Conjunctions are the words we use to link or join two or more sentences or two words within the same sentence. The most common conjunctions in Spanish are: y, pero, o.

Example

Comemos en casa y trabajamos en la oficina. (We eat at home and work in the office)

The conjunction "y" joins the sentences: "comemos en casa" with "trabajamos en la oficina". We divide conjunctions in Coordinating, Correlative and Subordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating conjunctions are used when we want to join two sentences that work at the same level of importance in our speech, both actions are equally important.

Example

Nos tomamos una ensalada y un helado. (We had a salad and an ice cream)

In this example we are using the coordinating conjunction "y" to join two objects within the same sentence.

Fuimos a la piscina y comimos allí. (We went to the swimming pool and had lunch there)

In this example we are using the coordinating conjunction "y" to join two different sentences, "fuimos a la piscina" with "comimos allí".

Correlative conjunctions are used to join, or simply to show any relation, between the idea or different ideas mentioned in different parts of the sentence. They are always used in pairs. Some of these conjunctions are: O.o (either.or) Que...que (or) Ni.ni (Neither. nor) Sea...sea (either.or) Bien. bien (either.or) Uno...otro (one...another) Tal.tal (this and that) Cual.cual (like...like) Ora...ora (now...now) Ya.ya (whether...or)

Example

Tienes dos opciones, o aprendes Inglés, o aprendes Español. (You have two options, either you learn English, or you learn Spanish)

In this example, we are using the correlative conjunction "o.o" to show the relation, in this case of option, between "aprendes Inglés" and "aprendes Español".

Subordinating conjunctions are used to join two sentences when one of them is depending on the first one. Some of these conjunctions are: Que (that) Aunque (although, though) Debido a (because of) En tanto que (while) Ya que, puesto que (since) Hasta que (until) Pues, como (as) Como si (as if, as though) A fin de que (so that) Cuando (when) Para que no (lest) Por que (why) Si (if) Para (in order that) A menos que (unless) Si bien (although, even though)

Example

Este es el restaurante del que te hablé. (This is the restaurant that I told you about)

In this example, the subordinating conjunction "que" introduces the sentence "del que te hablé" which is dependent on the first sentence "este es el restaurante".

Y / e (and)

Ni (nor)

O / u (or)

Pero (but)

Mas (but)

Aunque (although / though)

Sino (but)

Sin embargo (however)

Antes (before / rather)

Antes bien (rather)

Más bien (although / even though)

Si bien (although / even though)

A pesar de (in spite of the fact that)

Con todo (in spite of)

Así pues (so / therefore)

Así que (so)

Conque (so)

Es decir (that is)

Esto es (this is)

Luego (so / therefore)

O sea (in other words)

Por esto (because of...)

Por (lo) tanto (therefore / so)

Por consiguiente (therefore / so)

Pues (since / as)