Grammar Exercise: Connecting words

Connecting words (or conjunctions) connect words, phrases and clauses.

Take a look at our page on linking words, then try the quiz below!

Level: Pre-intermediate and above

1. I go to the gym to keep fit __ meet my friends.

2. At the gym I usually either lift weights __ use the treadmill.

and
or
''Or'' gives an alternative. It's often used with ''either''. For example, ''You can choose either the cake or the ice-cream for dessert.''

3. My doctor told me I needed to lose weight __ I went on a diet.

4. __ there are no parks near my house, I decided to join the gym.

As
While
We can use ''as'' to give a reason. (We can also use ''since'' or ''because'' to give a reason.) We can either start the sentence with as / since / because or use them in the middle. (''As there are no parks near my house, I...'' or ''I decided to join the gym as there are no parks near my house''.)

5. I like the gym __ the people there are friendly.

because
so
Remember: we use ''because'' to give a reason. (We use ''so'' to give a result.)

6. The gym is cheap __ it's often crowded.

but
when
Use ''but'' when you want to show a contrast. (You can also use ''although'', ''however'' or ''though'' to show contrast. ''But'' is the simplest option!)

7. So I like to go in the morning __ there aren't many people.

8. __ I go three times a week, I can get a discount.

Although
If
Use ''if'' to introduce a condition. (Remember: use ''although'' to show contrast.)

9. __ I only go three times a week, some people go five times a week.

When
While
We can also use ''while'' to mean ''although''. But we can't use ''when'' in this way - use ''when'' to refer to time.

10. __ I still eat the same amount, I'm losing weight.

Although
But
We can use ''although'' at the beginning of a sentence when there are two clauses. (''Although X, Y.'') But we can't use ''but'' in this way as ''but'' usually joins another clause. (''X, but Y.'')

17 thoughts on “Grammar Exercise: Connecting words”

Jarne Thoelen April 27th 2017 at 10:40

thnx it was nice quiz
Ben May 16th 2017 at 14:59

Good exercise
Veer May 30th 2017 at 03:16

Good revision
Grace June 28th 2017 at 04:10

Great quiz....thanx!
Aayah July 17th 2017 at 21:22

Thanks for the quiz
suvarna July 28th 2017 at 12:58

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Huda August 20th 2017 at 00:47

Brief summary and good excercise
Leo October 12th 2017 at 11:33

Easy
Cindy November 29th 2017 at 13:24

Thanks it was helpful and it could be a little more difficult :)
Richard November 30th 2017 at 09:51

super easy, not hard
Vicky December 10th 2017 at 03:22

hoped more sentences
nonetheless good exercice
Christophe Ntakirutimana December 10th 2017 at 13:19

Fantastic!! it is very interesting and helpful. after reading I realize that recently, I inappropriately use the linking world.
Thank you a million!!!
marilda January 7th 2018 at 13:29

very good
laurine January 20th 2018 at 17:13

perfect exercise !
sandra February 18th 2018 at 17:52

Very interesting exercises with helpful expanations
Essie March 3rd 2018 at 04:33

excellent
Liudmyla March 18th 2018 at 10:11

Thanks for the quiz and clear comments.

Comments are closed.