Using Conjunctions: And, But, Or, So and Because – English Standard Four

1. Meaning of Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word used to join words or sentences.

Examples:

• Asha and Juma are pupils.
• I am tired but happy.
• Do you want tea or milk?

The common conjunctions we are going to learn are and, but, or, so and because.

2. Uses of Conjunctions

A. AND

We use and to join words or sentences. It adds information.

• I have a pen and a pencil.
• Juma likes rice and beans.
• Amina sings and dances.
• My father and mother are teachers.
• We went to school and studied English.

Remember: AND adds information.

B. BUT

We use but to join ideas that show a difference or contrast.

• I am poor but happy.
• Juma is young but strong.
• The bag is small but heavy.
• It was raining but we went to school.
• Asha likes tea but she does not like coffee.

Remember: BUT shows a difference.

C. OR

We use or to show a choice between two or more things.

• Do you want tea or milk?
• Is this your book or your sister’s book?
• You can use a pen or a pencil.
• Would you like rice or bananas?
• Will you walk or take a bus?

Remember: OR gives a choice.

D. SO

We use so to show the result of something.

• It was raining, so we stayed at home.
• I was hungry, so I ate some food.
• Juma studied hard, so he passed the test.
• The teacher was absent, so we went home.
• It was very hot, so we drank water.

Remember: SO shows a result.

E. BECAUSE

We use because to give a reason why something happens.

• I stayed at home because I was sick.
• Asha is happy because she passed the test.
• We went to school because we wanted to learn.
• Juma is crying because he is hurt.
• I drink water because I am thirsty.

Remember: BECAUSE gives a reason.

3. Comparing SO and BECAUSE

We use so to introduce a result and because to introduce a reason.

SO – Result	BECAUSE – Reason
I was hungry, so I ate food.	I ate food because I was hungry.
It was raining, so we stayed home.	We stayed home because it was raining.
She was sick, so she went to hospital.	She went to hospital because she was sick.

4. Joining Sentences Using Conjunctions

We can join two short sentences to make one sentence.

• I have a pen. I have a pencil. → I have a pen and a pencil.
• Juma is poor. Juma is happy. → Juma is poor but happy.
• Do you want rice? Do you want ugali? → Do you want rice or ugali?
• I was tired. I went to bed. → I was tired, so I went to bed.
• Amina stayed at home. She was sick. → Amina stayed at home because she was sick.

5. Exercises

Exercise A: Fill in the blanks using AND, BUT, OR, SO or BECAUSE.

1. I have a pen ______ a pencil.
2. Would you like tea ______ coffee?
3. Juma is small ______ strong.
4. It was raining, ______ we stayed at home.
5. I am happy ______ I passed my examination.
6. Asha sings ______ dances.
7. I was thirsty, ______ I drank water.
8. He did not go to school ______ he was sick.
9. The dress is beautiful ______ expensive.
10. Do you want a mango ______ an orange?

Exercise B: Choose the correct answer.

1. I like football ______ volleyball. (A) because (B) and (C) so
2. She was sick, ______ she went to hospital. (A) so (B) or (C) and
3. Do you want tea ______ milk? (A) but (B) because (C) or
4. He is poor ______ honest. (A) but (B) so (C) because
5. I went to bed early ______ I was tired. (A) and (B) because (C) or

Exercise C: Join the sentences using the conjunction in brackets.

1. I have a bag. I have a book. (and)
2. She is young. She is clever. (but)
3. Do you want rice? Do you want ugali? (or)
4. It was cold. We wore sweaters. (so)
5. He was absent. He was sick. (because)

6. Assessment

1. What is a conjunction?
2. What is the use of AND?
3. Which conjunction shows a choice?
4. Which conjunction gives a reason?
5. Which conjunction shows a result?

7. Answers

Exercise A

1. and
2. or
3. but
4. so
5. because
6. and
7. so
8. because
9. but
10. or

Exercise B

1. B – and
2. A – so
3. C – or
4. A – but
5. B – because

Exercise C

1. I have a bag and a book.
2. She is young but clever.
3. Do you want rice or ugali?
4. It was cold, so we wore sweaters.
5. He was absent because he was sick.

8. Support for Slow Learners

• A teacher to explain one conjunction at a time.
• A teacher to use familiar objects such as pens, books, bags and fruits.
• A teacher to write simple examples on the chalkboard.
• Pupils to practise joining two short sentences orally.
• Pupils to complete simple sentences with guidance.

9. Learning Outcome

By the end of this lesson, a pupil should be able to identify the five common conjunctions, explain their uses, use AND, BUT, OR, SO and BECAUSE correctly, and join simple words and sentences using appropriate conjunctions.