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BeginnerConjunctions
How conjunctions connect clauses and ideas in Spanish, English and Chinese.
Compare languages
English and Spanish share many Latinate conjunctions. Chinese uses a smaller set of core conjunctions, often omitting them when context is clear. Spanish requires subjunctive after certain conjunctions of doubt or condition.
Overview
Conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses. Every language has core coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or) and subordinating conjunctions (because, if, although).
- Spanish: Distinguishes pero from sino. Several conjunctions trigger the subjunctive. Uses e and u before words starting with i and o respectively.
- English: Allows sentence-initial conjunctions freely. Uses the same conjunctions for coordination and subordination. Phrasal conjunctions are common (as well as, in order that).
- Chinese: Has a smaller inventory. Often omits conjunctions when context makes the relationship clear. Uses paired structures (虽然…但是, 因为…所以).
Spanish
Coordinating conjunctions
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| y | and | Juan y María |
| e | and (before i-) | padre e hijo |
| o | or | * café o té* |
| u | or (before o-/ho-) | siete u ocho |
| pero | but | es caro, pero bueno |
| sino | but rather | no es rojo, sino verde |
| sino que | but rather (clause) | no vino, sino que llamó |
Pero vs sino:
- Es caro, pero lo compro. (It’s expensive, but I’m buying it. — contrast)
- No es caro, sino barato. (It’s not expensive, but rather cheap. — correction)
- No vino, sino que se quedó. (He didn’t come, but rather stayed. — correction with verb)
Rule: Use pero when the first clause is not negative. Use sino after a negative to correct.
Subordinating conjunctions
| Conjunction | Meaning | Subjunctive? |
|---|---|---|
| porque | because | No |
| ya que / puesto que | since, given that | No |
| aunque | although | Yes/No (uncertainty) |
| cuando | when | Yes/No (future/uncertain) |
| si | if | Yes (hypothetical) |
| mientras | while | Yes/No |
| a menos que | unless | Yes |
| con tal (de) que | provided that | Yes |
| para que | so that | Yes |
| sin que | without | Yes |
| antes (de) que | before | Yes |
| hasta que | until | Yes (future) |
Subjunctive trigger: When the conjunction introduces an action that is not yet realized or is uncertain:
- Ven cuando puedas. (Come when you can. — subjunctive: unspecified time)
- Venía cuando podía. (I used to come when I could. — indicative: habitual past)
- Te llamaré antes de que salgas. (I’ll call you before you leave. — subjunctive: future)
Paired conjunctions
- no solo… sino (también)… (not only… but also…)
- tanto… como… (both… and… / as much as…)
- ni… ni… (neither… nor…)
English
Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| For | reason | I stayed, for I was tired. (formal) |
| And | addition | coffee and tea |
| Nor | negative addition | neither here nor there |
| But | contrast | small but strong |
| Or | alternative | tea or coffee |
| Yet | contrast | expensive, yet worth it |
| So | result | tired, so I left |
Sentence-initial conjunctions
English allows starting sentences with conjunctions — a stylistic choice, not an error:
- And then I left.
- But I disagree.
- So what happened?
- Or maybe not.
Subordinating conjunctions
| Category | Conjunctions |
|---|---|
| Time | when, while, as, before, after, since, until, once |
| Condition | if, unless, provided that, as long as |
| Reason | because, since, as, now that |
| Contrast | although, though, even though, whereas, while |
| Purpose | so that, in order that |
| Result | so… that, such… that |
| Manner | as if, as though, like |
| Place | where, wherever |
Correlative conjunctions
- either… or…
- neither… nor…
- not only… but also…
- both… and…
- whether… or…
- as… as…
- so… that…
- such… that…
That omission
English often omits that in noun clauses:
- I think (that) he’s right.
- She said (that) she would come.
Chinese
Core conjunctions
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 和 | and (nouns) | 我和你 (you and I) |
| 跟 | and/with (nouns, colloquial) | 我跟他 (me and him) |
| 而 | and/but (formal, clauses) | 华而实 (glorious yet substantive) |
| 但是 | but | 很贵，但是很好 |
| 可是 | but | 很贵，可是很好 |
| 不过 | however | 不过，我觉得… |
| 或者 | or (statements) | 茶或者咖啡 |
| 还是 | or (questions) | 你要茶还是咖啡？ |
Subordinating conjunctions
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 因为 | because | 因为下雨 |
| 由于 | due to (formal) | 由于时间 |
| 所以 | so, therefore | 所以我不去 |
| 如果 | if | 如果下雨 |
| 要是 | if (colloquial) | 要是你来 |
| 虽然 | although | 虽然下雨 |
| 当…时 | when | 当我小时候 |
| 虽然…但是 | although… (but) | paired |
| 因为…所以 | because… (so) | paired |
Paired conjunctions
Chinese frequently uses paired structures:
-
虽然…但是… (although… but…)
- 虽然很贵，但是我还是买了。(Although expensive, I still bought it.)
-
因为…所以… (because… therefore…)
- 因为下雨，所以我不去。(Because it’s raining, I won’t go.)
Note: Using both 因为 and 所以 in the same sentence is common, though either can be omitted.
Omission of conjunctions
Chinese often omits conjunctions when context is clear:
- 下雨，我不去。(Raining, I’m not going. — because omitted)
- 他来，我就走。(He comes, I leave. — if/when omitted)
Comparison at a glance
| Feature | Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| And | y / e | and | 和 / 跟 / 而 |
| But (contrast) | pero | but / yet | 但是 / 可是 |
| But (correction) | sino / sino que | — | 而是 |
| Or | o / u | or | 或者 / 还是 |
| Because | porque / ya que | because / since / as | 因为 / 由于 |
| If | si | if | 如果 / 要是 |
| Although | aunque | although / though | 虽然…但是 |
| So | así que / por eso | so / therefore | 所以 / 因此 |
| When | cuando | when / while | 当…的时候 |
| Paired structures | no solo…sino también | not only…but also | 因为…所以 / 虽然…但是 |
| Subjunctive trigger | Yes (many) | No | No |
| Conjunction omission | Rare | Occasional | Common |
Examples
In Context
| Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| Quiero té o café. | I want tea or coffee. | 我要茶或者咖啡。 |
| Es caro, pero bueno. | It’s expensive but good. | 很贵，但是很好。 |
| Aunque llovió, fuimos.* | Although it rained, we went.* | 虽然下雨，但是我们还是去了。 |
| Como llueve, no voy.* / Porque llueve, no voy.* | Because it’s raining, I’m not going.* | 因为下雨，所以我不去。 |
Common mistakes
-
English speakers learning Spanish: Pero after negative correction: No es rojo, pero verde → No es rojo, sino verde
-
Spanish speakers learning English: Sino has no direct equivalent: No es rojo, sino verde → It’s not red, but green (English uses but for both)
-
English speakers learning Chinese: Omitting 但是 in 虽然-clauses: 虽然下雨，我还是去了 is acceptable but 虽然下雨，但是我还是去了 is more complete
-
English speakers learning Spanish: Using indicative after aunque of doubt: Aunque viene, no importa → Aunque venga, no importa (if the coming is uncertain)
Related topics
- Conditionals: How si and 如果 form conditional clauses
- Subjunctive: How Spanish conjunctions trigger the subjunctive
- Word Order: How clauses are ordered with conjunctions
- Questions: How question-word order interacts with conjunctions
Examples
And
y / e (before i-)
But
pero / sino / sino que
Or
o / u (before o-/ho-)
Because
porque (answer), ya que / puesto que (clause)
If
si (indicative/subjunctive)
Although
aunque (+ subjunctive/indicative)
So / therefore
así que / por eso / por lo tanto
When
cuando (+ indicative/subjunctive)
Examples
And
and
But
but / yet
Or
or
Because
because / since / as
If
if
Although
although / though / even though
So / therefore
so / therefore / thus
When
when / while / as
Examples
And
和 / 跟 / 而
But
但是 / 可是 / 不过
Or
或者 / 还是 (in questions)
Because
因为 / 由于
If
如果 / 要是
Although
虽然...但是
So / therefore
所以 / 因此
When
当...的时候 / 的时候
Comparison at a glance
| Grammar concepts | Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| And | y / e (before i-) | and | 和 / 跟 / 而 |
| But | pero / sino / sino que | but / yet | 但是 / 可是 / 不过 |
| Or | o / u (before o-/ho-) | or | 或者 / 还是 (in questions) |
| Because | porque (answer), ya que / puesto que (clause) | because / since / as | 因为 / 由于 |
| If | si (indicative/subjunctive) | if | 如果 / 要是 |
| Although | aunque (+ subjunctive/indicative) | although / though / even though | 虽然...但是 |
| So / therefore | así que / por eso / por lo tanto | so / therefore / thus | 所以 / 因此 |
| When | cuando (+ indicative/subjunctive) | when / while / as | 当...的时候 / 的时候 |
Select at least one language to view comparisons
Side-by-side comparison
| Grammar concepts | Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| And | y / e (before i-) | and | 和 / 跟 / 而 |
| But | pero / sino / sino que | but / yet | 但是 / 可是 / 不过 |
| Or | o / u (before o-/ho-) | or | 或者 / 还是 (in questions) |
| Because | porque (answer), ya que / puesto que (clause) | because / since / as | 因为 / 由于 |
| If | si (indicative/subjunctive) | if | 如果 / 要是 |
| Although | aunque (+ subjunctive/indicative) | although / though / even though | 虽然...但是 |
| So / therefore | así que / por eso / por lo tanto | so / therefore / thus | 所以 / 因此 |
| When | cuando (+ indicative/subjunctive) | when / while / as | 当...的时候 / 的时候 |
Select at least one language to view comparisons
Examples in context
And
Spanish
y / e (before i-)
English
and
Chinese
和 / 跟 / 而
But
Spanish
pero / sino / sino que
English
but / yet
Chinese
但是 / 可是 / 不过
Or
Spanish
o / u (before o-/ho-)
English
or
Chinese
或者 / 还是 (in questions)
Because
Spanish
porque (answer), ya que / puesto que (clause)
English
because / since / as
Chinese
因为 / 由于
If
Spanish
si (indicative/subjunctive)
English
if
Chinese
如果 / 要是
Although
Spanish
aunque (+ subjunctive/indicative)
English
although / though / even though
Chinese
虽然...但是
So / therefore
Spanish
así que / por eso / por lo tanto
English
so / therefore / thus
Chinese
所以 / 因此
When
Spanish
cuando (+ indicative/subjunctive)
English
when / while / as
Chinese
当...的时候 / 的时候
Select at least one language to view comparisons
Key Takeaways
Spanish: Distinguishes pero from sino. Several conjunctions trigger the subjunctive. Uses e and u before words starting with i and o respectively.
English: Allows sentence-initial conjunctions freely. Uses the same conjunctions for coordination and subordination. Phrasal conjunctions are common.
Chinese: Has a smaller inventory. Often omits conjunctions when context makes the relationship clear. Uses paired structures (虽然...但是, 因y.
Key concepts compared: And, But, Or.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Spanish change y to e and o to u in certain contexts?
How does Chinese express logical relationships without relying heavily on conjunctions?
Which Spanish conjunctions require the subjunctive, and why?
References
- Nueva gramática de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, 2010
- The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language — Huddleston & Pullum, Cambridge University Press, 2002
- A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Chinese Language — Li & Thompson, 1981
Last updated: June 4, 2026