Practice
Compound conjunctions: forms and examples
As soon as the meeting ended, Priya called her client. Even though she was tired, she still wrote a short summary so that everyone would know the next step. The linked words tell the reader how the ideas belong together.
Choose a common multiword conjunction that shows the intended link between two ideas, including time, condition, contrast, reason, or purpose.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
even though /ˈiːvən ðoʊ/
The short answer
Choose the conjunction by meaning. Use as soon as for an immediate time relationship, even though for an unexpected contrast, as long as for a condition, because of for a reason before a noun phrase, and so that for a purpose.
We left as soon as the rain stopped.
Why it works: As soon as shows that leaving followed immediately after the rain stopped.
5 more examples
-
As soon as the store opened, we bought the replacement charger.
The purchase happened immediately after the store opened.
Not this:
After the store opened, we compared several chargers. What changes: After gives a general later time. As soon as stresses that the next action happened without delay. -
Even though the instructions were short, the repair took an hour.
The short instructions make the long repair time feel unexpected.
Not this:
Becausethe instructions were clear, the repair was easier. What changes: Because gives a cause. Even though introduces a contrast between the two ideas. -
You can borrow my notes as long as you return them tomorrow.
Returning the notes tomorrow is the condition for borrowing them.
Not this:You can borrow my notes
after you finish the class. What changes: After sets a time. As long as sets a requirement that must be met. -
Nora spoke slowly so that the new staff could follow the instructions.
The second clause gives the purpose of speaking slowly.
Not this:Nora spoke slowly
becausethe room was noisy. What changes: Because gives the reason for the action. So that gives the intended result. -
The flight was delayed because of heavy fog.
Because of is followed by the noun phrase heavy fog.
Not this:The flight was delayed
because fog covered the airport. What changes: Because is followed by a full clause with a subject and verb.
Read the full guide
Look at the two clauses before you choose a form. Ask whether the second idea tells the reader when something happens, gives a reason, sets a condition, shows a contrast, or explains a purpose. That answer points to a useful conjunction.
Start with the relationship
A multiword conjunction gives the reader a map from one clause to the next. Before choosing one, name the relationship in ordinary words: time, contrast, condition, reason, or purpose.
Even though the train was crowded, Mina found a seat.
The crowd and finding a seat create a contrast, so even though fits.
Which relationship does even though usually show: contrast, time, or purpose?
It usually shows contrast between two ideas that may seem surprising together.
Show time with as soon as
Use as soon as when the next event follows immediately. It can begin the sentence or appear between the two clauses. After it, use a clause with a subject and verb.
As soon as I receive the file, I will send it to the team.
The receiving happens first, and sending follows immediately afterward.
Complete the sentence for an immediate next action: ___ the oven is hot, put the bread inside.
Use As soon as: As soon as the oven is hot, put the bread inside.
Set a condition with as long as
Use as long as when one action is allowed or true only if another condition is met. In this meaning, it is close to provided that or on the condition that, but it is common in everyday English.
You can use the meeting room as long as you reserve it first.
Reserving the room first is required before the person can use it.
Choose the condition phrase: You may join the call ___ you use headphones.
Use as long as: You may join the call as long as you use headphones.
Separate reason from purpose
A reason explains why an action happened. A purpose explains what the speaker hoped the action would achieve. Use because or because of for a reason. Use so that for a purpose. The grammar after because of is different from the grammar after because.
I set an alarm so that I would not miss the early train.
Missing the train is the result the speaker wants to avoid, so the clause states a purpose.
Which form comes before a noun phrase: because or because of?
Use because of before a noun phrase, such as because of the delay.
Edit the words after the conjunction
A correct meaning is only part of the choice. Check the structure after the conjunction. A full clause has a subject and a verb. A noun phrase does not. This check prevents a common error with because and because of.
We stayed inside because of the storm.
The storm is a noun phrase. For a full clause, write because the storm became severe.
Correct the form: We stayed inside because of the storm became severe.
Use because: We stayed inside because the storm became severe.
Before you go
Remember this
Use a multiword conjunction to make the connection between ideas clear. Choose as soon as for immediate time, even though for contrast, as long as for a condition, so that for purpose, and because of before a noun phrase that names a reason. Check the words that follow before you finish the sentence.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Compound conjunctions: forms and examples"
What is a compound conjunction in English grammar?
Many school materials use compound conjunction for a conjunction made of more than one word, such as as soon as, even though, or so that. Grammar references do not always use the same label. For a learner, the useful step is to identify the relationship that the expression adds between the two parts of the sentence.
As soon as the store opened, we bought the replacement charger.
What is the difference between because and because of?
Use because before a full clause with a subject and verb: because the road was closed. Use because of before a noun phrase or an -ing form: because of the road closure or because of arriving late. Both can explain a reason, but the structure that follows is different.
After the store opened, we compared several chargers.
Can as long as mean a condition rather than time?
Yes. In a sentence such as You can stay as long as you are quiet, the phrase gives a condition. It means that staying is allowed only if the condition is met. In another context, as long as can refer to duration, so read the whole sentence before deciding its meaning.
Even though the instructions were short, the repair took an hour.
When should I use even though instead of because?
Use even though when the first clause creates a contrast with the main clause: Even though it was cold, they ate outside. Use because when the first clause gives the cause of the main clause: They ate inside because it was cold. The two expressions connect ideas in different ways.
Because the instructions were clear, the repair was easier.
Does so that always express a purpose?
So that commonly introduces the result a person wants to achieve, especially when the second clause uses can, could, will, or would. For example, I took notes so that I could remember the details. When you mean a reason that already exists, use a reason expression such as because instead.
You can borrow my notes as long as you return them tomorrow.