Conjunctions

• 1st grade
• CCSS L.1.1g

A conjunction is a joining word. It links words or ideas together. I like apples and pears. I was tired, so I went to bed.

What is a conjunction?

Without conjunctions, kids write in short, choppy sentences: "I wanted to play. It was raining." A conjunction joins them and shows how the ideas connect: "I wanted to play, but it was raining."

Each conjunction has its own job. And adds, but shows a difference, or gives a choice, so tells what happened next and because tells why.

These five are exactly the ones in the 1st grade Common Core standard (L.1.1g). In 2nd grade, kids use them to build compound sentences.

The five conjunctions 1st graders use

Each one does a different job.

The last two rows say the same thing in opposite order. So points forward to what happened. Because points back to the reason.

Conjunctions in sentences

The highlighted words are conjunctions. Ask your child what job each one is doing.

1. We had pizza and salad.
2. I want to swim, but the pool is closed.
3. Should we walk or ride bikes?
4. The dog was muddy, so we gave him a bath.
5. I smiled because I got a letter.
6. Mia and Leo built a fort.
7. The cake looks good, but it's too hot to eat.
8. You can read or draw.
9. It was late, so we went home.
10. The baby cried because she was hungry.

Notice the comma before but and so when they join two full sentences. Kids learn that comma rule in 2nd grade, but it's good to point out now.

So or because?

These two are mixed up most often. They join the same ideas in opposite directions:

• because comes before the reason: "I ate a snack because I was hungry."
• so comes before the result: "I was hungry, so I ate a snack."
• Don't stop after because. "Because I was hungry." is only half a sentence. Ask "What happened?" and add it.

How to teach conjunctions

Five short steps, about 10 minutes each.

1. Make conjunction cards. Write and, but, or, so and because on five cards. Hold one up and make a sentence with it together.
2. Join two sentences. Say two short sentences: "I like dogs. I like cats." Your child joins them with and.
3. Offer choices with or. At snack time, only offer choices using or. Your child answers in a full sentence.
4. Ask why. When your child tells you something, ask "Why?" and help them answer with because.
5. Write a two-part story. Your child writes one sentence with but and one with so.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

Practice: conjunctions quiz

10 questions. Your child can tap the speaker to hear a question read aloud. The first try on each question counts toward the score.

1. 1.I like apples ___ bananas.

   🔈
   and because so
   Show answer

   and.

2. 2.Do you want milk ___ juice?

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   or so because
   Show answer

   or. It gives a choice.

3. 3.I was tired, ___ I went to bed.

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   so because
   Show answer

   so.

4. 4.I went to bed ___ I was tired.

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   because so
   Show answer

   because.

5. 5.I wanted to swim, ___ the pool was closed.

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   but and or
   Show answer

   but.

6. 6.Tap the conjunction.

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   We can draw or paint.

   Show answer

   or.

7. 7.Tap the conjunction.

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   It rained, so we stayed inside.

   Show answer

   so.

8. 8.Which word tells why?

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   because or and
   Show answer

   because.

9. 9.Tap the conjunction.

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   I like cats but not dogs.

   Show answer

   but.

10. 10.Which is a complete sentence?

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    Because I was hungry. I ate because I was hungry.
    Show answer

    I ate because I was hungry.

Conjunctions worksheet (free PDF)

Conjunctions Worksheet, 1st grade

Circle conjunctions, choose and, but or or, join sentences with so or because and finish a because-sentence. Prints on US Letter paper, with an answer key.

Download the PDF

Try it at home

• At snack time: offer choices with or and ask for a full-sentence answer.
• When your child asks for something: "Why?" Help them answer with because.
• After school: "Tell me one good thing and one hard thing." Join them with but.
• In the car: play cause and effect: "It's raining, so..."
• When your child writes: join two short sentences with a conjunction.

What comes next

Next, kids learn the four types of sentences, then use conjunctions to build compound sentences in 2nd grade. See all 1st grade skills on the 1st grade page, or browse all grammar lessons.

Last reviewed: November 11, 2026

Questions parents ask