Before we start with the list of connectors, make

sure
you are familiar with the following terms:

 SENTENCE

 SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

 NOUN PHRASE
A sentence is a group of words which has at least a
SUBJECT and a VERB, and which can stand on its own – it
can be INDEPENDENT:

He calle
d

Sb V

All three conditions must be there. E.g., if it cannot stand

on its own, it is not a sentence:
 … when he called …
 … because he called …

These are NOT sentences; they can’t stand alone

A subordinate clause is a group of words which also
contain at least a SUBJECT and a VERB, but which cannot
stand on its own – it is DEPENDENT.

…becausehe calle
d

connector Sb V

It needs a main clause to complete its meaning. It is

only a fragmen of a complex sentence:

Complex sentence
Main clause Subordinate clause
She was happy because he called
A phrase (= a group of words) whose head is a NOUN,

a PRONOUN, or a GERUND acting as a noun. It can be

accompanied by determiners, adjectives or other
modifiers, and it always functions as the SUBJECT or the
OBJECT of a sentence:
 these wonderful actors ….

determine adjective noun (head)

r

Noun Phrase
(NP)
1. CONNECTORS OF ADDITION
2. CONNECTORS OF CONTRAST
3. CONNECTORS OF CAUSE AND REASON
4. CONNECTORS OF RESULT
5. CONNECTORS OF PURPOSE
6. CONNECTORS OF TIME AND SEQUENCE
7. CONNECTORS OF SIMILARITY
8. CONNECTORS OF OPINION
9. CONNECTORS EXPRESSING GENERAL
STATEMENTS
10. CONNECTORS EXPRESSING A REALITY
11. CONNECTORS TO GIVE EXAMPLES
12. CONNECTORS TO LIST POINTS
13. CONNECTORS EXPRESSING CONCLUSION
 In addition to (“además de”) + noun phrase
 as well as (“así como”)  In addition to obesity, fast food causes serious health
problems. NP
 apart from (“aparte de”)
 Besides obesity, fast food causes serious health
 except for (“excepto”)
problems. NP
 besides (“además de”)  Fast food causes obesity as well as serious health
problems
NP

• In addition, (“además”) + sentence (note the comma)

• Moreover,  Fast food causes obesity. In addition, it may also cause serious
health problems. sentence
• Furthermore, (“además, es más”)
• What’s more,  Fast food causes obesity. Besides, it may also cause serious health
problems. sentence
• Besides,

• and (“y) (these are conjuntions within sentence)

 Fast food causes obesity. It may also cause serious health problems.
• also (“también”)
• too (“también, además”) Fast food causes obesity, and it may cause serious health problems
too
 In spite of + noun phrase
 Despite (“a pesar de”)
 In spite of the calories, I love burgers! / Despite the calories, I love
burgers! NP NP

•Although (“aunque”)
• Even though (“incluso aunque,”) + subordinate clause
• Even if (“incluso si”)
 Although burguers contain a lot of fat, they’re
• While delicious! subordinate clause main
clause
• Whereas (“mientras, mientras que”)

• However, (“sin embargo”)

• Nevertheless, (“de todas formas”) + sentence (note the comma)
 Burgers are tasty. However, they contain a lot of fat.
• On the contrary, (“por el sentence
contrario”)
• On the one hand, (“por un  I know fast food is not healthy. On the contrary, it may cause serious
lado”) health problems.
• On the other hand, (“por sentence
otro lado”)
 , but (“ pero”)
 Yet, (“a pesar de”) + sentence (note the comma)
 I know burguers are unhealthy. Yet, I eat a lot of them.
 Still, (“aún así”) sentence
 because of (“debido a”) + noun phrase
 due to  My brother is on a diet due to his obesity problems.
NP
 owing to (“debido a”)
 He expects to lose 15 kilos as a result of the diet,.
 thanks to (“gracias a”) NP
 as a result of (“como consecuencia de”)

• because (“porque”) + subordinate clause

• since  Since he had serious health problems, he went on a
diet. subordinate clause main
• as (“puesto que, ya que”) clause
• seeing that
 He went on a diet because he had serious health
problems. main clause subordinate clause
 As a result, (“por ello,
como
consecuencia,”) + sentence (note the
 Consequently, comma)
 As a ( “por ello,
The flood destroyed the village. As a result, many people
consequence, lost their homes sentence
como consecuencia, ”)
 Therefore,
Thu (“por lo tanto,  I think. Therefore, I am
así”)
 For
s, this reason, (“por este sentence
motivo,”)
 That is why, (“ es por ello que,”)
 + infinitive
 You must study in order to learn.
 in order to
infinitive
 so as to (“para, con el propósito
de”)
 You must study so as not to be illiterate.
 to infinitive

+ subordinate clause (with a MODAL VERB)

• in order that  You must study so that you can become
• so that (“para que”) educated. main clause subordinate clause

 He lent me his notes in order that I could study for

hte exam.
main clause subordinate
clause
 In the
 At + sentence (note the
beginning, (“al principio,”)

 Firlst comma)
first, of all, (“Lo
primero,”)
 Then,  At first, she thought he was an
 Next, idiot.
sentence
 Later, (“después, luego, a continuación”)  Then, she started to get to know him
 After that, better.
sentence
 Afterwards,  Soon, she began to change her
mind.
 Meanwhile, (“mientras tanto”) sentence
 Eventually, she fell passionately in love with
 Soon, (“pronto”) him. sentence

 Finally,
 In the (“finalmente, al final”)

 Eventually
end, ,

 At last, (“al final, por

fin”)

 when (“cuando”)
 while
 as (“mientras”)
 before (“antes de”)
 after (“después de”)
 until (“hasta que”)
 as soon as (“en cuanto que”)
 by the time (“para cuando”)
• before (“antes de”)
+ noun phrase
• after (“después de”)
• until (“hasta”)
• during (durante, a lo largo de)
+ subordinate clause
 Cinderella danced and danced until her feet hurt.
main clause subordinate clause
 Before the clock stroke 12, she jumped into her
coach. subordinate clause main clause
 After she had left, she noticed she was missing a
shoe. subordinate clause main clause
 By the time she got home, her coach had turned into a
pumpkin. subordinate clause main clause
 Cinderella had to arrived home before midnight.
NP
 The prince looked for Cinderella after the dance.
NP
 + sentence (note the
 Similarly, comma)
 Likewise, (“igualmente,
asímismo “) Children don’t pay for the museum. Likewise, pensioners
 In the same way, are expempt. sentence
 Personally, (“personalmente”) + sentence (note the comma)
 In my opinion, (“en mi opinión”)  Personally, I prefer watching films in the original version.
 As I see it, sentence
 In my view, (“desde mi punto de  As I see it, subtitles are better than dubbing.
vista”)
sentence

Other useful expressions:

• I (strongly) believe (that) (“creo
que, estoy convencido de”)
 I strongly believe that foreign films should not be dubbed.
• I feel (that
• I think (that) (“creo que, pienso que”)  It is clear that the original voices are absolutely unique.
• It seems to me (that)(“me parece
que”)
• It is clear that (“está claro que”)
 + sentence (note the
 In general, comma)
 On the whole, (“en general”)
I passed my driving test yesterday and my sister lent me
 Generally, her car. On the whole, it was a great day.
 As a rule, (“como regla general,”) sentence
 In fact, +
 As a matter of (“de hecho”)
sentence
 fact,
Actually (“en realidad”) The film was good. In fact, it was one of the bet I’ve
 The truth is (that) (“lo cierto es ever seen. sentence
que”)
 , such as + noun phrase(s) – preceded by comma
 , like (“como, como por ejemplo”)
 There are several common eating disorders, such as
 , particularly anorexia and bulimia.
NP
 , in particular (“en especial, sobre
todo”)
 Anorexia affects many people, particularly teenagers.
 , especially
NP
 , specifically

+ noun phrase(s) or sentence

• for example,  Let us consider, for instance, the prpblem of anorexia.
• for instance, (“por ejemplo”) NP

 Anorexia has many side effects. It can, for instance, affect

your personality.
sentence
 + sentence (note the
comma)
 To begin with,
 In the first (“en primer lugar,”)
 In the first place, we must be aware of the
place, problem.
sentence
 First of all,  Secondly, we must discuss the problem in
 Firstly, full.
 Secondly, (“en segundo lugar”) sentence
 Thirdly, (“en tercer lugar”)  Finally, we must try to reach an
agreement.
sentence
 Finally, (“finalmente,”)
 Lastly, (“para acabar, en último
lugar”)
 In + sentence (note the
conclusion, (“en ressumen, en conclusión”)
comma)
 In short,  In short, connentors are not that hard to
 To sum up, (“para resumir, para concluir”)
learn.
sentence
 To conclude,
 so we took an umbrella
It was raining, _______

NEXT

Click on the correct connector to complete the sentence.

 because it was raining.
We took an umbrella _________

NEXT

Click on the correct connector to complete the sentence.

 and she was reading.
I was writing _______

NEXT

Click on the correct connector to complete the sentence.

 or ice skating.
I don’t like skiing _______

NEXT

Click on the correct connector to complete the sentence.

 CONNECTORS
because and
so but
Animated

I cannot see too good ______

I have bad eyesight.
 CONNECTORS
because and
so but

I cannot see too good ______

I don’t have good eyesight.
 because and
so but

I could not find a bottle of Coke

so I bought Pepsi instead.
______