Linking Devices / Connectors signal meaning relationships between sentences or clauses in spoken or written English.

Coordination

  • Link independent clauses in a sentence
  • She has been studying Spanish for years, yet she cannot speak a word of it.

Subordination

  • Link phrases or dependent clauses to an independent clause in a sentence
  • Once he overcame his shyness, Gerry excelled in his language classes.
  • Gerry excelled in his language classes once he overcame his shyness.

Transition

  • Link independent clauses within a sentence.
  • OR
  • Link sentences within a paragraph.
  • For weeks, Chris chose to ignore the “check engine” light on his dashboard; as a result, he had to pay for major repairs

Linking Devices

Time

Coordination

Subordination

  • after
  • after that
  • before
  • as soon as
  • just as
  • the moment
  • once
  • since
  • the first time
  • when
  • while 
  • until

Transition

  • then
  • meanwhile
  • next
  • subsequently
  • initially
  • afterwards

Contrast

Coordination

  • but
  • yet

Subordination

  • although
  • while
  • whereas
  • though
  • in spite of
  • despite

Transition

  • however 
  • in contrast
  • nevertheless
  • on the other hand 
  • on the contrary

Example

Coordination

Subordination

Transition

  • for example
  • for instance
  • in particular

Cause

Coordination

  • for

Subordination

  • because
  • since
  • as
  • due to
  • owing to
  • as a result of 
  • because of

Transition

Purpose

Coordination

Subordination

  • in order to
  • so as to

Transition

Effect

Coordination

  • so

Subordination

Transition

  • therefore
  • consequently
  • as a result
  • thus

Addition

Coordination

  • and

Subordination

Transition

  • in addition
  • furthermore
  • besides
  • moreover
  • additionally
  • also

Condition

Coordination

Subordination

  • if
  • unless
  • provided that
  • providing

Transition

  • otherwise

Exercise

Using what you have learned, complete the activity.

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