CONNECTORS

1. WHAT ARE CONNECTORS?

Connectors or connectives are words that link or connect ideas within your
speaking or writing. They can be used in sentences to link two or more points
together. Connectives can also be used to link ideas together in separate
sentences and/or paragraphs. Connectives make your speaking and writing
more powerful and help the reader to move smoothly from one point to the
next. Remember to use connectives to make your ideas flow and to improve
the structure of your oral or written speech.
Tip: Within a sentence, most or connectors are punctuated between a comma
and a semi-colon; for example: She is a nice girl; however, she can be rude at
time. I play soccer; furthermore, I have practice on the weekends.

2. TYPES OF CONNECTORS
Depending on the purpose, there are several types of connectors.
2.1 ADDING CONNECTORS.

TYPE

Coordinating
Conjunction

Conjunctive
adverbs

CONNECT
OR

EXAMPLE

and
(mostly used)

There is a
breakdown of
the nuclear
family and an
increased
alienation sense
of
disconnection.

in addition,
additionally,
furthermore,
moreover, also

You are going to

have 10 days of
vacation;
furthermore,
you are going to
have 3 days off
for Christmas.

Correlative
conjunctions

not onlybut
also

Not only is
Matthew going
to The USA for a
month, but also
Mexico for a
couple of weeks

Prepositional
phrases

in addition to,
also along
with, also
as well as,
also

As well as
going to fish, I
also enjoy the
countryside

Tip: At the moment of using Not onlybut also we need to bear in mind if we
are using a positive, negative, or noun clauses. Depending on it, the structure
may change.

For
adjectives

For verbs

For nouns

2.2 OPPOSITION CONNECTORS.

To be

N ot only is
she
intelligent,
but she is
also easygoing.

Not to...

Not only
does she
dance but
she also
sings very
well.

To be

They are
not only
talented
but also
disciplined.

The following connector show opposite or contradictory ideas.

Coordinati
ng
conjunctio
n
Subordinating
conjuction

Conjunctive
adverbs

Prepositiona
l phrases

But

I run, but I
missed
the bus.

Although,
despite the that

Despite the
fact thatthe
sun has been
shining all day,
the clothes have
not yet dryed.

however,
nevertheless

It cost a fortune to
renovate our
house;neverthel
ess, it was worth
it.

despite, in
spite of

I cannot
help loving
her
inspiteof
her many
faults.

2.3 CAUSE/EFFECT CONNECTORS

These connector show a relationship of cause and effect between parts of a
sentences or between paragraphs.

for (cause), so
(effect)

I hate to waste a
drop of
water,forit is
very expensive
these days.

Subordinating
conjuctions

because, since

Since you are not

interested, I won't
tell you about it
again.

Conjunctive adverbs

therefore, as a result,
consequently

Research has shown that

bright yellow and bright
blue are the most visible,
andthereforesafest,
colors for cars.

Prepositions

because of,
due to, as a
result of

The picnic was

cancelled
because of
the weather.

Coordinating
conjunctions

2.4 CONTRAST CONNECTORS

The following connectors show contradictory thoughts and ideas.

Coordinating
conjunction

Subordinating
conjunction

Conjunctive adverbs

but

Melissa likes
siging a lot,
but she does
not have a
good voice.

whereas / while

While I hate to
watch TV, my
wife loves it
very much

in contrast, on the
other hand

Living in a cold
weather is
difficult for some
people;on the
other hand, there
are many fun
winter activities

Prepositions

unlike

Unlike Medelln
enjoys a cool
weather most of
the year because
of the surrounding
mountains.

2.5 CONDITION CONNECTORS

These connector are use in conditional sentences in order to show what would
be the result if a determined condition.

Subordinati
ng
conjunction
s
Conjunctive
adverb

if, unless,
only if,
even if,
when

Ifit is
raining,th
enI am
indoors

otherwise

Something
must be
wrong;other
wise, he
would have
called.

2.6 ILLUSTRATING IDEAS

You can use the following connector for explaining and expanding on given
information.
CONNECTOR
FOR EXAMPLE
SUCH AS
FOR INSTANCE

IN THE CASE OF

2.7 SEQUENCE CONNECTORS

EXAMPLE SENTENCE
There are many sources of air
pollution; for example exhaust fumes.
Questions such as the one you've
asked are difficult to answer.
I can play a few musical instruments,
for instance, the flute, the guitar, and
the piano.
In the case of being ill, it is advisable
to drink bottled-water.

Sequence connectors are used to link a paragraph with another, this

connectives are words which contribute to the cohesion of the text. They are
often called discourse makers or signal words. They provide the reader with
signpost indicating how the text is developing.
Some sequence connectors are: First, second, third, finally, In conclusion, first
of all, for a start, in a second place, in third place, as a final point.
In the following text you will see how sequenced connectors are use:
Opononi, New Zealand, was a quiet little town by the sea. Most of the men
worked as fishermen. In the summer of 1955, they noticed that a strange sea
animal was following their boats. At first the men thought it must be a shark.
But the animal came closer and closer to the boasts. Before long everyone
could see it was a dolphin. One of the fishermen named her Opo-after the
town.
At first Opo was shy, as many wild dophins are. But she was curios, too. Every
day she swam closer to the boats. Finally one of the fisher men reached out as
far as he could with his oar. Then, he scratched Opo with it.
She reared back in the water. But the oar mush have felt good, for soon Opo
came closer than ever before. Then she rolled over. The man had to laugh. Opo
was plainly saying, Scratch my belly this time.
A scientist came to look at Opo. He said Opo was a young dolphin who had
probably lost her mother. That was why she was swimming alone. Opo might
have been an orphan, but she soon found a new family. Finally, the whole town
of Oponomi adopted the friendly dolphin1.

1Taken from: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/learning/712assessments/naplan/teachstrategies/yr2011/images/cohe_table_06.pdf.

March 04th, 2016

OTHER SEQUENCING CONNECTORS: Next, Then, First, Second, Third, Finally

and
Meanwhile.

3. STATEMENTS OF AGREEMENT
The Adverbs so, too, neither and either are frequently used when agreeing
with statements that has been made by another person.
So and too are always used when agreeing with a negative statement.
Neither and either are always used when agreeing with a negative statement.
The main verb used with these adverbs is determined by the verb used in the
initial statement.
If a form of the to be verb is used in the initial statement then to be must
be used in the statement of agreement.
Likewise, if a modal auxiliary such as can is used then a modal must be used
in the agreeing statement.
All other verbs require the use of the auxiliary in the agreeing statement. See
the following chart.