LINKING WORDS
Linking words show the logical relationship between sentences or parts of sentences.
POSITIVE ADDITION
Initial position:
Besides (this/that), … Furthermore, … In addition (to + noun / -ing) …,
Moreover, … Apart from this/that, … On top of that [informal]
What is more, …
Initial or mid- Position
… and… …also…
both ... and ... …as well as… (this/that)
Final position
…too. … as well.
He’s good at sports. Besides, he’s also good at languages. Apart from that, he’s an extraordinary dancer.
In addition to being an excellent sportsman, he’s also a good dancer.
He’s both handsome and rich.
NEGATIVE ADDITION
Neither … nor… None of … (more than 2 people/things)
Neither of … (2 people/things) Not … either …
Neither Helen nor Laura speaks German.
Neither of them speaks German.
None of my classmates speaks German.
CONTRAST
However On the one hand, … In spite of/Despite + a noun/ -ing
But On the other hand, … In spite/Despite the fact that...
Although/Though + sentence Nevertheless, … While… / Whereas…
Although it was cold, we had lunch in the garden.
In spite of /Despite the rain, we didn’t take our umbrellas.
Learning languages is interesting. However / Nevertheless, you have to study a lot.
EXPLAINING AND GIVING EXAMPLES
As a matter of fact, … For example / For instance, … especially… In fact,…
That is (to say), … … such as… / …like… above all… Actually…
In other words, …
I love cinema. As a matter of fact/In fact/Actually, it is my favourite free time activity.
I enjoy films, especially/above all comedies.
He speaks a lot of languages, such as / like English and French.
CONDITION
If… Provided (that)… In case… As long as…
He took his credit card with him in case he ran out of cash.
I’ll tell you a secret as long as you promise not to tell anybody.
PURPOSE
… to [+ inf.]… … so as (not) to [+inf.] … so that … … in order (not) to…
Cindy wrote down Mary’s phone number so that she could call her the following week.
CAUSE AND REASON
Because [+ a sentence] For this/that reason As a result (of this), …
Because of [this/that or a noun] Due to [+ a noun] That’s (the reason) why…
As [+ a sentence = because] Therefore, … Consequently, …
Since [+ a sentence = because] So, … (informal)
He spent hours and hours revising for the exam. Consequently/As a result/Therefore/For that
reason/That’s why he passed the exam with a good mark.
I can give you a lift to the library because/since/as it is on my way to the office.
PLACE
…where… …wherever… You can park wherever you want
TIME
When… While [+sentence] Until/Till… Suddenly
Whenever… As [+sentence] …since… All of a sudden
As soon as… Before… In the meantime, …
I danced while the band was playing my favourite song.
EXCEPTION
Except (for) Apart from But
Everybody attended the party except (for) / but Jane.
SUMMARISING
In conclusion, … In brief, … In a nutshell… On the whole, …
In short, … To sum up, … All in all, …
In conclusion/ In short / To sum up, it is obvious that the environment must be protected by all of us.
LISTING POINTS / EVENTS
First Paragraph:
In the first place, … Firstly, … To start with, …
First of all, … Initially, … To begin with,…
Second Paragraph:
Secondly, … Second, … Afterwards, … Next…
After this/that, … In the second place… Then…
Last paragraph:
Finally, … In the end… Lastly, …
First of all, he prepared the menu. Then, I bought the food. Finally, I cooked the meal.
EXPRESSING PERSONAL OPINION AND MODIFYING OPINION
In my opinion As far as I’m concerned From my point of view In particular
Basically To a certain extent Personally Above all…
In my opinion/From my point of view/As far as I’m concerned, we should be more active than we are.
INTRODUCING ARGUMENTS
Regarding [+noun] As for [+noun] With respect to [+noun]
Concerning [+noun] As far as [+noun] is concerned
As far as music is concerned, I prefer pop bands.
