Reason, purpose and result connectors

because (of), as, since

We use these three linking words to give a reason for something. <Because= is more common than
<as= and <since=.
<She didn’t tell him because/as/since she was afraid to.=
We use <because of= when the reason is a noun, not a sentence.
<Jack knew Laura because of his brother.=
<We didn’t recognise him because of the sunglasses.=

so & therefore
We use <so= and <therefore= when we give the result of something. <So= is usually in the middle of
a sentence, whereas <therefore= usually appears at the beginning and followed by a comma.
<I’m really tired so I won’t go out tonight.=
<I’m really tired. Therefore, I won’t go out tonight.=

to & In order to
We use <to= and <in order= to when we explain why we do something, the purpose. They are
always followed by an infinitive.
<I have joined an academy to learn English.=
<I’ve joined an academy in order to learn English.=
We can also answer a Why&? question using «to» or «in order to«.
<Why have you joined an academy? To/In order to learn English.=

Addition connectors
Also, too, in addition, moreover
We use these linking words to add more information to something we have said.
«Too» normally goes at the end and is used in positive sentences. «Also» (as a sentence adverb), «in
addition» and «moreover» usually go at the beginning.
<Buying car is a long-term commitment. Also, a car is very expensive to run.=
<Buying car is a long-term commitment. In addition, a car is very expensive to run.=
<Buying car is a long-term commitment. Moreover, a car is very expensive to run.=
<Buying car is a long-term commitment. A car is very expensive to run, too.=
Contrast connectors
But, although & though
These linking words connect two contrasting ideas and are followed by a clause (pronoun/noun +
verb). <But= is normally in the middle of a sentence, preceded by a comma, while
<although/though= can go in the middle and at the beginning.
<The hotel was excellent, but the food was not good.=
<The hotel was excellent although/though the food was not good.=
<Although/though the food was not good, the hotel was excellent.=

In spite of / despite
<In spite of= / <despite= are used to contrast two ideas. These connectors are followed by a noun or
an -ing phrase; never by a pronoun/noun + verb. They can be used either at the beginning or in the
middle of a sentence.
<The hotel was excellent despite the food being bad/the bad food.=
<The hotel was excellent in spite of the food being bad/the bad food.=
<Despite the food being bad/the bad food, the hotel was excellent.=
<In spite of the food being bad/the bad food, the hotel was excellent.=

However
<However= is a word which connects two different contrasting sentences. It9s normally used at the
beginning of a sentence and should be followed by a comma.
<The hotel was excellent. However, the food was awful.=
«People tend to put on weight in middle age. However, gaining weight is not inevitable»
LINKERS

Contrast

. In spite of / Despite Link two contrasting ideas. Followed by a noun phrase.

. Although / (Even) though Link two contrasting ideas. Followed by a sentence.
. However / Nevertheless / Still / Yet / Even so / On the contrary / In contrast. Introduce a
new idea which marks a contrast with previously stated ideas. Introduced by a comma.
. On the one hand ... On the other hand. Links two contrasting ideas / paragraphs.
. In contrast to / Contrary to. Link two contrasting ideas. Followed by a noun phrase.
. Whereas Link two contrasting ideas. Not separated by commas.

Reason and cause

. Because / As / Since / Seeing that Introduce a sentence. Subordinate sentences introduced

by because always appear in final position.
. Because of / On account of / Owing to / Due to. Introduce a noun phrase.

Purpose

. In order to / So as to Introduce an infinitive of purpose.

. In order that / So that Introduce a sentence.

Consequence

. Consequently / As a consequence / As a result / Therefore

. As a consequence of / As a result of Followed by a noun phrase.
. So Introduces a sentence. No commas.

Addition

. Moreover / Furthermore / In addition / Besides / What's more Used after a strong pause
and separated from the sentences. They are introduced by a comma.
. As well as / In addition to / Besides Used to add one more piece of information. Followed by
a noun phrase.

. Exemplification

. For example / For instance Introduces an example referring to previously stated ideas.
. Such as Introduces an example referring to the last idea.
CONNECTORS

Contrast

. but / yet: followed by a noun phrase or a sentence.

8The book is short but / yet interesting9

. in spite of / despite: It is placed at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.

8He arrived on time despite / in spite of getting up late9

. although / though/ even though / in spite of the fact that: followed by a complete sentence.
They can be placed at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence. If it is placed at the
beginning we need to use a comma after the clause.
8Although / though / even though / in spite of the fact that the pupils had
not studied, they all passed their exams9.

. however, nevertheless, even so, on the one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary:
8He was quite ill however/ nevertheless/ even so, he went to school9

. while, whereas
8This film is very interesting, while/whereas that one is quite boring9

Reason and cause

. because, as since, seeing that:

8Because / as / since / seeing that it9s late, we should go home9

. because of, on account of, owing to, due to:

8Because of / on account of / owing to / due to the weather, we stayed at home9

. in order to, so as to, to:

8She uses her video in order to / so as to / to record TV programmes9

Add information

. for example, for instante, such as:

8Vegetables are a good source of vitamins: for example / for instance, oranges have vitamin C9

. more over, furthermore, besides, in addition to:

8In addition to soul music, she likes rap9

. apart from, except for: 8Apart from English, she speaks French9.
Succession

- First of all / Firstly / To begin with / First &.

- Second / Secondly / Then &
- Third / Thirdly / After that...
- The next stage &
- Finally / in short / to sum up / in conclusion / lastly / last but not least&

Result

. As a result of:
8As a result of his brave action, he was awarded a military medal.

Therefore, as a result, consequently, for this reason:

8Consequently / for this reason, it always passes its annual road test9.

Order
First parragraph
At first sight: A primera vista
First: En primer lugar
First of all: Antes que nada
In the first place: En primer lugar
To start with: Para empezar

Second parragraph
In the second place: En segundo lugar
Second: Segundo
Secondly: En segundo lugar
Third: Tercero
Thirdly: En tercer lugar

Conclusion
Finally: Por último
In conclusion: Para concluir
Lastly: Por último
And eventually: Y finalmente
Adding information
apart from: Aparte de
in addition: Además
in addition to: Además de
What9s more: Además; lo que es más
moreover: Además
on top of that: Además
besides: Además
On the one hand: Por una parte
On the other hand: Por otra parte
and eventually: Y finalmente

Contrast
all the same: a pesar de todo
however: sin embargo
instead of: en vez de
in spite of / despite: a pesar de
nevertheless: no obstante
on the contrary: por el contrario
whereas / while: mientras
though / although: aunque

Reason
because of + noun: a causa de
due to + noun: debido a
due to the fact that + sentence: debido a que
for this / that reason: por esta / esa razón
owing to + noun: debido a
owing to the fact that + sentence: debido a que

Result
as a result: como resultado
because of: a causa de
consequently: en consecuencia
so: por lo tanto
that's why: por eso, por esa razón...
therefore: por lo tanto
Expressing facts
actually: en realidad
as a matter of fact: de hecho
in fact: de hecho
really: en realidad

Expressing a personal opinion

as far as I am concerned por lo que a mí respecta
from my point of view desde mi punto de vista
I agree estoy de acuerdo
I disagree no estoy de acuerdo
in my opinion en mi opinión
in my view según lo veo
I think that creo que
it is true that es verdad que
personally personalmente
to be honest, para ser honesto
to tell the truth, a decir verdad

Explain
that is (to say): es decir
in other words: en otras palabras
in short: en resumen
above all: sobre todo
all in all: en general
at least: al menos
basically: básicamente, fundamentalmente
especially: especialmente, sobre todo
essentially: esencialmente
in general: en general
in particular: en particular
more or less: más o menos
on the whole: en general
to a certain extent: hasta cierto punto
Exemplifying
and so on: etcétera
for example: por ejemplo
for instance: por ejemplo
such: as tal(es)como

Summarizing
all in all: en suma
in brief: en resumen
in conclusion: Para concluir
in short: en resumen
on the whole: en general
to sum up: Para resumir

Sequencing
after that: después de eso
all of a sudden: de repente
Finally: Finalmente
First of all: En primer lugar
in the end: al final
in the meantime: mientras tanto
meanwhile: mientras tanto
next: luego
suddenly: de repente
then: entonces, después
while: mientras