Grammar - Sentence Structure (Joining Sentences With And, But, Or)

Compiled from Grammar Builder Book 3

The rules are:

1.   a) And is used to join sentences when their meanings go well       together.

Eg. Frank owns a motorcycle. His sister owns a car.

     Frank owns a motorcycle and his sister owns a car. (Both are vehicles.)

   b) But is used to join sentences when there is a contrast in              meanings.

Eg. Robin is shy. His cousin is sociable.

     Robin is shy but his cousin is sociable. (Shy contrasts          with sociable.)

   c) Or is used to join sentences to show that only one of the              choices will take place.
       Eg. We can travel on our own. We can join a tour.

     We can travel on our own or we can join a tour.

2.   And/or is used to join at least three sentences.

    Sentence + comma + sentence (+comma + sentence + …) +        and/or + sentence.

Ø     I’m an entrepreneur. She’s an engineer. He’s a lawyer.

I’m an entrepreneur, she’s an engineer and he’s a lawyer.

Ø     I will pay first. Sally will pay first. We will pay together.
I will pay first, Sally will pay first or we will pay                     together.