connectors

LINKING WORDS OR CONNECTORS

• Connectors are words or phrases that link ideas, phrases, sentences and paragraphs together.
• Linking words and phrases in English (also called 'connective' or 'transition' words) are used to combine two clauses or sentences presenting contrast, comparison, condition, supposition, purpose, etc.
• They enable us to establish clear connections between ideas.
• Most linking words can either connect clauses within a sentence, or start a sentence to form a link with the previous statement.

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Speaking at an Advanced level it's fundamental to use at least 20 connectors

Linking words or connecting words help you to build a logical argument in your text by linking one statement to another. A text without linking words reads like a series of unrelated statements with no flow.

Writing at an Advanced level Linking words can be used to:

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONNECTORS:

1. CONNECTORS TO SHOW RESULT
2. CONNECTORS TO EXPRESS PURPOSE
3. LINKERS OF SEQUENCE
4. CONNECTORS TO EXPRESS CONTRAST
5. PARALLELISM CONNECTORS
6. Correlative conjections (pair)

Now, watch this video

1) CONNECTORS TO SHOW RESULT

EXAMPLES:

Therefore - (Por lo tanto, Por ende) 1. The storm left the neighborhood without electricity. Therefore, many people had to depend on canned food for days. 2. He passed his driving test, therefore he will be able to get a licence. So - (Así que, en consecuencia) 1. She accepted their offer, so she became CEO of the enterprise. 2. Robert was the best candidate, so he got the job.

Because - (Porque) "Because" introduces clauses of cause and reason. It is a subordinating conjunction. 1. The tennis match was stopped because it was raining. 2. Because she felt sick, she didn´t go to work. 3. So many people went to the mall because there were a lot of discounts. Because of - (Por, debido a) "Because of" is a two-word preposition meaning ‘as a result of’: 1. Because of the rain, the tennis match was stopped. 2. She didn´t go to work, because of her sickness. 3. Because of the discounts, so many people went to the mall.

CONNECTORS TO FOCUS ON THE REASON

as and since (porque)

We often use as and since when we want to focus more on the result than the reason. EXAMPLES: 1. I hope they’ve decided to come as I wanted to hear about their Cancun trip. 2. As I was tired, I left the party early. 3. Those pair of sneakers are rather expensive, since they’re quite hard to find. 4. Since you asked me, I will come. 5. As / Since he forgot to make a reservation, we couldn´t eat at that new restaurant.

Now, watch this video about since, as and because

"although / though" (aunque, a pesar de)

Although is used to show a situation that has a surprising result. Though can be used in the same way as although. Examples: 1) Although these products are expensive, retailers have no problem selling them. 2) I enjoyed the course, although I would have liked more grammar practice. 3) Though I wasn't keen on the film, I thought the music was beautiful. 4) We waited ages for our food. The waiter was really nice, though.

Info

"although or even though (aunque, a pesar de)

• After although and even though, we use a subject and a verb.
• Even though is slightly stronger and more emphatic than although.

Examples: 1) Even though the speaker spoke very quietly, students understood every word. 2) She didn't get the job, even though she had all the necessary qualifications. 3) Although Jack is not very tall, he is excellent at basketball.

2) CONNECTORS TO EXPRESS PURPOSE

to and in order to (para) Both of them have the same meaning when they are expressing purpose, however "in order to" is much more formal than "to".

Examples

3) LINKERS OF SEQUENCE

SEQUENCERS

Sequence connectors are used to link opinions from one sentence to the next and to give paragraphs coherence. Connectors help us organize the events of the beginning, middle and end of a story. Here is a list of connectors that we can use to show the sequence and order of events or ideas:

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Let´s practice:

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4) CONNECTORS TO EXPRESS C0NTRAST

They are used to indicate a contrast or contradiction. (BUT*)

However - (sin embargo) 1. That man has much money. However, he isn’t happy at all. 2. She sings very well. However, she is a stutterer. 3. I respect my best friend’s ideas however we do not have the same thoughts. 4. Katty couldn't cash her paycheck. However, she managed to buy a new TV set.

In spite of and despite expresses a contrast between two things. They are prepositional expressions followed by a noun phrase, a pronoun or a verb in the "ing" form. (a pesar de) Examples:

• I love her despite her faults.
• They went out in spite of the rain.
• Despite being a millionaire, she lives in a very small flat.
• In spite of the fog, planes are still landing.
• Despite his young age, he did a very good job.

On the other hand, it is used to say something that is different from the first thing mentioned.

Examples: 1) I like playing football. On the other hand, my brother likes playing basketball.2) This private school is very expensive. On the other hand, education of the school is very well. 3) We had no money but, on the other hand, we were very happy. 4) I like the Netherlands. On the other hand, it's too cold to live there Let´s watch this video

whereas

Info

5) CONNECTOR TO EXPRESS PARALELISM

“Not only . . . but also” is usually used to emphasize and connect two words or phrases simultaneously, parallelism being the primary goal. It is correlative conjunction, and we use it at the middle and end of a sentence. Correlative conjunctions come in pairs that relate one part of a sentence to the other.

For instance:

• He plays his role not only funny but also naturally.
• Not only the new teacher speak French, but also he also speaks Spanish.
• Not only is Sally disappointed at her brother but also angry at his remarks.

We use both … and to emphasise the link between two things. This makes a stronger connection than and alone:

Examples:

• Both Ali and Omar are good students.
• Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are poor countries.

" Either . . . or " Either . . . or . . . connects two choices.

Examples:

• Either Jamal or Zepher should answer my question.
• Either you or he can find a solution to this problem.
• Either Jan or Kristy will teach the conversation class today.

" Neither . . . nor " We can use neither as a conjunction with nor. It connects two or more negative alternatives. This can sound formal in speaking.

Examples:

• She is neither ugly nor cruel.
• He is neither nice nor intelligent.
• She drives the car neither carefully nor slowly.
• He talks to her neither nicely nor politely.
• Pakistan is neither rich nor a modern country.

LET´S WATCH THIS VIDEO

LET´S PRACTICE . . .

NEITHER...NOR

IN SPITE OF

SEQUENCERS

BOTH...AND

BECAUSE / OF

THANKS!

by teacher Nancy Rojas