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Lingvero

Spanish Conjunctions

Y, o, pero, porque, aunque — and the traps around them: e and u, sino and sino que, porque and por qué. 30 sentences with instant explanations.

•30 exercises•~9 min to complete•B1 – B2 level
IRead first

The rule, in plain English.

Conjunctions join words and clauses: y (and), o (or), pero (but), porque (because), aunque (although), así que (so). Three rules catch learners out. Y becomes e before a word that starts with an i sound (padre e hijo), and o becomes u before an o sound (siete u ocho).

After a negative, but in the sense of but rather is sino (no es rojo, sino azul), or sino que before a conjugated verb. And porque (because) is one word without an accent, while por qué (why) is two words with one.

30 exercises below. Read the explanation after each answer — that's where the rule sinks in.

IIQuick reference
The everyday conjunctionsessence
01
y — and
pan y agua
02
o — or
¿Té o café?
03
pero — but
Es caro, pero es muy bueno.
04
porque — because
No salgo porque llueve.
05
aunque — although, even if
Salgo aunque llueve.
06
así que — so
Llueve, así que no salgo.
07
ni… ni — neither… nor
No bebo ni café ni té.
08
si — if, whether
No sé si viene.
y → e, o → uchange before the same sound
01
y → e before i- and hi-
padre e hijo, español e inglés
02
y stays before hie-
agua y hielo
03
o → u before o- and ho-
siete u ocho, mujer u hombre
pero, sino, sino que
  • pero — but, adds a contrastNo es caro, pero no me gusta.
  • sino — but rather, after a negativeNo es rojo, sino azul.
  • sino que — before a conjugated verbNo lo compré, sino que me lo regalaron.
  • no solo… sino también — not only… but alsoNo solo canta, sino también baila.
  • si no (two words) — if notSi no estudias, no apruebas.
porque, por qué, el porqué
  • porque — becausePorque estoy cansado.
  • por qué — why, also in indirect questions¿Por qué no vienes? No sé por qué.
  • el porqué — the reasonNo entiendo el porqué.

Download printable worksheet (PDF) — free, with answer key

The same 30 exercises formatted for print, with an answer key and short explanations on the last page. Fits A4 and US Letter. Free for classroom use — no sign-up.

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IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

Answer first, then read the explanation. Don't skip it — that's the whole point.

Exercise 01 of 30Tag: y → e
Fill in the blank

Con mis compañeros de trabajo hablo español _____ inglés.

With my colleagues I speak Spanish and English.

Exercise 02 of 30Tag: y → e
Fill in the blank

Para la limonada necesito agua _____ hielo.

For the lemonade I need water and ice.

Exercise 03 of 30Tag: y → e
Fill in the blank

Ana _____ Inés son primas, pero parecen hermanas.

Ana and Inés are cousins, but they look like sisters.

Exercise 04 of 30Tag: o → u
Fill in the blank

¿Quieres siete _____ ocho galletas con el café?

Do you want seven or eight biscuits with your coffee?

Exercise 05 of 30Tag: o → u
Fill in the blank

Desde aquí no veo si es una mujer _____ un hombre.

From here I can't see whether it's a woman or a man.

Exercise 06 of 30Tag: o → u
Fill in the blank

¿Prefieres ir a Sevilla en tren _____ en avión?

Would you rather go to Seville by train or by plane?

Exercise 07 of 30Tag: pero or sino?
Fill in the blank

El hotel es pequeño, _____ las habitaciones son muy cómodas.

The hotel is small, but the rooms are very comfortable.

Exercise 08 of 30Tag: pero or sino?
Fill in the blank

No vivo en Madrid, _____ en Valencia, cerca del puerto.

I don't live in Madrid but in Valencia, near the port.

Exercise 09 of 30Tag: sino que
Fill in the blank

No me llamó por teléfono, _____ me escribió un mensaje.

She didn't phone me; she sent me a message instead.

Exercise 10 of 30Tag: no solo… sino también
Fill in the blank

Mi vecina no solo habla inglés, _____ también francés y alemán.

My neighbour speaks not only English but also French and German.

Exercise 11 of 30Tag: sino vs si no
Fill in the blank

_____ estudias un poco cada día, no vas a aprobar el examen.

If you don't study a little every day, you won't pass the exam.

Exercise 12 of 30Tag: por qué vs porque
Fill in the blank

No voy a la fiesta _____ mañana entro a trabajar muy temprano.

I'm not going to the party because I start work very early tomorrow.

Exercise 13 of 30Tag: por qué vs porque
Fill in the blank

¿_____ no me llamaste ayer por la tarde?

Why didn't you call me yesterday afternoon?

Exercise 14 of 30Tag: por qué vs porque
Fill in the blank

No entiendo _____ está tan enfadado con nosotros.

I don't understand why he's so angry with us.

Exercise 15 of 30Tag: el porqué
Fill in the blank

Nadie nos explicó el _____ de aquella decisión.

Nobody explained the reason for that decision to us.

Exercise 16 of 30Tag: aunque
Fill in the blank

Vamos a la playa _____ está un poco nublado.

We're going to the beach although it's a bit cloudy.

Exercise 17 of 30Tag: así que
Fill in the blank

Estaba agotado después del viaje, _____ me acosté temprano.

I was exhausted after the trip, so I went to bed early.

Exercise 18 of 30Tag: ni… ni
Fill in the blank

Por la noche no tomo _____ café ni té, porque luego no duermo.

In the evening I drink neither coffee nor tea, because then I can't sleep.

Exercise 19 of 30Tag: o… o
Fill in the blank

O vienes ahora mismo _____ me voy al cine sin ti.

Either you come right now or I'm going to the cinema without you.

Exercise 20 of 30Tag: Time conjunction
Fill in the blank

Te mando un mensaje cuando _____ a casa esta noche. (llegar)

I'll send you a message when I get home tonight.

Exercise 21 of 30Tag: aunque + subjunctive
Fill in the blank

Mañana iremos de excursión aunque _____. (even if it rains)

Tomorrow we'll go on the excursion even if it rains.

Exercise 22 of 30Tag: que (that)
Fill in the blank

Mi hermano me dijo _____ llegaría tarde a la cena.

My brother told me he would be late for dinner.

Exercise 23 of 30Tag: si (if / whether)
Fill in the blank

Todavía no sé _____ podré ir a la reunión del jueves.

I still don't know whether I'll be able to go to Thursday's meeting.

Exercise 24 of 30Tag: pero or sino?
Fill in the blank

El abrigo no es caro, _____ no me gusta nada el color.

The coat isn't expensive, but I don't like the colour at all.

Exercise 25 of 30Tag: y → e
Choose the correct sentence

Which sentence is correct?

Using e instead of y.

Exercise 26 of 30Tag: o → u
Choose the correct sentence

Which sentence has a mistake?

Spotting a missing u.

Exercise 27 of 30Tag: por qué vs porque
Choose the correct sentence

Which answer fits? —¿Por qué no comes? —___

Answering a why question.

Exercise 28 of 30Tag: aunque
Choose the correct sentence

Which conjunction means 'although'?

Recognising aunque.

Exercise 29 of 30Tag: sino que
Choose the correct sentence

Which sentence uses sino que correctly?

Using sino que correctly.

Exercise 30 of 30Tag: por qué vs porque
Fill in the blank

Llegué tarde a la entrevista _____ había un atasco enorme en la autopista.

I was late for the interview because there was a huge traffic jam on the motorway.

Every answer is explained

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Questions answered

Common questions.

What are the most common conjunctions in Spanish?+

Y (and), o (or), pero (but), porque (because), aunque (although), así que (so), cuando (when), si (if) and que (that). Together with ni… ni (neither… nor) and sino (but rather) they cover most everyday sentences.

When does y change to e?+

Before a word that starts with an i sound — i- or hi-: padre e hijo, español e inglés. Before hie- (hielo, hierro) it stays y, because that sounds like ye.

When does o change to u?+

Before a word that starts with an o sound — o- or ho-: siete u ocho, mujer u hombre. Everywhere else it stays o.

What is the difference between pero and sino?+

Pero adds a contrast to a statement that stays true: es pequeño, pero cómodo. Sino comes after a negative and replaces what was denied: no es pequeño, sino grande. Before a conjugated verb, sino becomes sino que.

What is the difference between porque, por qué and porqué?+

Porque (one word, no accent) means because. Por qué (two words, accent) means why, in direct and indirect questions: ¿Por qué? / No sé por qué. El porqué (one word, accent, with an article) is a noun meaning the reason.

Does aunque take the subjunctive?+

It can. Aunque + indicative states a fact (aunque llueve = although it is raining); aunque + subjunctive leaves it open (aunque llueva = even if it rains).

Is there a printable Spanish conjunctions worksheet?+

Yes — this page has a free printable conjunctions worksheet (PDF) with all 30 exercises and an answer key with short explanations. It prints on A4 and US Letter and is free for classroom use, no sign-up needed.