English Vocabulary in Use Elementary » Unit 50: Conjunctions and connecting words

Word List
  • after
  • also
  • and
  • as well
  • because
  • before
  • but
  • even
  • if
  • like
  • only
  • or
  • so
  • than
  • too
  • when
Exercises

50.1 ‣ Choose one of the words to complete each sentence.

  1. Blake liked school _____ he had many friends there.
    • because
    • but
    • if
  2. Blake left school _____ he joined the navy.
    • so
    • or
    • and
  3. He hadn’t travelled much _____ he joined the navy.
    • but
    • before
    • after
  4. Blake was seasick _____ he left the navy.
    • when
    • if
    • so
  5. He took a job in a bank _____ it was near his home.
    • because
    • after
    • or
  6. He will stay at the bank _____ he likes it there.
    • when
    • if
    • before
  7. If he doesn’t like his new job, he’ll go to university _____ he’ll move to London.
    • before
    • if
    • or
  8. He wants to get married _____ he’s 30.
    • if
    • when
    • so

50.2 ‣ Fill in the gaps with words from B opposite.

I love swimming, my brother loves swimming 1 and my sister likes it very much 2 _____. I can swim better 3 _____ they can! Almost all my family loves swimming. My grandmother swims 4 _____ a fish but she doesn’t swim very often – 5 _____ every year or so, now. too

50.3 ‣ Write six sentences about your family and your habits using only, than, like, also, too and as well.

  2. _____
  3. _____
  4. _____
  5. _____
  6. _____
  7. _____

50.4 ‣ Complete these sentences about yourself.

Answer Key
A ‣ Basic conjunctions

Conjunctions join two parts of a sentence. They help to show the connection between the two parts of the sentence.

conjunctionexampleuse
andKate is a student and she works part-time.We use and to give extra information in the second part of the sentence.
butThey are rich but they aren’t happy.We use but when the second part of the sentence contrasts with the first part.
or You can pay by credit card or cash.We use or when the second part of the sentence gives a different possibility.
because We went home early because we were tired.We use because when the second part of the sentence explains why the first part happened.
so I felt ill so I didn’t go to work.We use so when the second part of the sentence gives a result of the first part.
when I went to the party when the babysitter arrived.We use when to say when the first part of the sentence happened.
before We left before it started to rain.We use before to show that the first part of the sentence happened first.
after We went for a meal after we had seen the film.We use after to show that the second part of the sentence happened first.
if You can have some ice cream if you eat your dinner.We use if to say that the first part of the sentence will only happen after the second part of the sentence happens and it may not happen.
B ‣ Other connecting words

These words are useful for making connections between words and phrases.

wordexampleuse
onlyHe only sleeps for three hours every night.We use only to say something is not very big or very much.
like She looks like her father.We use like to make a comparison.
thanShe works harder than he does.We use than after a comparative adjective or adverb.
also / too / as well He works in the shop and she does also / too / as well.We use also, too and as well to say something is extra.

Tip

These words are small, but they are very important to learn. Write a translation of the words in the first column of the tables.

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