Conjunctions: contrasting

The conjunctions but and although/though connect ideas that contrast. Whereas is also used but it is not as common:

• The new city hall is amazing but it’s going to cost a lot.
• He’s quite short, whereas his sister is tall.

But

But is a coordinating conjunction used to connect ideas that contrast. Coordinating conjunctions connect items which are the same grammatical type.

main idea		contrast
The meal was goodI want to lose weightLara cooked roast beef for meEdinburgh is an interesting place	but	expensive.I hate diets.I don’t eat meat.it takes a long time to get there.

warning

We can’t use however as a conjunction instead of but to connect words and phrases:

• My teacher is very nice but a bit strict.
• Not: My teacher is very nice however a bit strict.

See also

• But

Although/though

Although/though can be used to contrast ideas. Although/though are subordinating conjunctions used to connect a subordinate clause to a main clause, like after, as, before, if, since, that, even though, even if.

main idea	althoughthough	contrast
Grace is an excellent athlete	she injured her leg recently.
Harry is a great friend	we don’t see each other often.

The although/though clause can come first.

	contrast	main idea
Although	the car was destroyed,	no one was injured in the crash.
Though	people say it’s dangerous,	I think it’s an amazing country.

See also

• Conjunctions
• Position of subordinating conjunctions
• Although or though?
• But or although?

But or although?

But cannot be used in the same way as although/though. We use but to connect items which are the same grammatical type (coordinating conjunction).

warning

The order of clauses connected by coordinating conjunctions cannot be reversed:

• Although it rained a lot, we’ve still enjoyed our holiday.
• We’ve still enjoyed our holiday, although it rained a lot.
• It rained a lot but we’ve still enjoyed our holiday.
• Not: But it rained a lot, we’ve still enjoyed our holiday.

Although can sound more formal than but. Though is much more common in speaking than in writing. Although is much more common in writing than in speaking.

Even though, even if

Even though and even if are also used as subordinating conjunctions in the same way as although/though. Even though is similar to although but it makes a stronger contrast:

• Even though I cycle to work, I don’t feel very fit.

Even if means ‘whether or not’:

• Even if you run, you’ll still be late. (You’ll be late whether you run or not.)
• I feel tired even if I go to bed early. (I feel tired whether I go to bed early or not.)

See also

• Whether

Conjunctions: typical errors

We use and to connect words in a list and to connect phrases and clauses in a sentence:

• He loves cycling, hiking and ball games.
• Not: He loves cycling, hiking, ball games.

See also

• And
• Adding with and

After conjunctions referring to time, such as when, once and as soon as, we use the present simple when we refer to the future:

• It will be summer when we see you again.

• Not: … when we will see you again.

• They’ll leave once the lecture finishes.

• Not: … once the lecture will finish.

• As soon as I hear any news, I’ll call you.

• Not: As soon as I’ll hear any news …

During is a preposition, not a conjunction, so it must be followed by a noun or a pronoun:

• She studies while she is on the train.
• Not: She studies during she is on the train.

See also

• Conjunctions: time

When we use a *so-*clause to connect a cause/reason to a result, the *so-*clause must come second:

• I bought a new computer game so I have no money left.
• Not: So I have no money left I bought a new computer game.

See also

• Conjunctions: causes, reasons and results
• Because
• Since
• As

We use although/though, not but, to connect a subordinate clause to a main clause:

• Although I’m tall, I’m not as tall as Bill.
• Not: But I’m tall, I’m not as tall as Bill.

See also

• But or although?

When as well as or in addition to are followed by clauses, the verb is in the -ing form:

• [from a brochure advertising an English course in London]

• As well as living with a family, you practise your English.

• Not: As well as you live with a family …

• In addition to being a wonderful seafood restaurant, it had an amazing view.

• Not: In addition to it was a wonderful seafood restaurant …

See also

• Adding with as well as and in addition to

We cannot use however to connect words and phrases:

• The area around Cannes has small but nice beaches.
• Not: … has small however nice beaches.

See also

• Conjunctions: causes, reasons and results
• Position of subordinating conjunctions
• When or if?

We only use one conjunction to connect words or phrases:

• Since she had the day off work, she went out for lunch with some friends.
• Not: Since she had the day off work, so she went out for lunch …