Listing

Connecting sentences

そして

This conjunction means “and”. It implies a cause-effect relationship between the two sentences. There’s an interconnection, where the order of the actions cannot be changed.

Examples

バスケットボールをした。そして水を飲のんだ。 I played basketball. Then, I drank water.

それから

This conjunction means “and” or “after that”. It implies a chronological order to the events. Since there’s no interconnection, the order of actions could be changed.

Examples

スーパーに行きました。それから弁当べんとうを食べました。 I went to the supermarket. After that, I ate my bento.

それに

This conjunction means “and”, “besides” or “in addition”. Implies a new information in relation to the precedent one. It is not used to add a negative information to a positive one, and vice-versa.

Examples

昨日、病気びょうきになった。それにパソコンも壊こわれた。 I got sick yesterday. Beside, my computer broke.

それで

Means “because of that”, “therefore”. Substitutes the first sentence happening before by それ, highlighting information from it.

Examples

子供こどものころ、毎日電車でんしゃで通かようていた。それで電車でんしゃ運転手うんてんしゅになりたかった。 When I was a child, I took the train to school every day. Because of that, I wanted to be a train driver.

Exhaustive listing

と

This particles means “and” or “with”. Used for a list that is exhaustive. Connects sentences.

Examples

犬と住すんでいます。 I live with my dog.

フランス語とスペイン語を習っています。 I am learning French and Spanish.

及び

及および means “and”, like と. Used in formal settings. Used with nouns.

Examples

試験しけんには鉛筆えんぴつ及び消けしゴムを持もってきてください。 Please bring a pencil and an eraser to the exam.

て connecting

Used for a list that is exhaustive. Connects verbs. See て sequence.

Unexhaustive listing

や

Used for a list that is unexhaustive. Translates to “among other things”. Formal. Used only with nouns.

Example

フランスやスペインに旅行りょこうしました。 I travelled to France and Spain (among others).

など

Means “things as”. Can be used with や for a meaning like “etc”. Used with nouns.

Example

お金がないのでカフェやレストランなど払はらえない。 I can’t pay things like cafes or restaurant (etc.) because I have no money.

といった

Used to describe typical examples: “things as”, “like”, “such as”. It is casual. It has the same meaning as など. Used with nouns.

Examples

フランスとカナダといった国くにはフランス語ごを話はなす。 Countries such as France and Canada speak French.

とか～とか

Used for a list that is unexhaustive. Translates to “and”, “among other things”. More casual than や. Ending a sentence with とか can soften the meaning. Can also be used to quote someone. Only used with verbs and nouns.

Examples

果物くだものはバナナとかリンゴとかが好きです。 I like fruits like bananas and apples.

明日野球やきゅうとかしようか。 Do you want to play baseball (or something) tomorrow?

もう諦あきらめようとか言わないで。 Don’t say (things like) we should already give up.

たり～たり

V-た

い-Adj い かった

な-Adj + だった

+ り...します

This is used to list things that are related, in an unexhaustive way. Translates to “or”, “do things such as”. Usually used to talk about things like hobbies, explaining liked things, activities done, etc. Not used for usual things like a routine. It is not an ordered or chronological list like て connecting.

Example

週末しゅうまつに泳およいだり、散歩さんぽしたり、買かい物ものしたりします。 On the weekends, I do things like swimming, walking and shopping.

し

V (casual)

い-Adj

な-Adj + だ

N + だ

+ し

Used for a list that is unexhaustive, going in the same direction: for example reasons, causes, qualities, etc. Gives an opinion, a review. It can be used to emphasize something when used at the end of a sentence.

Examples

この電車は速はやいしデザインもかっこいい。 This train is fast and has a cool design.

言ってないし！ I never said that!

やら~やら

V

い-Adj

N

+ やら + B + やら

This form is unexhaustive and can be translated as “and”, “among other things”. It has 3 nuances:

• Conveys a negative image
• Among other things, in an unorganized manner
• Conflicting feelings

Examples

今日きょう電車でんしゃがなかったやら、車くるまが壊こわれたやら、家いえに出でかけられませんでした。 There were no trains and my car broke down, so I couldn’t go out.

黒くろいやら白しろいやら着物きものがあります。 There are black and white kimonos (among other things).

Summing up

• や means “and”, and is formal. Can be completed by など (= etc).
• とか also means “and”, but is casual.
• たり means “or”, “things like”. Used to express possibilities.
• し means “and”, but with an emphasis on a review.