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Intermediate English Grammar (B1) Lesson 11 of 25

Coordinating Conjunctions

Read and listen to four conversations using the grammar.

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Conversation 1

Man: I like this soup, it’s so yum, yet healthy.
Woman: It is good, but it is high in sodium.
Man: Yeah, but it has lots of veggies.
Woman: True, but it not cheap, nor easy to make.
Man: OK, you don’t like it.
Woman: I do. I am just being honest.

Conversation 2

Man: Where will you go for summer?
Woman: I am not sure yet.
Man: I will go to the beach or the lake.
Woman: I would go, but my son has school.
Man: He has school in summer.
Woman: Yeah, he has to go to school this summer, or he will not graduate.

Conversation 3

Man: What will you do tomorrow?
Woman: I have to work, but I finish early.
Man: I don’t work, so I will go somewhere.
Woman: Where will you go?
Man: I think to the forest, for the leaves are changing colors now.
Woman: Well, have a good time and take lots of pictures.

Conversation 4

Man: Do you go out much?
Woman: No, I don’t drink, and I don’t like crowds.
Man: Yeah, me too, but I hate staying home.
Woman: So, what do you do? Watch movies?
Man: No, I don’t like movies, nor do I like TV shows, so I tend to read a lot.
Woman: Sounds boring, but each to his own.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Point 1: Coordinating Conjunctions connect words, phrases and clauses. There are seven of them.
  1. I work in the city, and I study at university.
  2. I am tired, but I will keep working.
  3. It was cold, so we stayed inside.
  4. You can leave, or you can stay.
  5. I don't like math, nor do I like history.
  6. We went home, for it was getting late.
  7. I was so tired, yet I could not sleep.
Point 2: And shows similarity and associates things.

Word: I have a dog and a cat.
Phrase
: I like to study at night and in the morning.
Clause: I can sing and I write music, too.

Point 3: But contrasts ideas.

Word: It is cloudy but warm.
Phrase
: It is open on Saturday but not on Sunday.
Clause: I play sports, but I never watch sports on TV.

Point 4: So shows cause and effect. It has other meanings. Thus, it can only be used with clauses.

Word: --x--
Phrase
: --x--
Clause: I was tired, so I went home.

Point 5: For shows reasons. It means because. It has other meanings. Thus, it can only be used with clauses.

Word: --x--
Phrase
: --x--
Clause: We did not make it, for the traffic was bad.

Point 6: Or connects related choices.

Word: You can have coffee or tea.
Phrase
: We can stay by the lake or in the woods.
Clause: We can take the train, or we can drive there.

Nor connects two related negative concepts.

Word: The book was not fun, nor useful.
Phrase
: I don't sit much at home, nor at work.
Clause: I don't eat meat, nor do I drink caffeine.

Point 7: Yet shows a surprising contrast between two things.

Word: Her dress was elegant yet simple.
Phrase
: --x--
Clause: He is rich, yet he never spends any money.

Answer these questions about the interview.

Gap Fill: Complete the conversation with the correct word!

More Grammar Conversations for Intermediate Students (B1)

Grammar Listening Practice


1247 Work from Abroad
B1-11 Coordinating Conjunctions
I like this soup, it’s so yum, yet healthy.

1247 Work from Abroad
B1-12 Subordinating Conjuctions - Time
I usually eat as soon as I get home.

1247 Work from Abroad
B1-13 Subordinating Conjuctions - Reason
Well, since you were not here, I can’t pay you.

1247 Work from Abroad
B1-14 Subordinating Conjuctions - Conditionals
Yes, I'm going unless I get stuck at work.

1247 Work from Abroad
B1-15 Second Conditional
Things would be better around here if I were the boss!

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