Patina · Grammar

Joining Words

and, but, so, or  ·  however, although, despite

The leaves are red, and the air is cool. Two sentences and one joining word make one longer sentence. Some words add an idea, and some say something different.

★ which word? comma or no comma?  ·  ★★ join them, you choose, fix it  ·  ★★★ stronger words, your fall

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For the teacher · In class

Read the four cards aloud; for each one ask "What is the job?" For Which word?, read the sentence with a hum in the gap and let the room call the word. For Comma or no comma?, ask "Two sentences, or two words?" For Join them and You choose, students type one sentence each in the chat. Stronger joining words is for the higher students; the others can stop after ★★. For Fix the sentence, read the wrong one aloud and let the room hear the problem. For Your fall, everyone puts one sentence in the chat.

★ Four joining words

Two sentences + one joining word = one longer sentence.

and

adds one more idea

but

something different

so

what happens next

or

a choice

Sentence, and / but / so / or + sentence. Two whole sentences: put a comma before the word.

★ Which word?

Read both parts. Which word joins them? Click one.

  1. 1It's sunny, it's very windy.
  2. 2Bilal's coat is too small, he is buying a new one.
  3. 3We can drink cider, we can drink hot tea.
  4. 4Petra is carving a pumpkin, her daughter is helping her.
  5. 5Michael likes apple pie, he doesn't like pumpkin pie.
  6. 6It's raining today, Luan is taking an umbrella.
  7. 7Soledad cleans the yard, she also rakes the leaves.
  8. 8You can pick apples, you can pick pumpkins.

★ Comma or no comma?

Two whole sentences need a comma before the joining word. Two words do not. Click one.

  1. 1It's cold and I'm wearing a hat.
  2. 2hats and gloves
  3. 3apples or pumpkins
  4. 4The sun is out but it's chilly.
  5. 5It's raining so we're staying home.
  6. 6red and orange leaves
  7. 7We can walk or we can drive.
  8. 8cold but sunny

★★ Join them

Join the two sentences with the word. Write one sentence.

  1. 1The leaves are yellow. The air is cool. and
  2. 2It's sunny. It's very cold. but
  3. 3We can rake the leaves today. We can rake them tomorrow. or
  4. 4It's chilly. Janet is wearing a scarf. so
  5. 5Soledad loves Halloween. She doesn't like scary movies. but
  6. 6Kevin buys a pumpkin. His son carves it. and
  7. 7The apples are ripe. We are picking them today. so
  8. 8You can wear boots. You can wear sneakers. or

★★ You choose the word

Now you choose the word: and, but, so or or. Write one sentence.

  1. 1It's dark at 6:00. Farhan turns on the lights.
  2. 2Bilal has a warm coat. He is still cold.
  3. 3We can go apple picking. We can go to the pumpkin farm.
  4. 4Petra makes apple cider. Her husband makes pumpkin bread.
  5. 5The store is closed. We can't buy cider today.
  6. 6Luan likes the fall colors. He doesn't like the cold.

★★ Fix the sentence

Each sentence has the wrong joining word. Write it correctly.

  1. 1It's sunny, so it's very cold.Sunny and cold are different.
  2. 2Michael is hungry, but he is eating an apple.He is hungry, and the result is eating.
  3. 3We can stay home, and we can go to the park.Home or the park? It is a choice.
  4. 4Kevin loves fall, so he doesn't like the rain.Love and don't like are different.
  5. 5The leaves are falling, or Petra is raking them.The leaves fall, and the result is raking.

★★★ Stronger joining words

Stronger words do the same two jobs: add an idea, or say something different. Each one has its own shape.

Adding words

also goes before the verb

as well as + a noun

Different words

however starts a new sentence, comma after

although + a whole sentence

despite + a noun, no verb

Not: Despite it is sunny, it's cold. Despite takes a noun: despite the sun.

★★★ Which word fits?

Which word fits? Look at what comes after the line. Click one.

  1. 1 the rain, we went apple picking.
  2. 2It was raining. , we went apple picking.
  3. 3 it was cold, Petra wore sandals.
  4. 4Luan was tired. , he raked the leaves.
  5. 5 the cold, the kids played outside.
  6. 6 the store was busy, we found a pumpkin.

★★★ Say it a stronger way

Write the sentence again with the new word.

  1. 1It's raining, but we are picking apples. However
  2. 2Bilal is tired, but he is raking the leaves. Although
  3. 3We bought apples, and we bought pumpkins. as well as
  4. 4It was windy, but we went to the farm. Despite

★★★ Your fall

Now you. Finish each sentence about you. Then put one in the chat.

  1. 1What do you like about fall? What don't you like?I like (something), but I don't like (something).
  2. 2What is the weather like today? What are you wearing?Today it's (weather), so I'm wearing (clothes).
  3. 3What can you do this weekend?This weekend I can (do something), or I can (do something).

For the teacher · Answer key

Which word? 1 but  ·  2 so  ·  3 or  ·  4 and  ·  5 but  ·  6 so  ·  7 and  ·  8 or.    Comma or no comma? 1 comma  ·  2 no comma  ·  3 no comma  ·  4 comma  ·  5 comma  ·  6 no comma  ·  7 comma  ·  8 no comma.    Join them: The leaves are yellow, and the air is cool.  ·  It's sunny, but it's very cold.  ·  We can rake the leaves today, or we can rake them tomorrow.  ·  It's chilly, so Janet is wearing a scarf.  ·  Soledad loves Halloween, but she doesn't like scary movies.  ·  Kevin buys a pumpkin, and his son carves it.  ·  The apples are ripe, so we are picking them today.  ·  You can wear boots, or you can wear sneakers.    You choose: 1 so  ·  2 but  ·  3 or  ·  4 and  ·  5 so  ·  6 but.    Fix the sentence: but  ·  so  ·  or  ·  but  ·  so (only the joining word changes).    Which word fits? 1 despite  ·  2 however  ·  3 although  ·  4 however  ·  5 despite  ·  6 although.    Say it a stronger way: It's raining. However, we are picking apples.  ·  Although Bilal is tired, he is raking the leaves.  ·  We bought apples as well as pumpkins.  ·  Despite the wind, we went to the farm.