Connecting ideas
- 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’