In this post I explain how to join sentences in Spanish using basic connectors. In addition there is a free cheatsheet to download.
During the last weeks I’ve been sharing some Spanish language tips in this blog. I chose the topics based on the aspects I see most students struggling with and based on the questions I receive.
How to connect sentences
These are some of the most common connectors:
- Y (and): to add elements.
- Vamos a la playa y comemos en un restaurante > We go to the beach and eat in a restaurant.
- O (or): to present alternatives.
- ¿Vamos al cine o miramos una película en casa? > Do we go to the cinema or watch a movie at home?
- Pero (but): for contrast
- No hablo italiano pero lo entiendo un poco. > I don’t speak Italian but I understand it a bit.
- Sino (but): negation and substitution by something else
- No hablo italiano sino francés. > I don’t speak Italian but French (but I speak French).
Attention that “pero” and “sino” do not have the same meaning.
- Porque (because): cause
- Laura no puede ir al cine mañana porque tiene que trabajar. > Laura cannot go to the cinema because she has to work.
- Mientras (while): actions at the same time
- Escucha la radio mientras prepara la cena. > He listens to the radio while he cooks.
- Antes de (before): previous action
- Desayuno antes de salir de casa. > I have breakfast before leaving home.
- Después de (after): next action
- Salgo de casa después de desayunar. > I leave home after I have breakfast.
- Si (if): conditional
- Si quieres podemos ir al cine esta tarde. > If you want we can go to the cinema tonight.
I have prepared a cheatsheet with all these connectors and a few more examples. You can print it on both sides of the page (flip on the short edge) and bend it. It fits any pocket.