Grammar: A2 - ✨ Grammar Essentials: 🏗️ Sentence Structure - Expanding - Lesson 7: "and," "but," "or" - Review and expansion in compound sentences

Grammar: Coordinating Conjunctions

B1 Lesson 18: Joining Ideas with 'And', 'But', & 'Or'

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to correctly use the conjunctions 'and', 'but', and 'or' with a comma to create compound sentences.

Joining Sentences

To make our writing more interesting, we can join two simple sentences (or independent clauses) together to make one longer, more complex sentence. These are called compound sentences, and we use special joining words called conjunctions to connect them.

➕ Adding Ideas with 'And'

Use and to connect two similar or related ideas.

Example: He is a tour guide, and he knows a lot about history.

➖ Contrasting Ideas with 'But'

Use but to connect two different or opposite ideas.

Example: I wanted to see the sunrise, but it was too cloudy.

❓ Showing a Choice with 'Or'

Use or to show two different possibilities or choices.

Example: We can go to the museum, or we can relax by the pool.

Punctuation Rule: When you join two complete sentences with 'and', 'but', or 'or', you must use a comma ( , ) before the conjunction.

The Grammar Rule 📖

Summary of Conjunctions

Conjunction	Function	Example
and	Adds a similar idea (+)	I am tired, and I am hungry.
but	Shows a contrast (-)	I am tired, but I am not hungry.
or	Gives a choice (?)	Are you tired, or are you hungry?

Practice Your Grammar 🎯

Exercise: Choose the Correct Conjunction

Choose the correct conjunction (and, but, or) to complete the sentences.

1. She likes history, ___ she doesn't like museums.
   → but
2. Do you want to see the sunset at the temple, ___ should we go to a rooftop bar?
   → or
3. The tuk-tuk driver was very friendly, ___ he gave us a good price.
   → and
4. He can speak Khmer, ___ he can't speak English.
   → but

Your Grammar Mission ⭐

Join the Sentences

Join the two simple sentences to make one compound sentence. Use the conjunction in parentheses ( ). Remember the comma!

Example: I want to go swimming. It is raining. (but) → I want to go swimming, but it is raining.

1. He is a good student. He studies very hard. (and)
   → He is a good student, and he studies very hard.
2. We can eat now. We can eat later. (or)
   → We can eat now, or we can eat later.
3. The hotel is very nice. It is very expensive. (but)
   → The hotel is very nice, but it is very expensive.

Key Vocabulary

• Compound Sentence (Noun) | ប្រយោគผสม
  A sentence made of two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction.
• Independent Clause (Noun) | ឃ្លាឯករាជ្យ
  A simple, complete sentence that can stand by itself.
• Conjunction (Noun) | ឈ្នាប់
  A word used to connect other words, phrases, or clauses (e.g., and, but, or).