips the direction.

✗

Do you want tea so coffee?

→

✓

Do you want tea or coffee?

💡 A choice takes or.

✗

I was tired and I went to bed early.

→

✓

I was tired so I went to bed early.

💡 The result of being tired is going to bed → so.

Quick Quiz

Test what you just learned

Three minutes, five questions — check what stuck. No essay questions, we promise.

Question 1 / 5✅ 0 / 5

I speak English ___ a little French.

💡 Extra info2 sections

Which Connector?

One question picks the glue

The relationship between the two ideas chooses the connector.

Are the ideas the same kind (both good, both actions)?

✓Yes — andI like tea and coffee

✗No — opposite? butI like tea but not coffee

Is it a choice or a result?

✓Choice — orTea or coffee?

✗Result — soIt rained, so we stayed home

The Connector Four

Match the connector with the job

Four connectors, four jobs. This is the full toolkit of sentence glue.

and

addstea and coffee

but

contrastssmall but strong

offers a choicetea or coffee

shows the resultlate, so taxi

⚠️ And, but, or, so — the basics. The advanced connectors (although, however) come next.