Italian Grammar Bank
ITALIAN COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
In this lesson, we will explore Italian coordinating conjunctions, a category of conjunctions that are distinguished by their ability to coordinate similar elements within sentences.
We will analyse them to understand their use and relevance in our everyday language.
WHAT ARE CONJUNCTIONS
Conjunctions are grammatical connectives that act as bridges between words, sentences or propositions, allowing concepts and ideas to be connected in a coherent manner.
They are strategically placed within sentences, playing a fundamental role in structuring discourse.
Conjunctions are distinguished into coordinating and subordinating on the basis of their syntactic function.
Subordinating conjunctions unite elements of different grammatical value, introducing a dependency between them.
One of the propositions linked by a subordinating conjunction is main (regent), while the other is subordinate and depends on the main one.
Some examples of subordinating conjunctions are che [that], se [if], perché [because], quando [when], dopo che [after that], poiché, [since], affinché [so that], sebbene [although], and others.
WHAT ARE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Coordinating conjunctions, on the other hand, join similar or parallel elements within a sentence, establishing a coordinating relationship between them.
The groups of words or phrases joined by such conjunctions have the same grammatical value and can be considered independent of each other.
Some examples of coordinating conjunctions are e [and], o [or], ma [but], né [nor], però [however], anche [also], oppure [or], tuttavia [however], infatti [in fact], and others.
Coordinating conjunctions are of fundamental importance because:
• They help establish logical relationships between parts of speech, making the flow of the text smoother and more orderly.
• They allow similar or contrasting elements to be joined, enriching linguistic expression with different shades of meaning.
• They help to organise information, allowing the reader or listener to better understand the connection between different ideas presented.
Examples:
| Marco gioca a basket e Lorenzo va in piscina. | Marco plays basketball and Lorenzo goes to the swimming pool. |
| Sono contento del duro lavoro che abbiamo fatto, ma deluso per il risultato. | I am happy with the hard work we have done, but disappointed with the result. |
| Continuo a mangiare, tuttavia non sono ancora sazio. | I continue to eat, however I am not yet full. |
In both cases, the conjunction and connects two elements as equals, without creating any dependent relationship.
The only difference lies in the fact that in the first example the coordinating conjunction serves to link two words, in the second example it links two sentences.
Coordinating conjunctions are divided into different categories, each with a specific function within the sentence.
COPULATIVE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Copulative coordinating conjunctions are so called because their function is to unite several elements by adding them to each other:
• in the positive as e [and], anche [also] and pure [also]
• in the negative as né, neanche e neppure [neither]
| Pure tu hai fatto quella scuola! | You went to that school too! |
| La amo, e anche lei mi ama. | I love her, and she loves me too. |
Remember also that the conjunction e becomes ed with the final euphonic D when it is in front of a word beginning with e-: Giorgio è simpatico ed educato (Giorgio is nice and polite).
ADVERSATIVE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Adversative coordinating conjunctions are used to link two elements in opposition to each other.
They are ma [but], tuttavia [however], però [however], anzi [indeed], eppure [nevertheless], al contrario [on the contrary], etc.
| Volevo andare al cinema però non avevo soldi; | I wanted to go to the cinema but I had no money; |
| Ha chiamato Sara ma tu non c’eri. | Sara called but you weren’t there. |
The conjunctions ma, però and tuttavia have the same meaning and therefore should not be used together, but one at a time.
Let us see the following sentence I don’t eat meat, but I like vegetables:
| Non mangio carne, ma mi piacciono le verdure. | ✅ |
| Non mangio carne, però mi piacciono le verdure. | ✅ |
| Non mangio carne, ma però mi piacciono le verdure. | ⛔ |
DISJUNCTIVE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Disjunctive coordinating conjunctions introduce an alternative between two mutually exclusive elements.
Examples: o [either], oppure [or], altrimenti [otherwise].
| Preferisci la pasta o la carne?; | Do you prefer pasta or meat?; |
| Andiamo al mare oppure in montagna. | We go to the sea or to the mountains. |
DECLARATIVE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Declarative coordinating conjunctions are used to explain what has been said before and are therefore also called explanatory.
Examples: cioè, infatti, ossia, vale a dire [i.e., in fact,]
| Sto sudando, infatti ci sono trentacinque gradi: | I’m sweating, in fact it’s thirty-five degrees: |
| Mario è un ammiraglio, vale a dire il capo della nave. | Mario is an admiral, i.e. the head of the ship. |
CONCLUSIVE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
As their name implies, concluding coordinating conjunctions introduce the conclusion, the consequence of what has been said before.
Examples: quindi, dunque, perciò, pertanto, allora, in conclusione [therefore, in conclusion]
| Non ho fatto i compiti, quindi i miei genitori mi hanno sgridato; | I didn’t do my homework, so my parents scolded me; |
| Ho mangiato troppo gelato, perciò ho il mal di pancia. | I ate too much ice cream, so I got a bellyache. |
| E dunque qual è il piano per la serata? | So what is the plan for the evening? |
CORRELATIVE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Correlative co-ordinating conjunctions are copulative or disjunctive conjunctions repeated twice to relate two or more elements to each other.
Examples: sia … sia [both … both], o … o [or … or], né … né [neither … nor], non solo … ma anche… [not only … but also …]
| Non mangio né la frutta, né la verdura; | I don’t eat neither fruit nor vegetables; |
| Non solo Gianni ha mentito, ma ha anche cercato di truffare tutti noi. | Not only did Gianni lie, he also tried to cheat us all. |
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FAQs
What are coordinating conjunctions?
Coordinating conjunctions are words that connect two equal parts of a sentence, such as two independent clauses, phrases, or words.
Examples include e (and), ma (but), o (or), and perché (because).
How do coordinating conjunctions differ from subordinating conjunctions?
Coordinating conjunctions connect parts of a sentence that are of equal grammatical importance, whereas subordinating conjunctions connect a dependent clause to an independent clause, showing a relationship of dependence.
Can a coordinating conjunction begin a sentence in Italian?
Yes, in Italian, coordinating conjunctions like e (and) or ma (but) can begin a sentence to connect ideas, though it is generally more common to see them used within sentences.
What are the most common coordinating conjunctions in Italian?
Some of the most common coordinating conjunctions in Italian are e (and), ma (but), o (or), però (however), and quindi (therefore).
Are there any specific rules for punctuation when using coordinating conjunctions in Italian?
When two independent clauses are connected by a coordinating conjunction, a comma is not usually needed unless the clauses are long or complex.
For example: Vado al cinema, ma ho poco tempo (I’m going to the cinema, but I have little time).
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