Linking Words ESL Printable Grammar Exercises Worksheet - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one and pick the right linking word: and, but, or, so, or because.

We’ll think about what each sentence is trying to say — are we adding info? Showing contrast? Giving a reason? Showing result? Or giving options?

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1. He got off the bus, bought a newspaper ___ went into a cafe.
→ All these actions happened one after another → use and

2. I called the rescue team. ___ they didn’t come.
→ First thing happened, but second didn’t → contrast → but

3. I bought everything in the shopping list ___ I couldn’t find any milk.
→ You bought everything, BUT still no milk → contrast → but

4. We can buy a ticket for the short holiday with the money ___ she saved.
→ The money belongs to her → this explains which money → that (Wait! But “that” isn’t an option. Let’s check again.)

Actually, looking at the options given: AND, BUT, OR, SO, BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF

Hmm… maybe it’s meant to be “the money she saved” — so perhaps no linker needed? But since we must choose from the list...

Wait — maybe it’s “We can buy a ticket... because she saved the money”? That makes sense too.

But let’s read carefully: “We can buy a ticket for the short holiday with the money ___ she saved.”

This sounds like “the money that she saved” — but “that” isn’t allowed. So maybe it’s not needing a linker? But the task says fill in with those words.

Alternatively, maybe it’s “We can buy a ticket... so she saved the money?” No, that doesn’t make sense.

Wait — perhaps it’s “We can buy a ticket... because she saved the money.” Yes! That works. She saved money → so we can buy ticket. Cause and effect.

So → because

BUT wait — “because” needs a full clause. “She saved” is a clause. Okay.

Actually, let’s look at sentence 5:

5. My father didn’t come home yesterday evening ___ he had an important meeting.
→ Reason why he didn’t come → because

So for #4, if we say “We can buy a ticket... because she saved the money” — that fits.

But the sentence says “with the money ___ she saved” — that structure usually takes “that”, but since we don’t have “that”, maybe it’s a trick? Or maybe it’s “and”? No.

Another idea: Maybe it’s “We can buy a ticket... so she saved the money”? No, that reverses cause/effect.

I think the best fit is because — even though the grammar is a bit off, it’s the only logical choice.

Wait — actually, re-reading: “We can buy a ticket for the short holiday with the money ___ she saved.”

Perhaps it’s meant to be “the money that she saved” — but since “that” isn’t an option, maybe the intended answer is because? Or maybe it’s a mistake?

Looking ahead — sentence 6:

6. I don’t want to watch this film ___ I didn’t like the plot of it.
→ Reason → because

Sentence 7: Steven stays out late ___ spend time with his friends.
→ Purpose? Result? He stays out late TO spend time → but “to” isn’t an option. Maybe so? “He stays out late so he can spend time...” — yes, that works.

“so” can mean “in order to” sometimes.

Sentence 8: My mom doesn’t let me go out ___ I haven’t finished my homework yet.
→ Reason → because

Sentence 9: Our teacher prepared a poster on environmental problems ___ hung it on the bulletin board.
→ Two actions → and

Sentence 10: Rachel was quite weak ___ the heavy rain today.
→ “Heavy rain” is a noun phrase → so we need “because of” → because of

Sentence 11: I really liked the mobile phone on the window of the shop ___ I bought it.
→ Liked it → so bought it → result → so

Sentence 12: ___ the high oil prices, I can’t use my car often.
→ “High oil prices” is a noun phrase → because of

Sentence 13: My sister loves chocolate ___ sometimes she can eat a whole bar in one sitting.
→ Adds more info → and

Sentence 14: I’ve got nice poppy ___ ice-cream after meal.
→ Options? Or both? Probably both → and

Sentence 15: She has got a nice expensive piano ___ she doesn’t know how to play it.
→ Contrast → but

Sentence 16: The security guard said “Stop ___ I’ll shoot you”.
→ Threat: stop OR I’ll shoot → or

Sentence 17: I’ve got a terrible headache ___ I can’t come to the theatre with you.
→ Headache → so can’t come → result → so

Sentence 18: Do you want milk ___ fruit juice for breakfast?
→ Choice between two → or

Sentence 19: A lot of people are protesting the government ___ the high taxes.
→ Reason → “high taxes” is noun phrase → because of

Sentence 20: There was a snake in the school garden, the students were screaming ___.
→ Snake caused screaming → result → so

Sentence 21: Don’t forget to take your umbrella with you ___ you will be soaked.
→ If you don’t take umbrella → you’ll get soaked → warning → or (as in “otherwise”)

Sentence 22: Stop wasting your time with that computer game ___ you’ll fail your exam.
→ Same as above → or

Sentence 23: Marilyn wants to give up eating fast food ___ she is overweight.
→ Reason → because

Sentence 24: Sharon wants to look well and be healthy ___ does exercises every morning.
→ Wants to be healthy → so exercises → result → so

Sentence 25: I think we have to sell the company ___ the bad economic conditions.
→ “Bad economic conditions” is noun phrase → because of

Now let’s list all answers clearly:

1. and
2. but
3. but
4. because *(even though grammar is awkward, it's the only logical choice)*
5. because
6. because
7. so
8. because
9. and
10. because of
11. so
12. because of
13. and
14. and
15. but
16. or
17. so
18. or
19. because of
20. so
21. or
22. or
23. because
24. so
25. because of

Wait — for #4, let me double-check.

Original: “We can buy a ticket for the short holiday with the money ___ she saved.”

If we put “because”, it becomes: “We can buy a ticket... with the money because she saved.” — that’s grammatically incorrect. It should be “because she saved the money”.

Maybe it’s supposed to be “and”? “We can buy a ticket... with the money and she saved.” — no, that doesn’t make sense.

Perhaps it’s a typo, and it should be “We can buy a ticket... because she saved the money.” Then “with the money” is extra? Unlikely.

Another possibility: Maybe it’s “so”? “We can buy a ticket... so she saved the money.” — no, that reverses cause.

I think the intended answer might be that, but since it’s not an option, and based on context, because is the closest meaning-wise, even if grammar is off.

Alternatively, maybe it’s and — as in “we can buy a ticket with the money, and she saved [it]” — but that’s stretching.

Looking at similar sentences in the worksheet examples, they use “because” for reasons.

For example: “Because I am very tired I’ll sleep early today.”

So for #4, if we interpret it as “We can buy a ticket... because she saved the money”, ignoring “with the money” as redundant, then because works.

I’ll stick with because for #4.

Final Answers:

1. and
2. but
3. but
4. because
5. because
6. because
7. so
8. because
9. and
10. because of
11. so
12. because of
13. and
14. and
15. but
16. or
17. so
18. or
19. because of
20. so
21. or
22. or
23. because
24. so
25. because of

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Final Answer:
1. and
2. but
3. but
4. because
5. because
6. because
7. so
8. because
9. and
10. because of
11. so
12. because of
13. and
14. and
15. but
16. or
17. so
18. or
19. because of
20. so
21. or
22. or
23. because
24. so
25. because of