Because, although, if: 因为…所以, 虽然…但是, 如果…就

Linking words come in pairs

English uses one linking word: because it rained, we stayed in. Chinese often uses two, one in each half of the sentence. In speech one of the pair is often dropped, but the pair is the standard form.

In English, because … so and although … but are mistakes. In Chinese they are exactly right.

因为 … 所以: because … so

• 因为下雨了，所以我们没去公园。(Yīnwèi xià yǔ le, suǒyǐ wǒmen méi qù gōngyuán.)Because it rained, we didn't go to the park.

The reason can also come second, with just 因为: 我今天不去上班，因为我病了 (I'm not going to work today, because I'm ill).

虽然 … 但是: although

• 虽然中文很难，但是很有意思。(Suīrán Zhōngwén hěn nán, dànshì hěn yǒu yìsi.)Although Chinese is hard, it's really interesting.

如果 … 就: if

如果 starts the condition, and 的话 (de huà) can close it. 就 goes in the second half, after its subject and before the verb. In speech 要是 (yàoshi) is a common alternative to 如果.

• 如果你有时间的话，就来我家吃饭吧。(Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu shíjiān de huà, jiù lái wǒ jiā chī fàn ba.)If you have time, come and eat at my place.
• 要是你累了，我们就休息一下。(Yàoshi nǐ lèi le, wǒmen jiù xiūxi yíxià.)If you're tired, we'll take a break.

Or: 还是 or 或者?

English has one or; Chinese has two.

• 还是 (háishi) asks a question: which one? It makes the question by itself, so no 吗. More in More ways to ask: 去不去, 是不是, 还是, 好吗, 吧.
• 或者 (huòzhě) is for statements: either is fine, this or that.

• 你想喝茶还是喝咖啡？(Nǐ xiǎng hē chá háishi hē kāfēi?)Would you like tea or coffee?
• 我们星期六或者星期天去吧。(Wǒmen xīngqīliù huòzhě xīngqītiān qù ba.)Let's go on Saturday or Sunday.

还是 also appears in a statement when the choice is still open: 我还没决定去还是不去 (I haven't decided whether to go or not).

Common mistakes

• 因为下雨，我们所以没去。 → 因为下雨，所以我们没去。所以 starts its half of the sentence.
• 如果明天下雨，就我们不去。 → 如果明天下雨，我们就不去。就 goes after the subject.
• 你喝茶或者咖啡？ → 你喝茶还是咖啡？A question asking "which one?" uses 还是.
• 你喝茶还是咖啡吗？ → 你喝茶还是咖啡？还是 already makes the question.