A connector shows how two ideas relate. Choose the relationship first, then the word, because the same two sentences can be linked in opposite ways.
This lesson follows choosing tenses from context in the cloze and language use chapter.
Which connector matches which relationship?
| Relationship | Connectors | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | and, in addition, moreover | She revised daily. In addition, she joined a study group. |
| Contrast | but, although, however, whereas | Although she revised daily, she felt nervous. |
| Reason | because, since, as | She felt nervous because the test was new. |
| Result | so, therefore, as a result | The test was new, so she felt nervous. |
| Condition | if, unless | If she revises, she will feel calmer. |
| Purpose | so that, in order to | She revised so that she could relax. |
Worked example: read the relationship
“Sara revised every evening. ___ she felt nervous before the test.”
Ask what the second idea does to the first. Revising should make her calm, but she felt nervous anyway, so the relationship is contrast.
The answers that fit are However or Even so. “Therefore” would mean her nervousness was a result of revising, which is the opposite of the meaning.
A second gap: “The library was closed; ___, we studied at home.” Here the closure is the reason, and studying at home is the result, so therefore or as a result fits.
The mistake that costs marks
Two slips cost marks. The first is using “however” like “but”, with only a comma in front of it. The second is putting two connectors on the same idea.
| Slip | Wrong | Right |
|---|---|---|
| Comma before however | She was tired, however she went on. | She was tired. However, she went on. |
| Double connector | Although she was tired, but she went on. | Although she was tired, she went on. |
| Mismatched meaning | It rained, so we went out to play. | It rained, but we went out to play. |
The third row is grammatical, but “so” promises a result of the rain, and going out to play is not one.
Check yourself
Fill the gap: “The bus broke down. ___ the class arrived late for the talk.”
Answer
The breakdown caused the lateness, so the relationship is result.
Correct answers: As a result or Therefore, followed by a comma.
“However” would mean the class arrived on time, which is the opposite of the meaning.
What to study next
Continue with using collocations and prepositions accurately, where the link is between a word and the word it goes with. Use the English writing task checklist to test connectors in your own writing.
If you would like a teacher to go through your connector choices with you, see online one-to-one English tuition.