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Linking words/Connectors
, but It was cold but I went swimming.
C , (and) yet It was cold yet I went swimming.
O However, It was cold. H owever, I went swimming.
N Nevertheless, It was cold. N evertheless, I went swimming.
T Nonetheless, It was cold. N onetheless, I went swimming.
R Even so, It was cold. E ven so, I went swimming.
A
S whereas/while + sentence It was cold outside, whereas/while it was warm inside.
T By contrast, + sentence. By contrast, it was warm inside.
/
C Although + sentence Although it was cold, I went swimming.
O Even though + sentence Even though it was cold, I went swimming.
N Though + sentence Though it was cold, I went swimming.
C
E Despite the fact that Despite the fact that it was cold, I went swimming.
S + sentence Despite the cold, I went swimming.
S Despite + noun/ing Despite it being cold, I went swimming.
I
O In spite of the fact that +
sentence In spite of the fact t hat it was cold, I went swimming.
N In spite of + noun/ing In spite of the cold, I went swimming.
In spite of it being cold, I went swimming.
P
U
To + inf I came here t o learn English.
R
P In order to + inf I came here i n order to learn English.
O So (that) ( I + could + inf) I came here s o that I could learn English.
S So as to + inf I came here s o as to learn English.
E
R Because + sentence I came h
ere because I wanted to learn English.
E As + sentence I came here a s I wanted to learn English.
A Since + sentence I came here since I wanted to learn English.
S
O Because of + noun We didn’t go swimming b ecause of the cold weather.
N Due to + noun We didn’t go swimming due to the cold weather.
Owing to + noun We didn’t go swimming o wing to the cold weather.
Because of the fact that + sentence We didn’t go swimming b ecause of/due to/ owing to the
Due to the fact that + sentence fact that it was raining.
Owing to the fact that + sentence
R , so + sentence I went swimming s
o I caught a cold.
E As a result, + sentence I went swimming. As a result, I caught a cold.
S As a consequence, + sentence I went swimming. As a consequence, I caught a cold.
U Consequently + sentence I went swimming. Consequently, I caught a cold.
L Therefore + sentence I went swimming. Therefore, I caught a cold.
T For this reason, + sentence I went swimming. For this reason, I caught a cold.
Because of this, + sentence I went swimming. Because of this, I caught a cold.
, which meant that + sentence I went swimming, w
hich meant that I caught a cold.
, which led to (me) + ing I went swimming, w hich led to me catching a cold.
, which resulted in (+ing/+ noun) I went swimming, w hich resulted in (me catching) a cold.
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Linking words/Connectors
Practice 1
Join the ideas in A and C with the correct linking words in B. Change the punctuation where
necessary.
A B C
I always watch the news on even though John always watches sport.
TV whereas it’s always depressing
He writes all personal letters although he has a computer.
by hand despite having a computer.
It took only an hour to get to However, the traffic
the airport in spite of they still missed the plane
Some couples argue all the Nevertheless, others never do
time whereas their marriages still work
Kathy rarely uses her mobile However, Kevin uses his all the time.
phone Even though she has one.
Practice 2
Finish these sentences:
1 The solution could work in theory. However,...
2. My brother loves playing team sports whereas I...
3. On the one hand, cars are really convenient to get you from A to B, but on the other hand ...
4. I’m going to drive into London, even though...
5. Foreign travel is very exciting but at the same time it...
6. Critics of electric cars advise against buying one. Nevertheless…
Answers
1 ...I don’t think it will in practice.
2 … I prefer individual sports like yoga and swimming.
3. ...they are very expensive to maintain.
4…. I hate driving in big cities!
5…. It can be dangerous.
6. ...sales are booming.
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Linking words/Connectors
Practice 3
Clauses of contrast review
even though
although I was exhausted.
though
I ran all the way despite the fact that I was exhausted.
in spite of being exhausted.
my exhaustion.
whereas John cycled.
Match the sentence halves:
1. Older people tend to be more cautious whereas
2. People are out of work despite
3. Although campaigners have raised awareness of the problem
4. The situation isn’t getting any better even though
5. People in developing countries are often happier despite
6. Many people are unhappy in spite of the fact that
7. Footballers gets huge salaries while
8. I’m feeling nervous in spite of
a) the government has invested a lot of money trying to tackle the issue.
b) they make a lot of money.
c) going for several job interviews.
d) the fact that I did really well in the practice test.
e) young people are not afraid to take risks.
f) nurses and teachers struggle to make ends meet.
g) their poverty.
h) the government has done little to address the root causes.
Answers
1e
2c
3h
4a
5g
6b
7f
8d
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Linking words/Connectors
More examples:
Similar to ‘and’ Also, Besides, What’s more
Similar to ‘but’ However, Despite this
Similar to ‘so’ For that reason, As a result, Therefore
Practice 4
The following sentences can be continued in 2 possible ways.
Complete the gaps using a suitable word/phrase from the box to link the 2 ideas.
Add or change the punctuation as necessary.
a) Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you.
● What’s more, it can be very expensive
● Despite this, many young people start every year.
b) Regular exercise can prevent heart disease.
● __________________ experts recommend exercising 3 times a week.
● _________________ it can help to control your weight.
c) Many people nowadays believe that it is wrong to kill animals for food.
● _______________ they think eating meat is unhealthy.
● ______________ more and more people are becoming vegetarians.
d) Doctors agree that there is a strong link between alcohol and health.
● ________________ a small amount of alcohol may actually be good for you.
● _________________ it can make you depressed.
e) Doctors have found cures for many serious diseases in the last 100 years.
● __________________ the average person is living longer.
● ________________ there is still no cure for the common cold.
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Linking words/Connectors
Answers
b) Regular exercise can prevent heart disease.
● Therefore, experts recommend exercising 3 times a week.
● What’s more, it can help to control your weight.
c) Many people nowadays believe that it is wrong to kill animals for food.
● Also, they think eating meat is unhealthy.
● As a result, more and more people are becoming vegetarians.
d) Doctors agree that there is a strong link between alcohol and health.
● However, a small amount of alcohol may actually be good for you.
● Besides, it can make you depressed.
e) Doctors have found cures for many serious diseases in the last 100 years.
● For that reason, the average person is living longer.
● Despite this, there is still no cure for the common cold.
Ⓒ Fiona Wattam IELTS Exam Training Courses Follow my podcast on anchor.fm/ieltsetc,
facebook/ieltsetc, instagram@ieltsetc , YouTube and Flipboard
