Conjunctions

Conjunctions are parts of speech which connect words, phrases, clauses or sentences.

Pero/sino - but

Fui al cine ayer pero mi amigo va hoy - I went to the cinema yesterday but my friend is going today.

Sino is used to translate but where there is negative in the first half the sentence, i.e. sino introduces a contradiction,

e.g. No es alto sino bajo - He is not tall but short.

Note also the expression no sólo... sino también - not only... but also

e.g.   No sólo me gusta el fútbol sino también el rugby - Not only do I like football but also rugby.

O/u - or

¿Quieres té o café? - Do you want tea or coffee?

O changes to u when it is followed by a word beginning with an o- or an ho-:

¿Quieres un vaso de agua u otro café? - Do you want a glass of water or another coffee?

Y/e - and

Estudiamos matemáticas y ciencias - We study Maths and Science.

Y changes to e when it is followed by a word beginning with an i- or an hi-:

Estudio español e inglés - I study Spanish and English

¿Vas a estudiar geografía e historia? - Are you going to study Geography and History?