Conjunctions: when, if, because, although: what children learn
A conjunction is a joining word. It links two words, phrases or clauses together so that one sentence can hold more than one idea. Children start in Year 1 by joining ideas with and. In Years 3 and 4, the National Curriculum asks them to use a wider range of conjunctions, including when, if, because and although, to make longer and more interesting sentences.
Conjunctions also do an important job for meaning. Because explains a reason, if sets a condition, when gives a time and although shows a contrast. Choosing the right one makes writing clearer: 'I wore my coat because it was cold' means something different from 'I wore my coat although it was warm'. In the game, children read a sentence and pick out the word that is doing the joining. Spotting conjunctions in other people's sentences is the first step to using them confidently in their own writing.
This topic covers the Year 3 statutory requirement in the National Curriculum in England (Writing – vocabulary, grammar and punctuation): pupils should be taught to “extending the range of sentences with more than one clause by using a wider range of conjunctions, including when, if, because, although”. Year 3 pupils are usually aged 7–8. The Years 3 and 4 programme of study is shared; English Appendix 2 introduces conjunctions such as when, before, after, while, so and because in Year 3.
For families following US standards, the closest Common Core standard is L.3.1.h, which is taught in Grade 3.
How to play
Answer 10 questions before the clock runs out. Tap an answer, or press 1 to 4. Each game has 10 multiple-choice questions and a 120-second timer. A wrong answer shows the correct one before moving on. You earn up to three stars depending on your score.
Step by step
- Find the two ideas. Read the sentence and look for two things that could each be a sentence on their own, or nearly: 'We stayed inside' and 'it was raining'.
- Find the word in between. The conjunction is usually the word that sits between the two ideas and joins them: We stayed inside because it was raining.
- Check the front of the sentence. Some conjunctions, such as although, if and when, can start a sentence: 'Although it was late, the children kept reading.' The second idea comes after the comma.
- Ask what job the word does. Does it tell us why (because), when (when, before, after, while, until), on what condition (if) or show a contrast (although, but)? If it joins two ideas in one of these ways, it is a conjunction.
- Try changing it. Swap the conjunction for a different one and see how the meaning changes. This helps children choose conjunctions on purpose in their writing.
Worked examples
Example 1: Which word is the conjunction? “Sam smiled when he saw the puppy.”
Working: The two ideas are 'Sam smiled' and 'he saw the puppy'. When joins them and tells us the time.
Answer: when
Example 2: Which word is the conjunction? “Although the hill was steep, Zara cycled to the top.”
Working: The two ideas are 'the hill was steep' and 'Zara cycled to the top'. Although joins them and shows a contrast.
Answer: although
Example 3: Which word is the conjunction? “Tom was tired, so he went to bed early.”
Working: So joins 'Tom was tired' and 'he went to bed early' and shows a result.
Answer: so
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Choosing a describing word or an action word instead. Remind children that conjunctions do not describe anything or show an action. They only join. Covering the conjunction often leaves two separate ideas.
- Missing a conjunction at the start of a sentence. Practise with sentences that begin with if, when or although. Show that the comma marks where the first idea ends.
- Using and for everything in writing. Give a sentence joined with and, then ask children to improve it with because, when or although. Talk about which one makes the meaning clearest.
- Writing a sentence that starts with because but never finishes the thought. Check that a sentence starting with a conjunction has two parts: 'Because it was raining, we stayed inside.'
Activities to try at home
- Play 'finish my sentence': you say 'I like ice cream because…' or 'If it snows…' and your child finishes it.
- While reading together, pause on a long sentence and ask which word joins the two ideas.
- Make a set of conjunction cards (because, if, when, although, until) and take turns making up a sentence using a card picked at random.
- Use the printable worksheet and talk about why each answer is the joining word.
Ideas for the classroom
- Give pupils two simple sentences and a conjunction card. They must join the sentences and read them aloud, then try a different conjunction.
- Highlight every conjunction in a paragraph of a class text and sort them by job: time, cause, condition or contrast.
- Run a 'conjunction relay' in which each group extends a sentence by adding a new clause with a different conjunction.
- Use the quiz game as a quick whole-class retrieval starter, with pupils voting before you reveal the answer.
Printable worksheet
The printable worksheet uses the same question generator as the game, so it practises exactly the same skills. It comes with a separate answer sheet on the second page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser's print menu.
Frequently asked questions
What are conjunctions in Year 3?
The National Curriculum asks pupils in Years 3 and 4 to use a wider range of conjunctions, including when, if, because and although. English Appendix 2 also mentions before, after, while and so for Year 3.
What is the difference between a conjunction and a preposition?
A conjunction joins clauses or words (because it was raining). A preposition shows how a noun relates to something else, often a place or time (under the table, after lunch). Some words, such as after and before, can be either, depending on what follows them.
Do children need to know the words 'coordinating' and 'subordinating'?
Not in Year 3. Those terms are not on the Key Stage 2 terminology list, although some schools introduce them. The important skill is choosing and using conjunctions well.