FUNCTION OF LINKING WORDS Linking words are used to connect two clauses or two sentences and they have different functions: Adding extra information, contrasting ideas, expressing cause and effect, narrating, expressing purpose, listing examples, etc. POSITION IN THE TEXT: Some linking words normally form a link between clauses WITHIN a sentence. It is bad style to start a sentence with these words: and but so because then until such as Other linking words are used to form a link BETWEEN sentences. They must start with capital letters and are usually followed by a comma: Furthermore, Nevertheless, Moreover, Therefore, However, In conclusion, GRAMMATICAL DIFFERENCES: Some linking words must be followed by a CLAUSE (Subject + Verb + Object) while why because although so whereas when Other linking words should be followed by a NOUN PHRASE (linking word + (the) + Noun/Gerund) in spite of despite during because of
ADDING AND RELATIVE CLAUSES and as well as Besides, / Moreover, / Furthermore, What is more, / In addition, not only… but also / … as well / … too another point is that who where that which whose when what why
GENERALIZING
On the whole, In general, In most cases, Mostly,
AGREEING / DISAGREEING
I agree with/to I don’t agree with/to / I disagree with/to I’m in favour of
CLARIFYING
I mean (that) That is to say, In other words,
EMPHASIS
especially particularly Naturally, exactly above all In fact, Actually, As a matter of fact, Definitely Obviously Without a doubt so…that such a(n)…that
CONTRASTING
but However, Nevertheless, Although / Even though / Even if …, though Despite / in spite of On the contrary, on the one hand on the other hand, whereas while In contrast, Neither…nor Otherwise
EXPRESSING PURPOSE / OPINION
to so as to / in order to/ in order that / so that I would say that In my opinion, I (don’t) think (that) I (don’t) believe (that) Personally, From my point of view, / In my view, As far as … is concerned, As regards As far as I can see,
GIVING EXAMPLES / EXCEPTING
for example for instance such as Apart from, With the exception of Take the case of
SHOWING CONDITIONALITY If In case If not provided that unless in that case
INSIST ON AN EARLIER POINT
As I have said (before), As I have noted, As suggested above,
EXPRESSING CAUSE AND RESULT because As / Since so / Therefore, As a result, This is why, Consequently, For this reason, too…for/to not enough…for/to due to / owing to / because of
CONCLUDING
All in all In conclusion, On the whole To sum up, Lastly, In short,
NARRATION
First (of all) / At first / Firstly To begin with, / In the first place, At the beginning / In the beginning secondly, thirdly, then / later / next Before After After that / afterwards immediately Once Suddenly As soon as Finally/Eventually until At the end In the end / At last
SHOWING SIMILARITY
likewise in the same way similarly in a similar manner like
CHANGE OF SUBJECT
By the way, Anyway, Anyhow,