This document discusses various linking words and phrases used to connect ideas in English, including those that express: - Result or consequence (e.g. so, consequently) - Cause or reason (e.g. because, since, because of, due to) - Purpose (e.g. to, in order to, so that) - Contrast (e.g. but, although, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite) - Additional information (e.g. besides, what is more, moreover, furthermore, actually, in fact) - Announcing a change of subject (e.g. as for, regarding, as far as...is/are

1. CONNECTING IDEAS:
LINKERS, ADVERBS AND
ADVERBIAL PHRASES

2. Expressing
result or
consequence
John is unemployed
so he can’t afford to
pay his mortgage.
John is unemployed.
Consequently /
Therefore / As a
result, he can’t
afford to pay his
mortgage.
 SO (the most common
way to introduce a
clause of result)
 CONSEQUENTLY
 THEREFORE formal
 AS A RESULT
All of them are often used
at the beginning of a
sentence or clause
‘therefore’ = ‘por lo
tanto’

3. Expressing
cause or
reason (1)
She can’t come to
the party because
she has the flue.
As / Since you
are busy, I will
cook dinner.
 BECAUSE (never at the
beginning of a sentence)
 AS (often used at the
beginning of a sentence)
 SINCE (more formal,
also used at the
beginning of a sentence)
‘as’ = ‘como’, ‘ya que’
‘since’ = ‘como’

4. Expressing
cause or
reason (2)
They had to put off
the match
because of the
snow.
The flights were
delayed due to
the heavy fog.
 BECAUSE OF /DUE TO
(they are followed by a
noun)
‘because of’ = ‘a causa
de’
‘due to’ = ‘debido a’

5. Expressing
purpose (1)
Who’s learning? I
Who’s getting a
better job? I
 TO + INFINITIVO
 IN ORDER TO / NOT TO
+ INFINITIVO (more
formal)
These are used when the
subject of the two verbs
is the same.
I’m learning English to
get/in order to get a
better job.

6. Expressing
purpose (2)
Who’s teaching? I
Who can get a
better job? You
 SO THAT + Clause
(subject and verb)
This is used to introduce
a clause of purpose when
the subjects of the two
verbs are not the same.
I’m teaching English so
that you can get a better
job.
‘so that’ = ‘para que’

7. Expressing
contrast (1)
I was hungry but I
didn’t have
enough time for
lunch.
Although /
Though / Even
though I was
hungry, I didn’t
have enough time
for lunch.
 BUT (the most
common and informal
way of introducing
contrast, never at the
beginning of a
sentence)
 ALTHOUGH / THOUGH
/ EVEN THOUGH

8. Expressing
contrast (2)
She thought the
price was really
expensive.
However /
Nevertheless, she
bought the shoes
anyway.
 HOWEVER /
NEVERTHELESS (both
normally used at the
beginning of a
sentence, usually
followed by a comma)
‘Nevertheless’ is more
formal
‘however’/
‘nevertherless’ = ‘sin
embargo’

9. Expressing
contrast (3)
‘In spite of’ and
‘despite’ = ‘a pesar
de’
 IN SPITE OF / DESPITE
(used with an –ing form,
a noun or ‘the fact that’
+ clause)
In spite of being ill, he
went to work.
Despite his illness, he
went to work.
In spite of the fact that
he was ill, he went to
work

10. Expressing
contrast (4)
‘On (the) one hand’
= ‘por un lado’
‘On (the) other
hand’ = ‘por otro lado’
Watch out! ‘On (the)
other hand’ sólo
introduce ideas
opuestas a lo
mencionado con
anterioridad, nunca un
tema nuevo
 ON (THE) ONE HAND...
ON (THE) OTHER
HAND…
They are used to
introduce contrasting
facts or points (usually
followed by a comma)
On (the) one hand, fast
food is cheap and quick to
prepare. On (the) other
hand, it’s not very
healthy.

11. Additional
information
(1)
‘besides’ = ‘además’
‘what is more’ = ‘lo
que es màs’
‘moreover’ = ‘además’
‘furthermore’ = ‘es
más’, ‘además’
 BESIDES
 WHAT IS MORE
 MOREOVER formal
 FURTHERMORE
All of them are usually
followed by a comma.
I don’t like to use
stereotypes as they are not
always true. Besides, /
What is more, /
Moreover, /Furthermore,
most of them are based on
prejudice.

12. Additional
information
(2)
These linkers are
used to introduce
additional information
or arguments which
are surprising or
unexpected
‘Actually’ / ‘In fact’
/ ‘As a matter of
fact’ = ‘En realidad’,
‘de hecho’
 ACTUALLY
 IN FACT
 AS A MATTER OF FACT
A: Did you know Jenny is
getting married next
summer?
B: Really? Actually, / In
fact, / As a matter of
fact, I didn’t even know
she had a boyfriend.

13. Additional
information
(3)
These linkers are
used to introduce a
new topic or to
announce a change
of subject
‘as for’ = ‘en cuanto
a’, ‘con respecto a’
‘regarding’ / ‘as
regards’ = ‘en lo
que se refiere a’,
‘con respecto a’
 AS FOR (informal)
 REGARDING
formal
 AS REGARDS
We’re having lunch at home.
As for dinner, I think we
may eat out.
We’re having a vocabulary
text next week. Regarding,
/ As regards grammar,
the teacher will give us
some homework to practise.

14. Additional
information
(4)
These linkers are
used to introduce a
new topic or to
announce a change
of subject
 AS FAR AS…IS/ARE
CONCERNED (formal)
We have to pay a lot of
bills. As far as tax is
concerned, I think they
are not so high in this
country.
‘as far as…is/are
concerned’ = ‘en lo que
respecta a’