Conjunctions

The easiest way to make a sentence more complex is by using conjunctions to join two words or even two phrases. A conjunction links nouns, clauses, and phrases using “and,” “but,” and “or.” These three English conjunctions are used to join parts of a sentence or even two sentences.

For example:

Jill and Brad are my neighbors.
Brad or Jill mows the lawn once a week.
Brad mows in the morning, but Jill prefers the evening.

The most basic Spanish conjunctions are:

These three conjunctions are used in the same way as English conjunctions. Remember that if the conjunction y (and) is used to create a compound subject, the verb will be in a plural form. However, if the conjunction o(or) is used, the subject is considered singular, and the verb will be in a singular form.

Estela y Coleta bailan tango.
Estela and Coleta dance the tango. (Notice that bailan is an ellos form of the verb.)

Miguelita o Marisol baila el flamenco hoy.
Miguelita or Marisol dances the flamenco today. (Notice that baila is the ellaform of the verb.)

While y and o can be used to join nouns or sentences together, pero can only be used to join sentences together.

Juan baila pero Marco canta.
Juan dances but Marco sings.
.

There are two irregularities with conjunctions. The conjunction o changes to u in front of words beginning with ho–, or o–. And, the conjunction y changes to e in front of any word beginning with hi– or i–.

For example:

Spanish I

Conjunctions