Grammar book · Words and sentences
Conjunctions and linking words
መስተጻምሮችና ማያያዣ ቃላት (conjunctions and linking words)
Conjunctions join words and sentences: and, but, or, so, because, although, while. Linking words like however and therefore connect one sentence to the next. Each has its own punctuation.
and, but, or, so
These four join two equal parts. and adds; but shows a contrast; or gives a choice; so shows a result. Amharic often joins sentences with a verb ending (መጥቶ በላ, ደክሞኛል ግን…), but English needs a separate word between the two sentences. Put a comma before but and so when they join two full sentences.
In Amharic
እነዚህ አራቱ ሁለት እኩል ክፍሎችን ያገናኛሉ። and ይጨምራል፤ but ተቃርኖ ያሳያል፤ or ምርጫ ይሰጣል፤ so ውጤት ያሳያል። አማርኛ ብዙ ጊዜ ዓረፍተ ነገሮችን በግሥ ቅጥያ ያገናኛል (መጥቶ በላ)፤ እንግሊዝኛ ግን በሁለቱ ዓረፍተ ነገሮች መካከል ለብቻው የቆመ ቃል ይፈልጋል። but እና so ሁለት ሙሉ ዓረፍተ ነገሮችን ሲያገናኙ ከፊታቸው ኮማ ያድርጉ።
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| and | adds | I work in the morning and study at night. |
| but | contrast | The apartment is small, but it's cheap. |
| or | choice | Do you want tea or coffee? |
| so | result | It was late, so we took a taxi. |
- so gives the result; because gives the reason: It rained, so we stayed home. We stayed home because it rained.
- In a list, put and before the last item: rice, lentils and onions.
- In negatives, use or, not and: I don't drink coffee or tea.
- She cooked doro wat, and we brought the injera.
- I applied for the job, but they didn't call me.
- You can pay online or at the office.
- The bus was late, so I missed my appointment.
because, although, while, when, if
These words start a clause that depends on the main clause. because = reason; although / even though = surprising contrast; while = at the same time, or contrast; when = at the time that; if = condition. The clause can come first or second. If it comes first, put a comma after it. Amharic often puts this part first (ስለደከመኝ ቀደምኩ); in English it is usually second: I left early because I was tired.
In Amharic
እነዚህ ቃላት በዋናው ሐረግ ላይ የሚደገፍ ሐረግ ይጀምራሉ። because = ምክንያት፤ although / even though = የሚያስገርም ተቃርኖ፤ while = በዚያው ጊዜ፣ ወይም ተቃርኖ፤ when = በዚያ ጊዜ፤ if = ሁኔታ። ሐረጉ አንደኛ ወይም ሁለተኛ ሊመጣ ይችላል። አንደኛ ከመጣ ከኋላው ኮማ ያድርጉ። አማርኛ ብዙ ጊዜ ይህን ክፍል ቀድሞ ያደርጋል (ስለደከመኝ ቀደምኩ)፤ በእንግሊዝኛ ብዙ ጊዜ ሁለተኛ ነው፦ I left early because I was tired።
| Word | Meaning | Second | First (with a comma) |
|---|---|---|---|
| because | reason | I was late because the bus broke down. | Because the bus broke down, I was late. |
| although | contrast | We went out although it was cold. | Although it was cold, we went out. |
| while | same time / contrast | Someone called while I was driving. | While I like my job, the pay is low. |
| when | time | Call me when you arrive. | When you arrive, call me. |
| if | condition | I'll help you if I can. | If I can, I'll help you. |
- Use although or but, not both: Although it's small, it's nice (not Although it's small, but it's nice).
- because + subject + verb; because of + noun: because it rained / because of the rain.
- A because-clause alone is not a sentence: write I stayed home because I was sick, not Because I was sick.
- I'm learning English because I want a better job.
- Although he's only been here a year, he speaks English well.
- My husband cooks while I help the kids with homework.
- When I got home, the package was at the door.
- The flight was delayed because of the storm.
however, therefore and other linking words
Linking adverbs connect two separate sentences. They are more formal and common in writing: emails to offices, school letters, job applications. Put a full stop (or a semicolon) before them and a comma after them. They cannot join two sentences with just a comma.
In Amharic
ማያያዣ ተውሳኮች ሁለት የተለያዩ ዓረፍተ ነገሮችን ያገናኛሉ። የበለጠ መደበኛ ናቸው፣ በጽሑፍም የተለመዱ ናቸው፦ ለቢሮዎች ኢሜይል፣ ለትምህርት ቤት ደብዳቤ፣ የሥራ ማመልከቻ። ከፊታቸው ነጥብ (ወይም ሴሚኮሎን)፣ ከኋላቸው ኮማ ያድርጉ። በኮማ ብቻ ሁለት ዓረፍተ ነገሮችን ማገናኘት አይችሉም።
| Meaning | Casual (joins in one sentence) | Formal (starts a new sentence) |
|---|---|---|
| contrast | but | However, … / Nevertheless, … |
| result | so | Therefore, … / As a result, … |
| addition | and | In addition, … / Also, … / Furthermore, … |
| example | like | For example, … / For instance, … |
| sequence | then | First, … Then, … Finally, … |
- Punctuation: The rent is fair. However, the building is old. / The rent is fair; however, the building is old.
- Wrong: The rent is fair, however the building is old. (A comma alone can't join two sentences.)
- I have five years of experience. In addition, I have a forklift license.
- The office was closed. Therefore, I could not submit the form.
- My son is doing well in math. However, he needs help with reading.
- First, fill out the form. Then, bring two forms of ID.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Although it was expensive, we bought it. | Use although or but, not both. | |
| I was tired, so I slept early. | so alone shows the result. | |
| I didn't go to work because I was sick. | A because-clause needs a main clause. | |
| I like it. However, it is expensive. | however starts a new sentence (or follows a semicolon). | |
| I came late because of the traffic. | because of + noun; because + subject + verb. | |
| I don't like tea or coffee. | Use or in negative sentences. |
Practice
Each answer is checked as you go, with the reason. Nothing here is saved.
It was raining, ___ we took the bus.
We took the bus ___ it was raining.
___ she was tired, she finished her shift.
Do you want rice ___ pasta? (one word)
The flight was cancelled ___ the snow.
Choose the correct punctuation.
Someone knocked ___ I was in the shower.
I have a car. In ___, I have a commercial license. (one word)
The store was closed. ___, we went home.
Correct it: “Although it's far, but I like it.” → Although it's far, ___ like it.
I like my job, ___ my boss is difficult.