Sentences can be joined using connectives (conjunctions). Simple connectives, or joining words, are "and", "so", "or" and "but". Sentences without these little words don't make much sense!
Each of these connectives joins ideas in different ways in a sentence. So "and" is a very simple connective: "I like ice cream and I like chocolate". "But", like "and", is a simple connective, although its function is to introduce a contrasting idea, as in this sentence: "I like ice cream, but I do not like chocolate". The word "or" introduces alternatives, as here: "Shall we have ice cream, or would you prefer chocolate?"As you can see, although we are able to construct very similar sentences using each of these words, they are not interchangeable. Each has a very specific function. The quiz below tests your ability to recognise the connection between two sentences and to choose the correct simple connective that will join the two sentences together logically.
Practise your skills by playing this first quiz on the subject.