Linking Words — Contrast, Addition, Cause, Result & More
B2 — writing, speaking, reading
Kenji: My essays feel choppy — short sentence, short sentence, short sentence.
Sofía: You need linkers. Although and however are your best friends for contrast.
Kenji: And when I want to add another point?
Sofía: Moreover, furthermore, in addition. Pick one and stick with it in the same paragraph.
Common mistake: “The trip was expensive, however, we decided to go.” — Correct: “The trip was expensive. However, we decided to go.”
Linking words connect ideas and show the relationship between them — contrast, addition, cause, result or example — and each one has its own punctuation rules.
Linkers by function| Function | Linkers | Example |
|---|
| Contrast | although, even though, however, nevertheless | Although it rained, we went out. |
| Addition | moreover, furthermore, in addition | She's talented; moreover, she works hard. |
| Example | for example, for instance, such as | Many jobs, such as design, need creativity. |
| Cause | because of, due to | The delay was due to the weather. |
| Result | therefore, as a result, consequently | It rained; as a result, we stayed home. |
| Conclusion | in conclusion, to sum up | In conclusion, the plan worked. |
- contraste although / even though — aunque
- contraste however / nevertheless — sin embargo
- adición moreover / furthermore — además
- ejemplificación for example / such as — por ejemplo / tal como
- causa because of / due to — debido a / por causa de
- consecuencia therefore / as a result — por lo tanto / como resultado
- cierre in conclusion / to sum up — en conclusión / en resumen
- Although Ben lost his phone again, he stayed calm.
- Sofía finished the project; moreover, she did it early.
- There are many phrasal verbs, such as 'get up' and 'look up'.
- The flight was delayed due to bad weather.
- Sofía didn't finish on time; however, the client didn't mind.
- Kenji doesn't understand everything; nevertheless, he keeps trying.
- The trip wasn't cancelled, even though it rained all day.
- Why did you leave, even though the party had just started?
- Didn't they still go out, despite the rain?
- Can you give an example, such as a specific situation?
- Was the meeting cancelled because of the storm? Yes, it was.
- Did they finish, in spite of the delay? Yes, they did.
- Is there a clear result, therefore? Yes, there is.
Practice
- ___ Ben lost his phone again, he stayed calm. (Although, Therefore, For example)
- Sofía finished the project; ___, she did it early. (moreover, however, because)
- The flight was delayed ___ bad weather. (due to, although, therefore)
- 'However' usually starts a new sentence or clause, not the middle of one without punctuation.
- 'Such as' introduces an example.
- 'Therefore' shows contrast.
- Kenji doesn't understand everything; ___, he keeps trying.
- There are many phrasal verbs, ___ 'get up' and 'look up'.
- It rained all day; ___, they cancelled the trip.
- Unscramble: although, it, rained, we, went, out
- Unscramble: the, delay, was, due, to, the, weather
- Find the mistake: The trip was expensive, however, we decided to go.
- It rained. We went out anyway. — Combine using 'although'.
- She's talented. She also works hard. — Combine using 'moreover'.
- It rained. We stayed home. — Combine using 'as a result'.
- Because of the storm, the flight was cancelled. — Write a sentence using 'in spite of' instead (the flight was NOT cancelled).
- Give one example of a linker of contrast.
Listening
Kenji: My essays feel choppy — short sentence, short sentence, short sentence.
Sofía: You need linkers. 'Although' and 'however' are your best friends for contrast.
Kenji: And when I want to add another point?
Sofía: 'Moreover', 'furthermore', 'in addition'. Pick one and stick with it in the same paragraph.
Kenji: What about giving an example?
Sofía: 'For example' or 'such as'. Simple as that.
Reading
Sofía has read enough of Kenji's essays to know his one weakness: linkers. His ideas are always good, but they arrive one after another with no connection, like a list instead of an argument. 'Although your grammar is strong,' she told him once, 'your paragraphs don't flow.' She made him a short list: although and however for contrast, moreover and in addition for adding a point, for example and such as when he needs proof, and therefore or as a result when one idea causes another. Kenji printed it and taped it above his desk. Weeks later, his essays still aren't perfect — however, they finally sound like arguments instead of lists.
- Sofía says Kenji's ideas are usually weak.
- Sofía gave Kenji a short list of linkers.
- Kenji ignored the list completely.
- His essays now sound like arguments instead of lists.