Time

These connectors serve to link two actions from a temporal point of view. Some establish a
contemporaneous relationship while others establish either prior or posterior relationships.

After

I will come after I finish my homework.

Before

Pick up your coat before you go out.

When

I love reading a book when I want to relax.

While

Lucy was reading a novel while Mary was gardening.

As

As Lucy grew older, she became more confident.

As soon as

I will go out as soon as I have finished my work.

Until

I will wait for you until you come back.

In the meantime

John was talking on the phone. In the meantime, I carried on writing an email.

Cause and Effect

With these connectors, a causal relation is created between the sentences.

Because

I didn’t go out because I was not feeling well.

Since

You should talk to Bob since he is the one responsible for this situation.
 Consequences

To show the consequences of a fact or an event, the following connectors are used.

So

Mary was thirsty, so she had a cold drink.

Therefore

Judy has been a teacher for years. Therefore, she knows how to deal with the youth.

Such a/an…that

It was such a nice day that we decided to go for a walk in the field.

Contrast / Concession

To express concepts that are in contrast to each other or to introduce a concessive

proposition, the following connectors are used.

But

We wanted to go to the gym, but Luke had a backache.

Yet

I had a bad headache, yet I was able to pass the exam.

However

I understand you are not happy with Mark. However, you should acknowledge his sincerity.

After all

I understand your feelings. After all, he was a close friend of yours.

Even though

Even though I apologized, she didn’t forgive me.

In spite of / Despite

Despite being tired, I accepted the invitation.

 Inclusion / Addition

These are the connectors par excellence. They serve to simply connect sentences without
creating logical relationships between them. Unlike the previous connectors which create a
bond of subordination, these create a bond of coordination between the sentences.

And

We went for a walk and had an ice cream.

Also

I like swimming. I also love trekking.

Moreover

Frederick II was a great emperor. Moreover, he wrote an important essay about falconry.

Exclusion

These connectors also introduce a coordinated proposition. In this case, however, they
establish a relationship of exclusion between one element and the other. For that, they are
defined as disjunctive.

Nor / Neither

Mary didn’t go to work on Monday nor did she come to my home.

Otherwise

Do your homework now. Otherwise, you won’t be able to go out tonight.

Either…or

You can either pay cash or by credit card.