Conjunctions: and, or, but

And usually joins units of the same grammatical type: noun with noun, adjective with adjective, verb with verb, phrase with phrase, or one complete clause with another.

Check both sides of and. Tea and coffee has names of things on both sides; quiet and clean has two characteristics; reads and writes has two actions. This parallel structure helps make the sentence clear.

If the same person performs two actions, the subject often does not need repeating. In Leo works and studies, Leo applies to both verbs.

After and, keep the second verb in the form its subject requires. For example, she cooks and cleans has -s on both verbs.

And can combine two complete statements. If the actions have different performers, each clause usually keeps its own subject: Mia cooks and Ben washes the dishes.

Do not remove the second subject if that changes who performs the action. Mia cooks and washes the dishes means Mia performs both actions; Mia cooks and Ben washes the dishes names two people.

In an ordinary list of three or more items, and usually comes only before the final item: bread, cheese and fruit. Commas separate the preceding items.

Both list punctuation patterns are possible: bread, cheese and fruit and bread, cheese, and fruit. The second is particularly common in American English; British English can also use this comma. A comma is usually unnecessary between short clauses sharing a subject. Between longer full clauses with different subjects, a comma can make reading easier. This lesson therefore does not label one natural option universally incorrect.

And adds information. Or gives a choice or alternative, while but signals a contrast. A sentence with or or but can be grammatical yet miss the task’s goal if it asks for two additional facts without a choice or contrast.

Do not choose the conjunction solely by whether you like both parts. Nina is tired and she is working grammatically adds two facts, even if their connection seems surprising. To highlight a contrast, the speaker could deliberately choose but, presenting the same facts differently.

Before and, identify what you are adding: an object, characteristic, action or whole clause. Then check that the elements are grammatically compatible and it is clear who performs each action.

For a self-check, read the sentence slowly: is there a complete unit on each side of and, has a necessary second subject been lost, and does and really express the intention “also”? Your own examples can be true or invented.

Or is a coordinating conjunction. It naturally connects units at the same grammatical level: a word with a word, a phrase with a phrase, or a sentence with a sentence.

You do not need to repeat a shared part. In We can walk or take the bus, can applies to both actions, so the same base form is needed after or.

In a question, put or between the visible alternatives. The other words keep the usual English question order.

The alternatives can be objects, times, places, or actions. If it is important to choose exactly one, this should be clear from the situation or stated directly.

Or is not used only in questions. In a statement, it names possible actions, places, or methods; in an instruction, it gives a choice of action.

When there are three or more options, separate the earlier items with commas in writing, and put or before the last one. A comma directly before or depends on the style.

Or presents alternatives. And adds one element to another, while but shows contrast. Choosing a conjunction changes the meaning, even when all the sentences are grammatical.

Do you want tea and coffee? is a correct sentence: it asks about tea and coffee together. If the situation requires one drink, or is needed, but and does not become ungrammatical.

Or by itself does not universally mean “only one and never both.” The rules of the situation may allow one participant, either of two participants, or both.

For A1, the clearest option is to add or both, only one, or choose one directly. Either ... or, neither ... nor, agreement with compound subjects, and intonation belong to other topics.

But is a coordinating conjunction. It joins units doing the same grammatical job: adjective with adjective, verb phrase with verb phrase, or one full clause with another.

A useful check is to identify the two parts and ask whether they can be compared at the same level. Quiet but friendly contrasts two qualities; works at home but studies at college contrasts two actions of one subject; I called, but Maya was busy joins two separate messages.

The parts do not need to be equally long. Their role and completeness matter, not their word count.

If both actions concern the same subject, it is usually not repeated: I like the colour but do not like the size. The subject I belongs to both verb phrases.

If the actors differ, name each one: I like mornings, but my partner prefers evenings. The second clause after but has its own subject, my partner, and verb, prefers.

Do not leave an expressed subject without a verb. I am tired but I happy is ungrammatical because the second I is missing am. You can say I am tired but happy or I am tired but I am happy.

But not is useful when the first thing or action applies and the second does not: tea but not coffee. Not negates only the second contrasted part.

After but not, use a unit at the same level: noun phrase + but not + noun phrase, or verb phrase + but not + verb phrase. In the simple I drink tea but not coffee pattern, do not add likes or drinks after not.

For a full negative statement, give it its own subject and auxiliary: I drink tea, but my sister does not. This lesson focuses on simple coordination, not every type of verb substitution.

And simply adds information, or offers a choice or alternative, and but marks contrast. The conjunction changes how the listener connects the second part with the first.

I am tired and happy is grammatical: it adds two states. I am tired but happy is also grammatical, but the speaker emphasises that happiness is unexpected alongside tiredness. And is therefore not grammatically wrong; it simply does not meet an explicitly stated goal of showing contrast.

Similarly, or is entirely correct in Tea or coffee?, but it expresses a choice. In a closed-answer exercise, but can be the only accepted answer only when the instruction explicitly requires contrast.

A comma is often omitted before but between two short parts sharing one subject: She is tired but wants to finish. Between complete clauses, especially with different subjects, a comma can help readability: She is tired, but Leo wants to continue.

In real texts, comma choice depends on length, subjects, and style; omitting a comma before but is not always a grammatical error. Open-ended answers in this material are therefore not rejected solely for a comma variant if the connection is clear.

A sentence can begin with But in ordinary speech and informal writing: But I don’t have time. Very formal writing often avoids such an opening. This stylistic distinction is not the target skill at A1.

First identify two real or invented facts. Then decide whether the second merely adds information or actually differs from the first or overturns an expectation. Choose but only for the second kind of relationship.

For a short answer, start with reliable patterns: adjective but adjective; verb phrase but verb phrase; clause but clause; A but not B. Then check that each expressed subject has the verb it needs.

Models in open-ended exercises show one natural way to answer. Vocabulary, details, and the order of the two facts can vary if the required meaning, grammatical form, and contrast are preserved. Your facts can be invented.