Year 3 English: Conjunctions for reason and condition: because, so, although and if
Part of the Year 3 English clauses and sentences chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Conjunctions for reason and condition: because, so, although and if
Some conjunctions show a reason, a contrast or a condition. Each one joins a subordinate clause to a main clause, except so, which joins two main clauses.
| Conjunction | What it shows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| because | a reason | Mia was late because her bus broke down. |
| although | a surprising contrast | We went out although it was cold. |
| if | a condition: what must happen first | Ella gets wet if she runs in the rain. |
| so | a result: joins two main clauses | It rained, so we stayed inside. |
Key ideas
- Because gives a reason.
- Although shows a surprising contrast: the cold did not stop us.
- If shows a condition: something must happen first.
- So joins two main clauses: the reason, then the result.
Method. Find the conjunction that joins the clauses.
- Find the verbs, one for each clause. Each clause has its own verb.was, went
- Find the joining word. It sits between two main clauses, and each part makes sense on its own.The shop was full, so we went to the park.
- Write the answer. so
Check. so sits between the two parts. ✓
Watch out. Each side of this word could be a sentence on its own.
Method. Find the words that make the subordinate clause.
- Find the verbs. Each clause has one verb. A fronted adverbial has none.stayed, was
- Find the words in the subordinate clause. A subordinate clause starts with a conjunction such as when or because. It needs a main clause and does not make sense alone.Ben stayed in because it was cold.
- Write the answer. because it was cold
Check. Read the subordinate clause aloud: it has only the words above. ✓
Watch out. The subordinate clause starts with its conjunction, such as when, because or although.
Method. Look for the verb, then test whether the group can stand alone.
- Find the verb in the group of words. A clause has a verb.rained
- Test: can it stand alone as a sentence? A main clause makes sense on its own, so it could be a sentence on its own.It rained, so we stayed inside.
- Write the answer. main clause
Check. The group of words is a main clause. ✓
Watch out. A main clause can stand alone, with a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end.
Watch out
Watch out: so and because are not the same. In It rained, so we stayed inside, the reason comes first and so introduces the result. In We stayed inside because it rained, the result comes first and because introduces the reason.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child what happened and why. Say the answer with because, then with so. Ask which part is the reason and which part is the result.
Exercise 4D Practice: reason, contrast and condition
Method. Find the conjunction that joins the clauses.
- Find the verbs, one for each clause. Each clause has its own verb.rained, stayed
- Find the joining word. It sits between two main clauses, and each part makes sense on its own.It rained, so we stayed inside.
- Write the answer. so
Check. so sits between the two parts. ✓
Watch out. Each side of this word could be a sentence on its own.
Method. Find the conjunction that joins the clauses.
- Find the verbs, one for each clause. Each clause has its own verb.was, broke
- Find the joining word. It starts the subordinate clause and joins it to the main clause.Mia was late because her bus broke down.
- Write the answer. because
Check. because sits between the two parts. ✓
Watch out. The clause that starts with this word cannot stand alone.
Method. Find the words that make the subordinate clause.
- Find the verbs. Each clause has one verb. A fronted adverbial has none.was, broke
- Find the words in the subordinate clause. A subordinate clause starts with a conjunction such as when or because. It needs a main clause and does not make sense alone.Mia was late because her bus broke down.
- Write the answer. because her bus broke down
Check. Read the subordinate clause aloud: it has only the words above. ✓
Watch out. The subordinate clause starts with its conjunction, such as when, because or although.
Method. Find the words that make the subordinate clause.
- Find the verbs. Each clause has one verb. A fronted adverbial has none.gets, runs
- Find the words in the subordinate clause. A subordinate clause starts with a conjunction such as when or because. It needs a main clause and does not make sense alone.Ella gets wet if she runs in the rain.
- Write the answer. if she runs in the rain
Check. Read the subordinate clause aloud: it has only the words above. ✓
Watch out. The subordinate clause starts with its conjunction, such as when, because or although.
Method. Find the job of so in the sentence.
- Read the word in its sentence. Look at its job in the sentence, not only at its spelling.It rained, so we stayed inside.
- Test the word. A conjunction joins two words, phrases or clauses.so is a conjunction here
- Write the answer. conjunction
Check. so does the job of a conjunction here. ✓
Watch out. A conjunction sits between the parts that it joins.
Method. The first part is the cause, and the second part is the result.
- Read the sentence. The shop was full, which is the reason. We went to the park, which is the result.reason, then result
- Choose the word. So introduces the result, after the reason.so
- Write the answer. so
Check. So joins the reason and the result. ✓
Watch out. Because would give the reason after the result.
Method. The word needed gives a reason for staying in.
- Read the sentence. Ben stayed in. Why? It was cold, which is the reason.the reason: it was cold
- Write the word. Because introduces the reason.because
- Write the answer. because
Check. Because gives the reason. ✓
Watch out. Because is followed by a clause with a verb: because it was cold.
Method. Find the conjunction that joins the clauses.
- Find the verbs, one for each clause. Each clause has its own verb.went, was
- Find the joining word. It starts the subordinate clause and joins it to the main clause.We went out although it was cold.
- Write the answer. although
Check. although sits between the two parts. ✓
Watch out. The clause that starts with this word cannot stand alone.
Method. Find the words that make the subordinate clause.
- Find the verbs. Each clause has one verb. A fronted adverbial has none.was, ran
- Find the words in the subordinate clause. A subordinate clause starts with a conjunction such as when or because. It needs a main clause and does not make sense alone.Although the path was wet, Ella ran to school.
- Write the answer. Although the path was wet
Check. Read the subordinate clause aloud: it has only the words above. ✓
Watch out. The subordinate clause starts with its conjunction, such as when, because or although.
Method. Look at where each word puts the reason and the result.
- Look at so. It rained, so we stayed inside: the reason comes first, and so introduces the result.reason, so result
- Look at because. We stayed inside because it rained: the result comes first, and because introduces the reason.result, because reason
- Write the answer. No. So gives the result after the reason. Because gives the reason, and it can come after the result.
Check. Both link a reason and a result, but in a different order. ✓
Watch out. So is a joining word for two main clauses.
Method. Write the main clause, then add although and the contrast.
- Main clause. Sam went swimming makes sense on its own.Sam went swimming
- Subordinate clause. Although it was windy shows a contrast, and it depends on the main clause.although it was windy
- Write the answer. Any correct sentence, for example: Sam went swimming although it was windy.
Check. Although shows a surprising contrast. ✓
Watch out. The subordinate clause starts with although.