Conectores de razón/contraste: because/so/but/however – Gramática inglesa B1

1) Mapa rápido

because → razón / causa so → resultado / consecuencia but → contraste simple however → contraste más formal , importa la coma

Relación básica:
• because = “porque” (da la causa).
• so = “así que / por eso” (da el resultado).
• but / however = “pero / sin embargo” (contraste).

En inglés el orden y la coma son importantes para que la frase suene natural.

2) Causa: because

because introduce la razón de algo.

Patrón	Ejemplo	Traducción
oración + because + oración	I stayed at home because I was tired.	Me quedé en casa porque estaba cansado.
Because + oración, + oración	Because I was tired, I stayed at home.	Porque estaba cansado, me quedé en casa.

• We didn’t go out because it was raining.
• Because she loves animals, she wants to be a vet.

Si la cláusula con because va al principio, suele llevar coma después: Because it was late, we went home.

3) Resultado: so

so introduce la consecuencia o resultado de algo. Normalmente va en medio y muchas veces con coma en escritura cuidada.

Patrón	Ejemplo	Traducción
oración, so + oración	It was late, so we went home.	Era tarde, así que nos fuimos a casa.
oración (why), so + resultado	It was raining, so we stayed inside.	Estaba lloviendo, así que nos quedamos dentro.

• I was hungry, so I made a sandwich.
• She didn’t have much money, so she didn’t buy it.

because da la causa; so da el resultado. No los mezcles: ❌ *because… so…*

4) Contraste: but vs however

Ambos expresan contraste (“pero / sin embargo”), pero se usan de manera diferente.

A) but

Uso	Patrón	Ejemplo
Conjunción básica	oración + but + oración	I was tired, but* I went to the party.*
Contraste simple	A but B	She’s young, but* very responsible.*

B) however

however es más formal y se escribe como conector entre frases.

Patrón	Ejemplo	Comentario
oración. However, oración.	I was tired. However, I went to the party.	Punto antes; coma después de however.
oración; however, oración.	I was tired; however, I went to the party.	Alternativa más formal con punto y coma.

• The exam was difficult, but I passed.
• The exam was difficult. However, I passed.

Nunca usamos however igual que but en medio de la frase sin comas: ❌ *I was tired however I went…* → mejor: I was tired, but… / I was tired. However, …

5) Comparaciones clave (because vs so, but vs however)

Conector	Significado	Ejemplo
because	da la causa	I stayed at home because* I was ill.*
so	da el resultado	I was ill, so I stayed at home.
but	contraste coloquial	I like coffee, but* I don’t like tea.*
however	contraste más formal / escrito	I like coffee. However, I don’t like tea.

Piensa en bloques: Causa → Resultado (because/so) y Idea A ↔ Idea B (but/however).

6) Errores comunes

Incorrecto	Correcto	Por qué
Because it was raining so we stayed at home.	Because it was raining, we stayed at home. / It was raining, so we stayed at home.	No usamos because y so juntos para la misma relación.
I was tired however I went to the party.	I was tired, but I went to the party. / I was tired. However, I went to the party.	however necesita pausa fuerte (punto o punto y coma) y coma después.
Because was late, we went home.	Because it was late, we went home.	Después de because debe haber una oración completa con sujeto + verbo.
I didn’t go because I was ill, so.	I didn’t go because I was ill. / I was ill, so I didn’t go.	No dejamos so solo al final.
I like coffee, however I don’t like tea. (nivel B1)	I like coffee, but I don’t like tea. / I like coffee. However, I don’t like tea.	Con coma normal es mejor usar but en B1.

7) Mini-práctica

Completa con because / so (usa solo uno en cada frase):
a) It was very cold, ______ we stayed at home.
b) I stayed at home ______ I was very cold.
c) She didn’t study, ______ she failed the exam.
d) We arrived late ______ there was a lot of traffic.
e) I was hungry, ______ I made a sandwich.
Completa con but / however (elige el más natural):
a) I like rock music, ______ I don’t like heavy metal. (habla informal)
b) The hotel was cheap. ______, it was very comfortable. (texto escrito)
c) He is very intelligent, ______ he doesn’t study much.
d) I wanted to go out. ______ it was raining heavily. (texto formal)
e) She is shy, ______ she has many friends.
Reescribe sin repetir la causa/resultado (elige because o so):
a) It was raining. We stayed inside. → We stayed inside ______ it was raining.
b) I was tired. I went to bed early. → I was tired, ______ I went to bed early.
c) She didn’t have any money. She didn’t buy the dress. → She didn’t buy the dress ______ she didn’t have any money.
Corrige si es necesario:
a) Because I was hungry so I made a pizza.
b) It was late, however I went to the cinema.
c) Because was raining, we stayed at home.
d) I like coffee however I don’t like tea. (nivel B1, informal)
e) It was cold, so because I didn’t go out.
Traduce al inglés usando because/so/but/however:
a) No salí porque estaba muy cansado.
b) Estaba cansado, así que no salí.
c) Me gusta el invierno, pero no me gusta la lluvia.
d) El hotel era barato; sin embargo, era muy cómodo.
e) Ella llegó tarde porque perdió el autobús.

Respuestas ejemplo:
1) a) so b) because c) so d) because e) so
2) a) but b) However, c) but d) However, e) but
3) a) because b) so c) because
4) a) I was hungry, so I made a pizza. / Because I was hungry, I made a pizza.
b) It was late, but I went to the cinema. / It was late. However, I went to the cinema.
c) Because it was raining, we stayed at home. / It was raining, so we stayed at home.
d) I like coffee, but I don’t like tea. / I like coffee. However, I don’t like tea.
e) It was cold, so I didn’t go out.
5) a) I didn’t go out because I was very tired.
b) I was tired, so I didn’t go out.
c) I like winter, but I don’t like the rain.
d) The hotel was cheap; however, it was very comfortable.
e) She was late because she missed the bus.

8) Próximo paso

Continúa con Conectores de propósito y resultado: to/in order to/so that/therefore para expresar para qué haces algo y conectar ideas con un estilo más avanzado.