Basic Connectors (Linking Words)

Connectors (or conjunctions) are words used to join two sentences or ideas together. At A2 level, you need to master the basics to make your sentences longer and more natural.

1. Addition: AND (Y)

We use and to add similar information.

• I like apples and bananas. 🔊 - Me gustan las manzanas y los plátanos.
• She works at a bank and she studies English. 🔊 - Ella trabaja en un banco y estudia inglés.
• We went to the park and played football. 🔊 - Fuimos al parque y jugamos al fútbol.

2. Addition: ALSO (También)

We use also to add more information. It usually goes before the main verb or after the verb 'to be'.

• I like apples. I also like bananas. 🔊 - Me gustan las manzanas. También me gustan los plátanos.
• She is a doctor. She is also a writer. 🔊 - Ella es doctora. También es escritora.
• We play football, and we also play tennis. 🔊 - Jugamos al fútbol, y también jugamos al tenis.

3. Contrast: BUT (Pero)

We use but to show a difference or an opposite idea.

• I like football, but I don't like basketball. 🔊 - Me gusta el fútbol, pero no me gusta el baloncesto.
• She is smart, but she is lazy. 🔊 - Ella es inteligente, pero es perezosa.
• I want to go to the party, but I have to work. 🔊 - Quiero ir a la fiesta, pero tengo que trabajar.

4. Contrast: ALTHOUGH (Aunque)

We use although to introduce a contrasting idea, often surprising. It can go at the beginning or in the middle.

• Although it rained, we went out. 🔊 - Aunque llovió, salimos.
• She bought the car, although it was expensive. 🔊 - Ella compró el coche, aunque era caro.
• Although I was tired, I finished my work. 🔊 - Aunque estaba cansado, terminé mi trabajo.

5. Contrast: NEVERTHELESS (Sin embargo / No obstante)

We use nevertheless to show a contrast. It is more formal than 'but'.

• It was raining very hard. Nevertheless, we played the match. 🔊 - Estaba lloviendo muy fuerte. Sin embargo, jugamos el partido.
• He has no experience. Nevertheless, he wants the job. 🔊 - No tiene experiencia. No obstante, quiere el trabajo.
• The test was difficult. Nevertheless, she passed. 🔊 - El examen fue difícil. Sin embargo, aprobó.

6. Alternative: OR (O)

We use or to introduce another possibility or choice.

• Do you prefer tea or coffee? 🔊 - ¿Prefieres té o café?
• We can go to the cinema or the museum. 🔊 - Podemos ir al cine o al museo.
• Hurry up or we will be late! 🔊 - ¡Date prisa o llegaremos tarde!

7. Reason: BECAUSE (Porque)

We use because to give a reason or explanation. It answers the question "Why?".

• I went to bed early because I was tired. 🔊 - Me fui a la cama temprano porque estaba cansado.
• She didn't come because she was sick. 🔊 - Ella no vino porque estaba enferma.
• We study English because we want to travel. 🔊 - Estudiamos inglés porque queremos viajar.

8. Result: SO (Así que / Por lo tanto)

We use so to show the result or consequence of something.

• I was tired, so I went to bed early. 🔊 - Estaba cansado, así que me fui a la cama temprano.
• It was raining, so we stayed at home. 🔊 - Estaba lloviendo, así que nos quedamos en casa.
• I didn't have money, so I didn't buy the shoes. 🔊 - No tenía dinero, así que no compré los zapatos.

Summary Table

📺 Recommended Videos

• Linking Words: And, But, So, Because

• Connectors in English

• Connectors: Also, Or, Because, So