LoginCoordinating Conjunctions For Intermediate learners
What Are Coordinating Conjunctions?
Coordinating conjunctions (conjunciones coordinantes) are words that link two or more elements of equal grammatical value, such as two nouns, two adjectives, two verbs, or two independent clauses, where neither depends on the other. Depending on the type of relationship they indicate between the elements, Spanish coordinating conjunctions can be divided into three categories:
Copulative conjunctions
Disjunctive conjunctions
Adversative conjunctions
Copulatives
Copulative coordinating conjunctions are used to join or add different elements or ideas together and include:
y → and → used to add two or more ideas together
Tengo un perro y un gato.
I have a dog and a cat.
Compró pan y leche.
He/She bought bread and milk
e → and → used before words beginning with i- or hi-
Padres e hijos deben respetarse.
Parents and children must respect each other.
ni → nor → used to join two negative ideas together
No canta ni baila.
She/He neither sings nor dances.
No come, ni duerme, ni trabaja.
He/She doesn't eat, nor sleep, nor work.
Disjunctives
Disjunctive coordinating conjunctions are used to introduce options or alternatives. They include:
o → or → used to give alternatives
¿Quieres té o café?
Do you want tea or coffee?
¿Prefieres vino o cerveza?
Do you prefer wine or beer.
u → or → used before words starting with o- or ho-
Siete u ocho personas llegaron.
Seven or eight people arrived.
Adversatives
Adversative coordinating conjunctions show contrast or opposition between two ideas. They include:
pero → but → shows opposition between two ideas where both can be true
Quiero ir, pero no tengo dinero.
I want to go, but I have no money.
Quise ayudar, pero llegué tarde.
I wanted to help, but I arrived too late.
sino → but rather → used between two ideas where one contradicts the other, the first statement is negative
No quiero dormir, sino descansar un poco.
I don't want to sleep, but rather rest a little.
No es alto, sino bajo.
He's not tall but short.
Tip!
When a conjugated verb is used after "sino," it must be replaced by "sino que."
No estudió, sino que salió a jugar.
He didn't study, but rather went out to play.
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