Basic Conjunctions in Czech

In Brief

Use a for “and,” ale for “but,” nebo for “or,” protože for “because,” takže for “so,” and i for “also,” “even,” or an emphatic kind of “and.” Czech normally puts a comma before ale, protože, and takže, but not before a simple a, nebo, or i.

Overview

Conjunctions are connecting words: they join words, phrases, or whole clauses (groups of words containing their own verb). In Czech, a few short conjunctions let you build much more useful sentences from the start. Instead of saying Mluvím česky. Mluvím anglicky., you can say Mluvím česky a anglicky — “I speak Czech and English.”

This is an A1 topic because the basic meanings are straightforward. The six core words, however, do not match English one-for-one in every situation. In particular, English “and” can correspond to a or i, while English “also” is often expressed by také or taky rather than i. Punctuation also carries meaning: a comma clearly separates the reason introduced by protože or the result introduced by takže.

You can use these conjunctions with nouns, adjectives, verbs, and complete thoughts. Czech word order is flexible, but the conjunction normally stands directly between the elements it connects or at the beginning of the clause it introduces.

How It Works

The six core conjunctions

Czech	Main English meaning	Basic job	Usual comma pattern
a	and	adds one neutral item or fact to another	no comma in a simple connection
ale	but	introduces a contrast	comma before ale
nebo	or	presents an alternative	usually no comma in a simple choice
protože	because	introduces a reason	comma separates the reason clause
takže	so	introduces a result	comma before takže
i	also, even, and	adds something with emphasis or inclusion	normally no comma in a simple connection

The comma guidance above is the dependable beginner pattern. More complex uses of a, nebo, and paired conjunctions are covered later under “Beyond the Basics.”

a: adding information neutrally

Use a to connect items or facts of equal importance:

• Petr a Jana — “Petr and Jana”
• malý a levný byt — “a small and inexpensive apartment”
• Pracuji a studuji. — “I work and study.”

A simple a does not normally take a comma. This differs from the optional Oxford comma used in some English lists: Czech does not place a comma just because a introduces the final item.

Máme chléb, sýr a ovoce. means “We have bread, cheese, and fruit.” There is no comma before a.

ale: contrasting two ideas

Use ale when the second idea contrasts with or limits the first:

• Je malý, ale pohodlný. — “It is small but comfortable.”
• Chci jít, ale nemůžu. — “I want to go, but I can’t.”

Write a comma before ale. This applies whether it connects two descriptions or two complete clauses. In speech, there is often a slight pause before it.

Unlike English “but,” ale can also appear after a negative statement to correct it: Není líný, ale unavený — “He isn’t lazy, but tired.” At beginner level, the same contrast rule is enough for both uses.

nebo: offering an alternative

Use nebo between choices:

• čaj nebo káva — “tea or coffee”
• Dnes nebo zítra? — “Today or tomorrow?”
• Můžeme jít pěšky nebo jet autobusem. — “We can walk or take the bus.”

In a short, neutral choice, do not put a comma before nebo. English speakers sometimes insert one because they hear a pause in the question, but a spoken pause does not automatically require Czech punctuation.

protože: giving the reason

Use protože to answer “why?” It introduces a subordinate clause (a clause that depends on the main statement for its role in the sentence):

main statement + protože + reason

Nejdu, protože prší. — “I’m not going because it’s raining.”

The reason can come first. When it does, place the comma after that clause:

protože + reason, main statement

Protože prší, nejdu. — “Because it’s raining, I’m not going.”

Unlike in some European languages, protože does not send the verb to the end of its clause. A natural basic order is still protože prší (“because it is raining”), not a special inverted pattern. Czech may omit a subject pronoun when the verb already makes the subject clear, but that is a general feature of Czech, not a rule caused by protože.

takže: stating the result

Use takže when the first clause provides the situation and the second gives its consequence:

situation, takže + result

Prší, takže nejdu ven. — “It’s raining, so I’m not going outside.”

Write a comma before takže. The logical direction is the reverse of a typical sentence with protože:

• Nejdu ven, protože prší. — not going outside is the situation; rain is the reason
• Prší, takže nejdu ven. — rain is the situation; not going outside is the result

This reason/result contrast is worth practising as a pair. It prevents the common mistake of choosing a conjunction by translating an isolated English word without checking the logic of the sentence.

i: adding with inclusion or emphasis

I can connect two items, but it often adds a sense of “as well,” “too,” or “even”:

• Mluvím česky i anglicky. — “I speak Czech and English / I also speak English.”
• Přišel i Petr. — “Petr came too / Even Petr came.”

With a, the two languages in česky a anglicky are simply listed. With i, the second language is more clearly added to what is already true. The difference is often one of focus, not factual meaning.

Do not assume that every English “also” must be i. Czech commonly uses také in neutral or more formal language and taky in everyday speech: Také mluvím česky or Taky mluvím česky means “I also speak Czech.” I normally stands immediately before the word or phrase it brings into focus.

Examples in Context

Czech	English	Note
Mluvím česky a anglicky.	I speak Czech and English.	a neutrally joins two languages.
Koupíme chléb, mléko a sýr.	We’ll buy bread, milk, and cheese.	No comma before the final a.
Anna pracuje a studuje.	Anna works and studies.	a joins two verbs with the same subject.
Chci jít, ale nemůžu.	I want to go, but I can’t.	A comma comes before ale.
Byt je malý, ale světlý.	The apartment is small but bright.	ale contrasts two descriptions.
Čaj nebo káva?	Tea or coffee?	A short alternative; no comma.
Pojedeme dnes nebo zítra.	We’ll go today or tomorrow.	nebo joins two time options.
Nejdu, protože prší.	I’m not going because it’s raining.	The reason follows the main clause.
Protože jsem unavený, jdu domů.	Because I’m tired, I’m going home.	The reason comes first; a woman would say unavená.
Nemám hlad, protože jsem už jedl.	I’m not hungry because I’ve already eaten.	A woman would say jedla.
Je pozdě, takže jedeme domů.	It’s late, so we’re going home.	takže introduces the result.
Autobus nejede, takže půjdeme pěšky.	The bus isn’t running, so we’ll walk.	The first clause explains the consequence.
Marie umí německy i česky.	Marie knows German and Czech.	i emphasizes the added language.
I Tomáš chce kávu.	Tomáš wants coffee too.	i focuses on Tomáš.
Mám rád jak čaj, tak kávu.	I like both tea and coffee.	A more developed paired structure, introduced below.

Common Mistakes

Adding a comma before every a

• Wrong: Petr, a Jana jsou doma.
• Right: Petr a Jana jsou doma.
• Why: A simple a connects equal items without a comma. English punctuation habits do not justify adding an Oxford comma in Czech.

Forgetting the comma before ale

• Wrong: Chci přijít ale nemám čas.
• Right: Chci přijít, ale nemám čas.
• Why: Ale introduces a contrast and is preceded by a comma.

Leaving out the comma around a protože clause

• Wrong: Zůstávám doma protože jsem nemocný.
• Right: Zůstávám doma, protože jsem nemocný.
• Why: The clause introduced by protože must be separated from the main clause. If the reason comes first, write Protože jsem nemocný, zůstávám doma.

Using protože when you mean “so”

• Wrong: Prší, protože zůstávám doma. (if you mean that the rain causes you to stay home)
• Right: Prší, takže zůstávám doma.
• Why: Protože introduces the reason; takže introduces the result. The wrong sentence literally suggests “It is raining because I am staying home.”

Translating every “also” as i

• Unnatural in many contexts: I mluvím česky.
• Neutral: Také mluvím česky.
• Why: The first sentence is possible, but it strongly focuses on the subject understood as “I too.” For a neutral “I also speak Czech,” také or conversational taky is often the better choice.

Putting a comma immediately after protože

• Wrong: Nejdu, protože, prší.
• Right: Nejdu, protože prší.
• Why: The comma separates the main clause from the complete reason clause. Do not split protože from the words that follow it.

Usage Notes

Spoken and written Czech

All six conjunctions are common in both speech and writing. A, ale, nebo, and protože are everyday essentials. Takže is also extremely frequent in conversation, where speakers may use it to sum up or move the discussion forward, much like English “so”: Takže, co budeme dělat? — “So, what are we going to do?” The comma after sentence-initial takže here marks it as a discourse word rather than as a direct result conjunction.

The informal word taky often competes with i for English “also” in everyday conversation. Také is neutral and works well in careful speech and writing. This does not make i formal: i is perfectly ordinary, but its position creates a clearer focus on the added element.

Position affects focus

Because i usually stands directly before the element it emphasizes, moving it can change the intended focus:

• I Pavel mluví česky. — “Pavel speaks Czech too.” The added person is Pavel.
• Pavel mluví i česky. — “Pavel speaks Czech too / Pavel also speaks Czech.” The added language is Czech.

English often relies on stress to show this difference. Czech can use both stress and the placement of i.

A practical punctuation summary

For reliable everyday writing, remember three groups:

1. Usually no comma in a simple connection: a, i, nebo
2. Comma before a contrast or result: ale, takže
3. A comma separates a reason clause: protože

These rules cover the examples an A1 learner is most likely to produce. Do not add a comma merely because you pause while speaking.

Beyond the Basics / Advanced Use

You do not need to master the patterns in this section yet, but you will see them as your Czech develops.

Paired conjunctions

Czech can mark both sides of a connection with a paired conjunction:

Czech	English	Pattern
Umí i anglicky, i německy.	She knows both English and German.	i … i … (“both … and …”)
Jak Petr, tak Jana souhlasí.	Both Petr and Jana agree.	jak … tak … (“both … and …”)
Buď zavolej, nebo napiš.	Either call or write.	buď … nebo … (“either … or …”)
Je nejen chytrý, ale i pracovitý.	He is not only clever but also hardworking.	nejen … ale i … (“not only … but also …”)

In paired structures, a comma commonly separates the second coordinated part, as in buď …, nebo … and nejen …, ale i …. This is one reason the beginner shortcut “never use a comma before nebo” is not a complete rule.

nebo meaning “or else”

When nebo introduces a consequence or warning rather than a neutral menu of choices, it is commonly preceded by a comma:

Pospěš si, nebo zmeškáš vlak. — “Hurry up, or you’ll miss the train.”

Compare that with vlak nebo autobus (“train or bus”), where nebo simply connects two alternatives and takes no comma.

More complex meanings of a

A is broader than English “and.” Depending on context, it can link a sequence, a contrast, or a consequence. Comma use then depends on the structure and meaning, especially when additional words form combinations such as a proto (“and therefore”) or a přesto (“and nevertheless”). At beginner level, produce clear sentences with simple a, ale, and takže; learn the less neutral patterns as complete expressions when you encounter them.

i as “even”

The same focusing word i may mean “even” when the added item is surprising:

I dítě tomu rozumí. — “Even a child understands it.”

Context and emphasis tell you whether i is best translated as “also,” “too,” “and,” or “even.” Rather than memorizing one English equivalent, notice which Czech word immediately follows i and why that item is being highlighted.

Practice Tips

1. Build reason-and-result pairs. Start with Jsem unavený/unavená (“I am tired”). Then make Jdu spát, protože jsem unavený/unavená and Jsem unavený/unavená, takže jdu spát. This trains the logical difference between protože and takže.
2. Sort conjunctions by punctuation. Make two small groups: a / i / nebo for simple connections without a comma, and ale / takže with a comma. Add protože separately and practise placing its reason clause both first and last.
3. Listen for focus with i. When you hear or read i, underline the word immediately after it. Ask whether English would use “also,” “too,” or “even.” This is more useful than assigning i one fixed translation.

Related Concepts

• This concept has no prerequisite: the six basic conjunctions can be learned as a standalone A1 topic.
• No downstream concepts are linked in the current Czech grammar map. Useful broader next steps are sentence word order, subordinate clauses, and paired conjunctions as they appear in your course.