Conjunctions & Linking Words

Level B1 · Conjunctions & Linking Words

Linking words connect ideas within or between sentences, showing how they relate — contrast, cause, addition, or sequence — instead of leaving the reader to guess the connection: It was raining. We went for a walk becomes It was raining, but we went for a walk (contrast) or It was raining, so we took an umbrella (result). Without a linker, a string of short sentences reads as disconnected facts rather than a coherent argument.

Several words express contrast, but they don't all work the same way grammatically:

• but joins two independent clauses in one sentence, with a comma before it: It was cheap, but it broke quickly.
• although/though/even though start a subordinate clause and can open the sentence: Although it was expensive, we bought it (or We bought it although it was expensive).
• however is a linking adverb, not a conjunction — it starts a new sentence (or follows a semicolon), always with a comma after it: It was expensive. However, we bought it (not It was expensive, however we bought it).
• despite/in spite of are followed by a noun or -ing form, never a full clause: despite the rain, despite raining (not despite it was raining).

Cause, addition, and organizing your speech or writing each have their own set of markers:

• because/since/as + clause give a reason: I stayed home because I was ill; because of + noun does the same job without a clause: because of the rain.
• so introduces a result, joining two clauses with a comma before it: It was raining, so we stayed home.
• Addition: and, also, in addition, furthermore — the last two are more formal and often start a new sentence: The hotel was cheap. Furthermore, it was close to the beach.
• Discourse markers organize a longer piece of speech or writing: firstly/first of all to open, for example/for instance to illustrate, on the other hand to contrast a second point, in conclusion/to sum up to close.

The most common mistake is following despite/in spite of with a full clause: despite it was raining is wrong — use despite the rain, despite raining, or despite the fact that it was raining. A second frequent error: treating however like but and joining two clauses with just a comma — It was raining, however we went out is a comma splice; however needs its own sentence or a semicolon before it: It was raining; however, we went out.

Look for but/although/however/despite signalling contrast, because/since/so signalling cause or result, and/also/furthermore signalling addition, and firstly/for example/in conclusion organizing a longer piece of writing or speech into a clear sequence.

Practice

Contrast: but, although, however, despite · Cause, Addition & Discourse Markers