In Russian, conjunctions are important for putting sentences together. They help connect words and ideas. To communicate well, it’s helpful to learn about two main types of conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions join words or parts of a sentence that are equally important. Here are some common ones in Russian:

• и (and)
• или (or)
• но (but)
• да (and, also - used like 'but')
• а (and, but)

Example Sentences:

1. Я куплю хлеб и молоко.
   (I will buy bread and milk.)

2. Она хочет поехать на море, но погода плохая.
   (She wants to go to the sea, but the weather is bad.)

In these sentences, the conjunctions connect similar ideas, making everything clear.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are a bit different. They start groups of words (clauses) that need a main clause to make sense. Here are some common subordinating conjunctions in Russian:

• что (that)
• чтобы (to, so that)
• когда (when)
• если (if)
• поскольку (since, because)

Example Sentences:

1. Я знаю, что он придет.
   (I know that he will come.)

2. Она ушла, чтобы купить молоко.
   (She left to buy milk.)

3. Когда ты придешь, мы начнем.
   (When you arrive, we will start.)

In these examples, the subordinate clauses add extra information and depend on the main clauses to make complete thoughts.

Key Differences

1. Function:

   • Coordinating conjunctions connect equal parts.
   • Subordinating conjunctions introduce clauses that depend on the main clause.

2. Sentence Structure:

   • Coordinating conjunctions create compound sentences.
   • Subordinating conjunctions make complex sentences.

3. Punctuation:

   • A coordinating conjunction usually doesn’t need extra punctuation if it links simple ideas.
   • A subordinating conjunction may need a comma if the subordinate clause comes before the main clause.

Practice

To practice these ideas, try making sentences with both types of conjunctions. For example:

• Use и to connect two activities in one sentence.
• Create a complex sentence using поскольку to explain a reason.

By practicing with these conjunctions, you’ll get better at making clear and correct sentences in Russian!