When we are learning a foreign language, we need time to practice in order to become better. So, using more complicated grammar structures is important, as well as a wide variety of vocabulary to express ourselves. It is also necessary to organize our ideas the best we can to avoid confusions and misunderstandings.
Well, it’s high time for you to level up the way you express those ideas when writing with a little help of four words: AND, BUT, OR, ALSO. They are linkers!
Are you ready? Let’s begin…
First, read the following:
As you can see, Alex first expressed his ideas without using linkers, and the message was so confusing that Cris didn’t understand very well. When he rephrased using AND, BUT, OR, ALSO, the message was clear!
Let’s see how these four words work:
Use AND to join two or more similar words, or ideas.
When AND joins more than two elements, put AND before the last element in the list. Use a comma before AND when connecting more than two clauses.
Clause: a group of words (subject+verb) that form a short sentence.
In the next sentences AND is joining first two words, then, two clauses:
Batman AND Superman are less popular than Deadpool AND Wolverine.
Joaquin Phoenix is the best Joker AND Jared Leto is the worst.
Now, when AND joins more than two elements, use a comma before AND, especially when the elements are clauses. Check it out:
I think that the best plan for the weekend is to call a friend, choose a good movie, prepare some popcorn, AND enjoy at home!
The most exciting endings of an action movie are: a superhero saving the world, the good guys defeating the bad ones in a fight, AND a combination of special effects in a battle.
Use BUT as a preposition to mean except.
Read the following examples:
Everybody thinks that going to the cinema is better than staying at home BUT you! How is that possible?
We believe that chocolate ice cream is more delicious than strawberry BUT my boyfriend. I can’t believe it!
Use BUT as a conjunction to contrast information. Use a comma when BUT connects two independent clauses.
An independent clause is a short sentence that can be understood alone, independently.
Observe:
Talking about Jokers in movies, Heath Ledger is good, BUT Jack Nicholson is better.
I need Netflix to watch the coolest series at home, BUT my parents prefer HBO.
In those two examples, we have 2 independent sentences joined by a BUT. They are independent because they are clear and can be understood by their own:
| Independent sentences | Independent sentences |
|---|---|
| Heath Ledger is good. | Jack Nicholson is better. |
| I need Netflix to watch the coolest series at home. | My parents prefer HBO. |
Use OR to connect two or more alternatives, either words, phrases, clauses or sentences.
A phrase is a small group of words, but doesn't have a subject and a verb to form a clause. For example: pretty woman, the key of friendship, etc.
Look at these examples:
People say that the nicest actor to play the role of the Joker is Joaquin Phoenix OR Jack Nicholson.
Watching films OR going to concerts are more interesting activities than playing video games OR going shopping.
Use a comma before OR when it joins two independent clauses or sentences:
My teacher thinks that the most helpful way to learn English is to watch movies with subtitles, OR you can listen to music and read the lyrics of the songs.
| Independent sentences | Independent sentences |
|---|---|
| My teacher thinks that the most helpful way to learn English is to watch movies with subtitles. | You can listen to music and read the lyrics of the songs. |
Use a comma before OR when you have a list with a lot of elements:
In my family, we can binge watch Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, The Walking Dead, Stranger Things, The Witcher, OR Mindhunter. They are awesome.
Binge Watch: Watching TV content for a long period of time.
Do you have a similar term in Spanish?
maratonear
Don’t use a comma when OR joins only two small elements:
Which is worse, a horror OR an action film?
Don’t use a comma when OR joins dependent clauses or sentences:
My teacher thinks that the most helpful way to learn English is to watch movies with subtitles OR listen to music and read the lyrics of the songs.
Note: Be careful with some common mistakes:
Use OR, not AND in negative sentences after the verb to be.
Wrong
We don’t have any idea of what to do this weekend. There aren’t any good movies on the billboard AND new series on streaming. It will be the most boring weekend in a long time.
Right
We don’t have any idea of what to do this weekend. There aren’t any good movies on the billboard OR new series on streaming. It will be the most boring weekend in a long time.
Use ALSO to mean in addition. In other words, to add extra information.
Check the examples:
The greatest soundtrack of all is in the movie Guardians of the Galaxy. I ALSO love the one in Forrest Gump.
Guardians of the Galaxy is ALSO my favorite movie ever!
In those examples, ALSO is adding information, but it’s in two different positions, In the first example, it is positioned before the verb. In the second example, after the verb to be.
So, that is a rule you need to consider:
ALSO is an adverb that goes in mid-position: before main verbs, after auxiliary verbs and after the verb to be.
ALSO can sometimes be at the beginning of the second sentence in order to add a new point. In that case, add a comma after ALSO:
Special effects are more effective when they look real. ALSO, the music is an important factor to create the correct atmosphere of a story.
Ready to practice? Choose the correct option to complete the sentences in each case.
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1 Harry Potter movies are the most popular ones ______ to be honest, I don’t want to watch the saga.
2 A: Please buy cheetos, chips, nachos ________ pretzels for the movie. I love them all, choose one!
B: Ok, got it!
3 A: Japanese horror movies are scarier than American ones, everyone thinks the same _____ my girlfriend.
B: Yeah, I know man! I also prefer Japanese horror.
4 A: I think Harry Styles is a talented singer.
B: I agree, he was the most talented in One Direction. Did you know that he is _____ a good actor? He has appeared in some movies.
5 The best way to spend a Halloween night is to watch a classical horror movie _____ laugh out loud when a friend jumps out of a chair in a scary scene.
6 2020 was not a good year for the movie industry _____ for any other kind of business.
7 Talking about movie directors, I really like Tim Burton, particularly Beetlejuice. I _____ enjoy Wes Anderson’s work, especially the movie Isle of Dogs. In fact, for me Wes Anderson is more creative than Tim Burton.
8A: Apple TV is less expensive than Amazon Prime _____ Netflix. Believe it or not!
B: Really? I didn’t know that!