B2 Linking Phrases

First/Firstly/First of All = Refers to the first thing in a list – firstly is more formal than first

Or before doing anything else

Before you start cooking the biscuits make sure that you have all the ingredients.

At first = At the beginning or in the beginning – we use it to make contrasts

At first I was very frightened about living away from home, but in the end I loved it

Finally – used to introduce the last point or idea

(also after a long time or some difficulty)

After being stuck in traffic for two hours we finally got home at ten.

At last – When we have been impatient as a result of long delays

At last I understand how to distinguish between masculine and feminine nouns

Finally I understand how to distinguish between masculine and feminine nouns

In the end – finally – after something has been thought about or discussed a lot.

I wanted to go for pizza and my boyfriend wanted to go for Chinese but in the end we went for pizza.

At the end – the final part of something, holiday, book, activity

Wait till you see what happens at the end.

Furthermore = in addition

Further = more or a long distance away

(also used in formal writing = in response to)