Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Using Basic Connectors
11 questions · exam conditions
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Using Basic ConnectorsQuestion 1 of 11

Choose the best connector: She was cold   hungry, so she went home.

and
but
so
then
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Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Using Basic Connectors

Practice Using Basic Connectors in Adult ESL/ELL Beginner with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Using Basic Connectors, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Adult ESL/ELL Beginner.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Choose the best connector: She was cold   hungry, so she went home.

  1. and (correct answer)
  2. but
  3. so
  4. then
Explanation: Cold and hungry are two things that are both true at the same time, so you join them with "and": She was cold and hungry. The word "but" is tempting because it can join ideas, but it is for contrast, and cold and hungry do not contrast here.

Question 2

Which sentence uses the connector 'but' correctly?

  1. He was hungry, but he ordered a large pizza for dinner.
  2. She was hungry, but she ate a large meal quickly.
  3. They were late, but they missed the bus.
  4. The coffee was hot, but she waited to drink it. (correct answer)
Explanation: When using the word "but," you are connecting two ideas that contrast or seem surprising together. The key test is simple: do the two parts of the sentence oppose each other in a logical way? If both parts point in the same direction, "but" is the wrong connector. D is correct because the two ideas genuinely contrast: hot coffee should be drunk right away, yet she waited. That unexpected choice creates a real contrast, which is exactly what "but" signals. Now look at why the others fail. A says he was hungry, but he ordered a large pizza — there is no contrast here at all. A hungry person would order a large meal; these ideas agree with each other, not oppose each other. The word "so" would fit much better. B makes the same mistake: a hungry person eating a large meal quickly makes perfect sense together, so "but" creates no real opposition. Again, "so" or "and" would work. C is a classic trap — it sounds like a contrast because "late" and "missed the bus" feel dramatic, but think about the logic: being late causes missing the bus. These ideas support each other rather than oppose each other. A correct version might be: "They were late, but they caught the bus." Your strategy: before choosing "but," ask yourself — do these two ideas surprise me together? If the second idea naturally follows from the first, "but" is wrong. Look for a genuine opposite or unexpected result. This contrast test will save you on many connector questions.

Question 3

Step 1: Boil the water. Step 2: Add the pasta.

Which sentence correctly uses a connector to describe these two steps in order?

  1. Boil the water, so add the pasta to the pot.
  2. Boil the water, then add the pasta to the pot. (correct answer)
  3. Boil the water, but add the pasta to the pot.
  4. Boil the water, because add the pasta to the pot.
Explanation: When describing steps in a sequence, you need a connector (also called a linking word) that shows time order — meaning one thing happens first, and another happens next. Ask yourself: "Does this word logically connect two steps that happen one after the other?" The word "then" is the right tool for this job. It signals that the second action follows the first in time. Choice B — "Boil the water, then add the pasta to the pot" — clearly communicates Step 1 happens first, Step 2 happens next. That matches the passage perfectly. The other choices use connectors that mean something completely different. Choice A uses "so," which shows a result or consequence — it means the first action causes the second. Boiling water doesn't cause you to add pasta; it's simply a step that comes before. Choice C uses "but," which shows contrast or surprise — as if adding pasta contradicts boiling the water, which makes no sense here. Choice D uses "because," which gives a reason — it explains why something happens. The sentence would mean "boil the water for the reason that: add the pasta," which is grammatically broken and logically wrong. A good study tip: memorize a small set of connector words and their jobs. Then/next/after that = time order. So = result. But/however = contrast. Because/since = reason. On sequence questions, always look for the connector that matches the relationship between the two ideas, not just one that sounds familiar.

Question 4

Maria is tired every day. She works two jobs.

Which sentence correctly uses a connector to combine these two ideas?

  1. Maria is tired every day because she works two jobs. (correct answer)
  2. Maria is tired every day so she works two jobs.
  3. Maria is tired every day but she works two jobs.
  4. Maria is tired every day then she works two jobs.
Explanation: When combining two sentences with a connector, ask yourself: what is the relationship between the two ideas? Is one idea the cause of the other? Are the ideas opposites? Does one idea happen after the other? Choosing the right connector depends entirely on understanding that relationship. In the passage, the two ideas are: Maria is tired, and she works two jobs. Working two jobs is the reason she is tired — it's a cause-and-effect relationship. Answer A uses the connector "because," which introduces a cause or reason. "Maria is tired every day because she works two jobs" flows logically — the two jobs explain the tiredness. This is the correct answer. Answer B uses "so," which shows a result, not a reason. "So" means therefore — it suggests that being tired caused her to work two jobs, which reverses the logic. The jobs cause the tiredness, not the other way around. Answer C uses "but," which shows contrast or surprise — as if the two ideas are opposites or unexpected together. Being tired and working two jobs are not contrasting ideas; they go together naturally. Answer D uses "then," which shows time sequence — one thing happens, then another happens afterward. The passage is not describing a sequence of events in time; it's explaining a reason. A helpful tip: when you see cause-and-effect, remember because = reason, so = result. Ask yourself, "Which idea is the cause, and which is the effect?" That will help you choose the right connector every time.

Question 5

Omar does not have a car. He takes the bus to work every morning.

Which sentence BEST combines these two ideas so that the word 'because' is used to introduce the reason for Omar's action?

  1. Omar does not have a car, and he takes the bus to work every morning.
  2. Omar takes the bus every morning because he does not have a car. (correct answer)
  3. Omar does not have a car, so he takes the bus every morning.
  4. Omar does not have a car, but he takes the bus every morning.
Explanation: When combining sentences, pay attention to the connecting word you're asked to use — it tells you exactly what relationship to show between the two ideas. Here, the question asks you to use "because" to introduce the reason for Omar's action. That means you need to identify what Omar does (takes the bus) and why he does it (no car), then connect them with "because" pointing from the action to the reason. Answer B does this perfectly: "Omar takes the bus every morning because he does not have a car." The word "because" directly introduces the cause — no car — explaining why he takes the bus. The structure is: action + because + reason. This matches the question's instructions exactly. Answer A uses "and," which simply lists two facts side by side without showing any cause-and-effect relationship. It doesn't explain why Omar takes the bus. Answer C uses "so," which does show cause and effect, but "so" introduces the result, not the reason — and more importantly, the question specifically asks for "because." Answer D uses "but," which signals contrast or surprise, as if taking the bus is unexpected. That doesn't make logical sense here and misrepresents the relationship between the two ideas. A helpful tip: when a question tells you which connecting word to use, that's your biggest clue. Words like "because," "so," "but," and "and" each signal a different relationship — reason, result, contrast, and addition. Train yourself to match the connector to the relationship the question describes, and you'll avoid the traps in questions like this one.

Question 6

A student wrote: 'I wanted to buy the shoes,   they were too expensive.' Which connector best completes this sentence?

  1. and
  2. then
  3. so
  4. but (correct answer)
Explanation: When two ideas are opposites or in conflict, you need a connector that shows contrast. That's exactly what's happening here: the student wanted the shoes (positive feeling), but the price stopped them (negative obstacle). These two ideas push against each other, so you need a word that signals that tension. "But" (D) is the correct connector because it joins two contrasting ideas. "I wanted to buy the shoes" sets up an expectation — the purchase should happen — and "they were too expensive" breaks that expectation. "But" is specifically designed for this job. Now let's look at why the other choices don't work. A) "And" connects ideas that go in the same direction or add information together, like "I liked the shoes and I bought them." Using "and" here would suggest both ideas agree, which they don't. B) "Then" shows a sequence in time — first one thing happens, then another. It works for steps or events in order, not for showing conflict. C) "So" shows a result or consequence — "the shoes were expensive, so I didn't buy them." Notice that "so" could work if the sentence were rearranged, but in this exact sentence, "so" doesn't connect the contrast between wanting and being unable to buy. A helpful tip: when you see two ideas that fight each other in a sentence, look for "but" or "however." Ask yourself — do these ideas agree or disagree? If they disagree, "but" is almost always your connector.

Question 7

Which of the following sentences is INCORRECT because the connector does not match the relationship between the two ideas?

  1. I was cold, so I put on a jacket.
  2. She finished her homework, then she watched TV.
  3. He likes coffee, and he likes tea.
  4. The store was closed, because we went home. (correct answer)
Explanation: When you see a question about connectors (also called conjunctions or linking words), ask yourself: does this word correctly show the relationship between the two ideas? Each connector has a specific job — "so" shows result, "then" shows sequence, "and" adds information, and "because" explains a reason or cause. The key to this question is understanding how "because" works. "Because" introduces the cause of something — the reason why something happened. In choice D, "The store was closed, because we went home," the connector suggests that the store being closed was the reason they went home, which actually makes logical sense — but the sentence is structured backwards in a misleading way. More precisely, "because" is being used to connect the result (going home) to the cause (the store was closed), but a natural, correct version would be: "We went home because the store was closed." As written in D, the cause-and-effect logic is reversed, making the sentence grammatically and logically incorrect. Choices A, B, and C all use their connectors correctly. In A, "so" correctly signals a result — being cold caused the jacket decision. In B, "then" correctly shows one action happening after another in sequence. In C, "and" correctly joins two related pieces of information about the same person's preferences. A helpful tip: whenever you see "because," ask yourself which idea is the reason and which is the result. The cause should come after "because." If the sentence feels backwards or confusing, the connector is probably misused — just like in D.

Question 8

A student wants to write one sentence combining these ideas: 'I woke up late. I missed breakfast. I went straight to work.' Which sentence uses connectors MOST correctly?

  1. I woke up late, but I missed breakfast, then I went straight to work.
  2. I woke up late, so I missed breakfast, and then I went straight to work. (correct answer)
  3. I woke up late because I missed breakfast, so I went straight to work.
  4. I woke up late, and I missed breakfast because I went straight to work.
Explanation: When combining sentences that show cause-and-effect relationships happening in sequence, you need connectors that accurately reflect why each event leads to the next. Ask yourself: does each connector logically connect the ideas around it? In this situation, the three events form a clear chain: waking up late caused missing breakfast, and as a result, going straight to work made sense. Answer B — "I woke up late, so I missed breakfast, and then I went straight to work" — captures this perfectly. "So" signals that missing breakfast was a consequence of waking up late, and "and then" moves the sequence forward naturally. The logic flows in the right direction throughout. The other choices break that logic in important ways. A uses "but," which signals contrast or surprise — as if missing breakfast was unexpected after waking up late. That's the wrong relationship; missing breakfast makes complete sense here. C reverses the cause and effect entirely by saying "I woke up late because I missed breakfast" — but missing breakfast didn't cause waking up late; it was the other way around. D makes another reversal, suggesting going straight to work caused missing breakfast, when actually missing breakfast led to going straight to work. A helpful strategy: before choosing a connector, pause and ask, "Which event is the cause, and which is the effect?" Words like "so" and "because" carry direction — "so" points forward to a result, while "because" points backward to a reason. Getting that direction right is the key to combining sentences correctly.

Question 9

Read this sentence: 'She studied all night,   she was still nervous about the exam.' Which connector shows that the second idea is surprising given the first?

  1. so
  2. then
  3. but (correct answer)
  4. because
Explanation: When a sentence presents two ideas that seem to contradict each other, you need a connector that signals contrast or surprise. Ask yourself: does the second idea make sense given the first, or does it go against what you'd expect? In this sentence, studying all night would normally lead to feeling confident — so feeling nervous is surprising. That contrast is the key to finding the right connector. C) "but" is the correct answer because it signals that the second idea goes against what the first idea suggests. "She studied all night, but she was still nervous" tells the reader: this outcome is unexpected. Now let's look at why the other choices don't work. A) "so" shows a result or consequence — it means the second idea follows naturally from the first. "She studied all night, so she felt ready" would make sense, but nervousness is the opposite of a natural result. B) "then" shows sequence in time — it means one thing happened after another, not that it was surprising. It doesn't express contrast at all. D) "because" gives a reason — it explains why something happened. "She was nervous because she didn't study" would work, but that's not the relationship here. A helpful tip: when you see contrast connector questions, look for the unexpected twist in the second idea. If the second idea surprises you or goes against the first, choose "but." If the second idea follows naturally, choose "so." Keeping this simple rule in mind will help you on many similar questions.

Question 10

Read this sentence: 'It was raining,   we stayed inside.' Which connector correctly completes the sentence?

  1. and
  2. but
  3. so (correct answer)
  4. because
Explanation: When connecting two sentences, the word you choose must show the logical relationship between the two ideas. Here, the sentence has two parts: (1) it was raining, and (2) we stayed inside. Ask yourself: why did we stay inside? Because of the rain. That means the first idea is a cause and the second is the result — and you need a connector that shows cause-and-effect. The word "so" (C) is the right choice because it introduces a result or consequence. "It was raining, so we stayed inside" clearly communicates: the rain caused us to stay inside. This is the natural, correct connection. A) "and" simply adds two ideas together without showing any relationship between them — it would suggest the two events just happened at the same time, not that one caused the other. B) "but" shows contrast or surprise, like "It was raining, but we went outside anyway." Using "but" here would actually reverse the logic. D) "because" is tricky — it does show cause and effect, but it works differently. "Because" introduces the cause directly: "We stayed inside because it was raining." To use "because," you would need to flip the sentence order. In the original sentence, the cause comes first, which is the pattern for "so," not "because." A helpful tip: when the cause comes first in the sentence, use "so" to introduce the result. When the result comes first, use "because" to introduce the cause. Keeping this word order pattern in mind will help you on many connector questions.

Question 11

Which pair of sentences can BEST be combined using the connector 'and'?

  1. The weather was sunny. We brought umbrellas just in case.
  2. The dog was barking loudly. The neighbors complained about the noise.
  3. My brother plays soccer. My sister plays soccer too. (correct answer)
  4. She was very thirsty. She forgot to bring water to the park.
Explanation: When combining two sentences with "and," you're looking for ideas that are similar, parallel, or adding information in the same direction. Think of "and" as a connector that joins two things that belong together naturally — same topic, same direction, same type of action. Choice C is the best answer because both sentences share the exact same structure and idea: a family member plays soccer. "My brother plays soccer, and my sister plays soccer too" flows perfectly because the two ideas are parallel — same activity, same pattern, adding one piece of information to another. The word "and" is designed for exactly this kind of connection. Choice A doesn't work well with "and" because the two ideas conflict slightly — sunny weather and bringing umbrellas suggest an unexpected contrast. A better connector here would be "but" or "so...just in case." Choice B shows a cause and effect relationship: the barking caused the complaint. A better connector would be "so" or "because." Joining these with "and" makes the relationship between the ideas unclear. Choice D also shows contrast or cause and effect — she was thirsty because she forgot water, or but she forgot water. Again, "and" doesn't capture that relationship correctly. A helpful tip: before choosing "and," ask yourself, "Are these two ideas similar or adding up in the same direction?" If one idea contrasts or explains the cause of the other, you likely need "but," "so," or "because" instead. Choice C is the only pair where "and" creates a smooth, natural connection.