Basic Coordinating Conjunctions worksheet for English language learners, focusing on using "and," "or," "but," and "so" correctly in sentences.

Let's solve this worksheet step by step. The goal is to fill in the blanks with the correct coordinating conjunction: and, or, but, or so.

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🔹 Understanding the Conjunctions:

- and – adds information (joining similar ideas)
- or – presents a choice or alternative
- but – shows contrast (opposite ideas)
- so – shows result or consequence

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Now, let’s go through each sentence:

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1. She says that she loves her dog, ______ she never plays with it.

- First part: "she loves her dog"
- Second part: "she never plays with it" → this contrasts with loving the dog
✔ but (shows contrast)
👉 Answer: but

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2. You must study for the test, ______ you will fail.

- Studying = action to avoid failing
- Not studying → result: failure
This is a cause-and-effect relationship
✔ so (because if you don’t study, you’ll fail — implies consequence)
👉 Answer: so

> Note: This could be interpreted as a warning: “You must study, otherwise…” So “or” might seem tempting, but the structure uses “you will fail” as a result of *not* studying. But since the first clause is positive (“must study”), and the second is negative outcome, so fits better as a logical conclusion. However, sometimes “or” is used in such warnings. Let’s check grammar carefully.

Wait — actually, the structure is:
> You must study... [otherwise] you will fail.

But the blank is between two clauses:
> You must study for the test, ___ you will fail.

That’s not grammatically correct with “so” because “so” would mean:
> You must study… so you will fail? → That doesn't make sense.

Ah! We need to reconsider.

If we say:
> You must study for the test, or you will fail.

That means: If you don’t study, you will fail. ✔ That’s correct.

So, or is the best fit here.

👉 Answer: or

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3. Mom said we must wash the dishes ______ clean our rooms.

- Two required actions: wash dishes AND clean rooms
- They are both things we must do
✔ and (joining two required tasks)
👉 Answer: and

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4. Would you like apples, ______ do you prefer bananas?

- Asking about preference between two options
✔ or (presenting a choice)
👉 Answer: or

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5. I feel sick, ______ I can still work.

- Feeling sick (negative), but still working (positive) → contrast
✔ but
👉 Answer: but

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6. I am a vegetarian, ______ I don’t eat any meat.

- Being a vegetarian = reason why I don’t eat meat
- This is a cause-and-effect explanation
✔ so (I am a vegetarian, so I don’t eat meat)
👉 Answer: so

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7. I was shopping all day, ______ I did not have time to do my homework.

- Shopping all day → no time for homework → cause and effect
✔ so (because I shopped all day, I didn’t have time)
👉 Answer: so

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8. I like to eat healthy foods, ______ I find it very difficult.

- Like healthy food, but find it hard → contrast
✔ but
👉 Answer: but

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9. I was late for school, ______ my teacher made me stay after class.

- Being late → consequence: staying after class
✔ so (result)
👉 Answer: so

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10. He took me to the shop ______ bought me a new dress.

- Two actions: took me to shop, then bought a dress
- Both actions happened, and they’re connected
✔ and (joining two actions in sequence)
👉 Answer: and

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✔ Final Answers:

1. but
2. or
3. and
4. or
5. but
6. so
7. so
8. but
9. so
10. and

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📝 Summary Table:

| Sentence | Correct Conjunction | Reason |
|--------|---------------------|-------|
| 1 | but | Contrast between loving and not playing |
| 2 | or | Warning: if you don’t study, you’ll fail |
| 3 | and | Joining two required actions |
| 4 | or | Choice between apples and bananas |
| 5 | but | Contradiction: feeling sick yet working |
| 6 | so | Cause-effect: being a vegetarian → no meat |
| 7 | so | Shopping → no time for homework |
| 8 | but | Like healthy food, but find it hard |
| 9 | so | Being late → consequence: stay after class |
| 10 | and | Two actions done in sequence |

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