Basic Conjunctions in Japanese

In Brief

Use そして to add or continue, でも to contrast, だから to give a result, それから to mark what happens next, and または to present alternatives. At beginner level, place these connectors at the start of a new sentence: 雨です。だから家にいます。 (“It is raining. So I am staying home.”)

Overview

A conjunction is a linking word: it shows how one thought relates to another. The five conjunctions in this lesson connect short statements into a sequence, contrast, reason-and-result relationship, or choice. They are introduced at A1 because they let you say much more without changing the internal grammar of the sentences you already know.

The most useful beginner pattern is sentence 1 + punctuation + conjunction + sentence 2. Each sentence expresses a complete thought, and the conjunction tells the reader or listener how to interpret the second one. For example, 疲れました。でも楽しかったです。 presents two facts and marks the second as a contrast: “I was tired. But it was fun.”

This sentence-by-sentence pattern matters for English-speaking learners. English commonly joins clauses inside one sentence with “and,” “but,” “so,” or “or.” Japanese has ways to do that too, but they often require different forms, including the verb て-form or connecting particles (short grammatical words attached to a clause). For now, using two short sentences is both safe and clear.

How It Works

The basic sentence pattern

The connector normally comes after the first sentence has ended:

Statement A。Connector、statement B。

Japanese does not require a space after the full stop 。. A comma 、 after the connector is optional in many short sentences; it may be added for readability. In speech, a brief pause often does the same job.

Connector	Core meaning	Relationship between sentences	Beginner model
そして	and; and then	addition or continuation	A。そしてB。
でも	but	contrast or unexpected information	A。でもB。
だから	so; therefore	A is the reason; B is the result	A。だからB。
それから	after that; and then	B follows A in time or order	A。それからB。
または	or; alternatively	choice between alternatives	A、またはB。

The English glosses overlap, but the Japanese words are not interchangeable. Choose a connector according to the relationship you want to express, not simply according to one English word.

そして: adding or continuing

そして adds another fact or continues a description. It can also move a story forward, so translations include “and,” “and then,” and sometimes simply “then.”

• この町は静かです。そして海がきれいです。 — This town is quiet. And the sea is beautiful.
• ドアを開けました。そして中に入りました。 — I opened the door. Then I went inside.

For a plain chronological list, それから often marks the sequence more explicitly. そして feels broader: the second statement may simply be another related point.

でも: showing contrast

でも introduces information that differs from what came before or from what the listener might expect. In this use, it stands at the beginning of a sentence and means “but” or “however.”

• 日本語は難しいです。でもおもしろいです。 — Japanese is difficult. But it is interesting.

Do not confuse this sentence connector with other uses of でも that you will meet later. For example, お茶でも飲みませんか uses でも after a noun to suggest “tea or something like that.” That is a different pattern.

だから: moving from reason to result

With だから, the first sentence gives the reason or situation, and the second gives its result, decision, or conclusion:

reason。だから result。

• 明日は休みです。だから夜更かしします。 — Tomorrow is a day off. So I will stay up late.

English “because” usually introduces the reason, but だから points forward to the result. If you mentally replace it with “that is why” or “so,” the order is easier to remember. だから itself is neutral-to-casual in ordinary conversation; ですから is a more polite counterpart.

それから: marking the next step

それから literally points back to what has just happened and means “after that” or “and then.” It is especially useful for routines, directions, and short stories.

• シャワーを浴びます。それから寝ます。 — I take a shower. After that, I go to bed.

It can also mean “and also” when a speaker adds one more item: パンをください。それから、牛乳もお願いします。 (“Bread, please. Also, some milk.”) The surrounding context tells you whether time order or addition is intended.

または: presenting alternatives

または presents alternatives and is common in instructions, forms, notices, and careful explanations. It can connect complete alternatives, but it may also appear between shorter choices.

• メールを送ってください。または、電話してください。 — Please send an email. Or call.
• 現金またはカード — cash or card

In everyday questions, Japanese often marks alternatives with か instead: コーヒーかお茶、どちらがいいですか。 (“Which would you like, coffee or tea?”) Treat または as a clear, somewhat formal “or,” not as the only Japanese equivalent of English “or.”

Choosing between similar connectors

Japanese	English	Difference in focus
本を読みました。そして音楽を聞きました。	I read a book. And I listened to music.	Adds another related action.
本を読みました。それから音楽を聞きました。	I read a book. After that, I listened to music.	Clearly emphasizes order.
寒いです。でも散歩します。	It is cold. But I will take a walk.	The walk contrasts with the cold.
寒いです。だから家にいます。	It is cold. So I will stay home.	Staying home is the result of the cold.

Examples in Context

Japanese	English	Note
朝ごはんを食べました。そして学校に行きました。	I ate breakfast. And then I went to school.	そして continues the sequence.
この店は安いです。そして便利です。	This shop is inexpensive. And it is convenient.	Addition, not necessarily time order.
田中さんは先生です。そして作家です。	Ms. Tanaka is a teacher. She is also a writer.	Adds a second fact about the same person.
疲れました。でも楽しかったです。	I was tired. But it was fun.	Positive information contrasts with tiredness.
駅は近いです。でも道が分かりません。	The station is nearby. But I do not know the way.	The second fact complicates the first.
この本は難しいです。でも読みたいです。	This book is difficult. But I want to read it.	Desire goes against the likely expectation.
雨です。だから家にいます。	It is raining. So I am staying home.	Weather is the reason for the decision.
電車がありません。だからバスで行きます。	There is no train. So I will go by bus.	Problem followed by a solution.
明日はテストです。だから今夜勉強します。	The test is tomorrow. Therefore, I will study tonight.	Situation followed by a planned result.
買い物をしました。それから映画を見ました。	I went shopping. Then I watched a movie.	Explicit chronological order.
名前を書いてください。それから、このボタンを押してください。	Please write your name. Then press this button.	Ordered instructions.
駅で友達に会いました。それから、一緒に昼ごはんを食べました。	I met a friend at the station. After that, we ate lunch together.	The second event follows the first.
電車で行きます。または、バスで行きます。	I will go by train. Or I will go by bus.	Two complete alternatives.
パスポートまたは在留カードを見せてください。	Please show your passport or residence card.	Formal choice between nouns.

Notice that Japanese often leaves out a subject when it is clear from context. The conjunction does not decide whether a subject is stated; it only marks the logical connection.

Common Mistakes

Using だから as though it meant “because”

• Wrong: 家にいます。だから雨です。 (intended: “I am staying home because it is raining.”)
• Right: 雨です。だから家にいます。
• Why: だから leads from the reason to its result: “It is raining. Therefore, I am staying home.” Reversing the two creates a different, usually illogical claim.

Using そして for every English “and”

• Awkward: パンそしてチーズを買いました。
• Right: パンとチーズを買いました。
• Why: The particle と connects nouns in a simple complete list. そして is taught here as a connector between sentences or substantial ideas, not as a direct replacement for every English “and.”

Missing the contrast with でも

• Awkward: 雨です。でも傘を持っています。 (if you merely mean “It is raining, and I have an umbrella.”)
• Better: 雨です。そして傘を持っています。
• Why: でも tells the listener to look for contrast. It works if having an umbrella is presented as good news despite the rain, but not if the statements are merely being listed.

Confusing addition with time order

• Less precise: まず、名前を書きます。そして、写真を貼ります。
• Clearer for instructions: まず、名前を書きます。それから、写真を貼ります。
• Why: そして can continue a sequence, but それから clearly signals that the second step follows the first.

Overusing または in casual choices

• Stiff in ordinary conversation: コーヒーまたはお茶、どちらがいいですか。
• More natural: コーヒーかお茶、どちらがいいですか。
• Why: または is useful but often sounds formal or document-like. The particle か is common for simple alternatives in conversation.

Joining fragments without checking the pattern

• Wrong: 疲れたでも行きます。
• Right beginner pattern: 疲れました。でも行きます。
• Why: Sentence-initial でも follows a complete statement. Connecting clauses inside one sentence requires patterns such as けど or が, which are separate grammar points.

Usage Notes

In conversation, でも and だから are extremely useful, but their tone depends on context. Starting a reply with でも can sound like an objection: “But…”. That is natural among friends, yet repeatedly doing it may sound argumentative. ただ (“however; only”) or a softer clause ending may be preferred in more careful speech.

だから can also sound forceful when used alone in a reply, rather like “That’s why!” Polite ですから is appropriate in customer service, explanations, and formal conversation. In formal writing, you may see したがって (“consequently”) instead, but that is not an A1 replacement you need for daily speech.

そして is perfectly correct, especially in writing, presentations, and organized narratives. Natural conversation may leave it out when the relationship is obvious, or use other connectors. Likewise, punctuation is a writing aid, not part of the spoken word: Japanese speakers signal transitions through pauses, intonation, and context.

Beyond the Basics / Advanced Use

You do not need to master the following patterns yet, but recognizing them prevents the five beginner connectors from becoming one-to-one translations of English words.

Japanese frequently links ideas inside a sentence. Verbs can use the て-form to connect actions: 朝ごはんを食べて、学校に行きました。 (“I ate breakfast and went to school.”) Contrast can be expressed with が or けど: 疲れましたが、楽しかったです。 (“I was tired, but it was fun.”) A reason can be attached with から: 雨だから、家にいます。 (“Because it is raining, I am staying home.”) These forms create one combined sentence rather than two sentences linked by a sentence connector.

Beginner sentence connection	Later combined pattern	English
朝ごはんを食べました。そして学校に行きました。	朝ごはんを食べて、学校に行きました。	I ate breakfast and went to school.
疲れました。でも楽しかったです。	疲れましたが、楽しかったです。	I was tired, but it was fun.
雨です。だから家にいます。	雨だから、家にいます。	Because it is raining, I am staying home.

More advanced writing distinguishes connectors by register. しかし is a formal “however,” そのため means “for that reason/as a result,” and したがって marks a logical conclusion. Narrative writing may use その後 for “afterwards.” These are not simply fancier synonyms: each has its own tone and preferred context.

Also note that だから contains だ, the plain copula (a word corresponding roughly to “is” after nouns and some adjectives), plus から. This helps explain related forms such as ですから and clause-level から, but beginners can safely learn だから first as a complete connector meaning “so” or “that is why.”

Practice Tips

1. Build four-sentence mini-stories. Start with a place or activity, add a fact with そして, introduce a problem with でも, and finish with a result using だから. Keeping each Japanese sentence short helps you focus on the logical relationship.
2. Sort by relationship, not translation. On flashcards, label examples “addition,” “contrast,” “result,” “next step,” or “choice.” This is more reliable than memorizing several connectors as “and” or “then.”
3. Retell a routine with それから. Describe your morning one step at a time. Then replace one それから with そして and ask whether explicit time order still matters. This trains the difference between sequence and general addition.

Related Concepts

No prerequisite or downstream concepts are specified for this standalone A1 topic. When they appear in your Japanese grammar path, useful next areas are:

• Verb て-form — connects actions inside one sentence.
• Contrast with が／けど — expresses “but” within a sentence.
• Reasons with から — attaches a reason directly to its result.
• Noun lists with と — connects nouns in a complete list.