Coordinating Conjunctions
The essential "glue" to build complex sentences without sounding like a robot.
| Spanish | English | When to use it | Real-life Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| y | and | The most common conjunction to link similar elements. | Juan y María hablan español. Juan and Maria speak Spanish. |
| e | and | Replaces 'y' before words starting with the 'i' sound (i- or hi-) to avoid phonetic clash. | Hablamos de padres e hijos. We talk about fathers and sons. |
| ni | nor / neither | Used in negative sentences to link two negative alternatives. | No quiero té ni café. I want neither tea nor coffee. |
| o | or | The standard conjunction used to express a choice between options. | ¿Prefieres vino o cerveza? Do you prefer wine or beer? |
| u | or | Replaces 'o' before words starting with the 'o' sound (o- or ho-) to avoid phonetic clash. | ¿Son siete u ocho personas? Are there seven or eight people? |
| pero | but | The most common way to express contrast or opposition. | Tengo hambre, pero no tengo dinero. I am hungry, but I have no money. |
| sino | but (rather) | Used after a negative statement to introduce a corrective alternative. | No es rojo, sino naranja. It's not red, but rather orange. |
| mas | but | A formal or literary synonym for 'pero', rarely used in conversation. | Quiso ir, mas no pudo. He wanted to go, but he couldn't. |
| ya... ya | whether... or | Used to express alternatives that occur at different times or situations. | Ya sea hoy, ya sea mañana. Whether it be today or tomorrow. |
| bien... bien | either... or | Used for alternating options in a slightly more formal tone. | Bien vienes, bien te quedas. Either you come, or you stay. |
| sea... sea | be it... or | Very useful for listing possibilities or conditions. | Sea por mar, sea por aire. Be it by sea or by air. |
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