Connectives

A connective is a word (such as and) that connects words or groups of words.

Although ... (but) ...

虽然 + condition 1，但是 + condition 2

虽然我喜欢踢足球，但是我踢得不好。

Suīrán wǒ xǐhuān tī zúqiú, dànshì wǒ tī dé bù hǎo.

Although I like playing football, (but) I can’t play well.

Note that in Chinese, 虽然 and 但是 come together; but in English, you only need one of them.

Apart from ... , person also ... .

除了 ... (以外)，person + 还 (or也) + verb + object

除了汉语(以外)，我还(or也)会说法语和德语。

Chúle hànyǔ yǐwài, wǒ hái huì shuō fǎyǔ hé déyǔ.

Apart from Chinese, I can also speak French and German.

Note that you can omit 以外 in the first part of your sentence; 还 and 也 can be used interchangeably in the second part.

Pay special attending to the word order in the second part: person + 还/也 + verb.

As soon as ...

Subject + 一 + verb + object + (subject) + 就 + verb + object

我一回家就做作业。

Wǒ yī huí jiā jiù zuò zuo yè.

As soon as I came back home, I did my homework.

Note that subject comes before 就 in the second part of the structure.

And

To connect two or more nouns/activities, use 和 . Note 和 does not connect adjectives or sentences.

我喜欢上网和听音乐。

Wǒ xǐhuān shàngwǎng hé tīng yīnyuè.

I like going online and listening to music.

To connect two adjectives, use 又 (or既)+ adjective 1 + 又 + adjective 2

姐姐又(or既)聪明又漂亮。

Jiějiě yòu (or jì) cōngmíng yòu piàoliang.

Elder sister is both clever and pretty.

To connect two sentences, use other connectives on this page.

Because ... (therefore) ...

因为 + reason, 所以 + result.

因为我每天跑步，所以我很健康。

Yīnwèi wǒ měitiān pǎobù, suǒyǐ wǒ hěn jiànkāng.

Because I run everyday, (therefore) I am very healthy.

Note that in Chinese, 因为 and 所以 come together; but in English, you only need one of them.

If ... then ...

如果 + condition 1，subject + 就 + condition 2

如果我有钱，我就去美国旅行。

Rúguǒ wǒ yǒu qián, wǒ jiù qù měiguó lǚxíng.

If I have money, I will travel to American.

Note that subject comes before 就 in the second part of the structure.

the more ... the more ...

subject + 越 + verb 1 + (subject 2) + 越 + verb 2

我越看越喜欢这双鞋子。

Wǒ yuè kàn yuè xǐhuān zhè shuāng xiézi.

The more I look at it, the more I like these shoes.

more and more / less and less

subject + 越来越 + adjective

天气越来越不好。

Tiānqì yuè lái yuè bù hǎo.

The weather is getting worse and worse.

Not only ... but also ...

Subject + 不但 + verb 1 + (object)，而且 + verb 2 + (object)

Subject + 不仅 + verb 1 + (object)，而且 + verb 2 + (object)

他不但 (or 不仅) 会说中文，而且会写中国字。

Tā bùdàn (bù jǐn) huì shuō zhōngwén, érqiě huì xiě zhōngguó zì.

Not only he can speak Chinese, but also he can write Chinese characters.

(either) ... or ...

a + 或者 + b

你可以吃面条或者米饭。

Nǐ kěyǐ chī miàntiáo huòzhě mǐfàn.

You can eat either noodles or rice.

when ...

... 的时候，...

做作业的时候不要看电视。

Zuò zuo yè de shíhòu bùyào kàn diànshì.

Don’t watch TV when you are doing your homework.

while (doing two things at the same time)

subject + 一边 + activity 1 + 一边 + activity 2

我喜欢一边跑步一边听音乐。

Wǒ xǐhuān yībiān pǎobù yībiān tīng yīnyuè.

I like run while listening to music.