Linkers – Introduction and

expressing reasons and results

Teacher Thinn
M.Ed. UK
Cambridge DELTA
Where are these pictures taken?
 Connectors
• Look at the sentences about Sri Lanka. First, underline the key words (excluding
and) that connect together the ideas in each sentence.
• 1) Sri Lanka was colonized first by the Portuguese and the Dutch and by the
British.
• 2) Due to its location, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West and South-
East Asia.
• 3) As strong winds meet the mountain slopes of the island’s Central Highlands,
monsoon rains are unloaded on the slopes and south western parts of Sri Lanka.
• 4) Not only does Sri Lanka export tea, coffee and cinnamon, but it also produces
some of the most valuable woods such as mahogany and teak.
• 5) Sri Lanka has been called ‘the pearl of the Indian Ocean’ because of its
astonishing natural beauty.
• 6) The island’s natural parks support elephants, deer and peacocks, as well as
preserving the habitats of storks, pelicans and spoonbills.
 Connectors
• 1) Sri Lanka was colonized first by the Portuguese and the Dutch and by
the British.
• 2) Due to its location, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West and
South-East Asia.
• 3) As strong winds meet the mountain slopes of the island’s Central
Highlands, monsoon rains are unloaded on the slopes and south western
parts of Sri Lanka.
• 4) Not only does Sri Lanka export tea, coffee and cinnamon, but it also
produces some of the most valuable woods such as mahogany and teak.
• 5) Sri Lanka has been called ‘the pearl of the Indian Ocean’ because of its
astonishing natural beauty.
• 6) The island’s natural parks support elephants, deer and peacocks, as
well as preserving the habitats of storks, pelicans and spoonbills.
 Effective use of connectors
• The effective use of connectors such as ‘also, so, because,
while, and in spite of’ gives a logical flow to your writing,
linking ideas within and between sentences. Connectors
normally come at the beginning or in the middle of sentences.
• 1) In spite of the poor performance of the economy, the
government managed to retain a small majority in the general
election.
• 2) Some doctors oppose the planned changes to the health
service because they believe that the new system will require
them to spend too much time managing resources rather than
treating patients.
 Expressing reasons and results
Reasons: because, as, since (conjunctions) + Subject + Verb …
Note: As, since and because may be substituted by due to the
fact that/owing to the fact that…
because of, due to, owing to (prepositions) + Noun/Noun Phrase
Results: As a result, Consequently, Therefore, For this reason, +
Main Sentence
Results: so..(that)…, such…(that)..
E.g. The discussion on the location of the new factory took so
long that there was no time left to agree on its design.
The online ordering system created such confusion that a
consultant was brought in to re-design it.
 Example sentences
• The first fire occurred on a weekend. As the office was empty at the time, there were no injuries.

• Due to the recession, most retailers have recorded a sharp downturn in quarterly profits.

• The government was hoping that listeners would switch from analogue to digital radio well in
advance of the deadline of 2012. Consequently,/As a result,/Therefore, a series of advertisements
was planned to highlight the advantages of digital transmission.

• Sales rapidly declined and as a result, consequently, therefore, Bailey Brothers was forced to close
its factories.

• There was such a high demand for the new product that supplies to retailers soon ran out.

• The online ordering system created such confusion that a consultant was brought in to redesign it.

• The conference employed so few staff that delegates had to queue for at least an hour to register.
 Complete the sentences with
one or two words.
1. Rises in the price of oil cause inflation and, as_____ , there is upwards
pressure on pay.
2. Due ______ the increase in rents, many of the area’s tenants are being
forced to move out.
3. Older information is stored offsite ______ of a lack of space within the main
office.
4. A small business might not have an HR department; the owner may _____
have to take care of personnel issues.
5. Internet marketing can automatically measure its own success ______
websites provide convenient access data.
6. Owing to______ that the first few performances attracted very small
audiences, the show was cancelled at the end of its first week.
 Answer Key
• 1. Rises in the price of oil cause inflation and, as_ a result_ , there is
upwards pressure on pay.
2. Due __to__ the increase in rents, many of the area’s tenants are being
forced to move out.
3. Older information is stored offsite _because_ of a lack of space within
the main office.
4. A small business might not have an HR department; the owner may
_therefore/consequently _ have to take care of personnel issues.
5. Internet marketing can automatically measure its own success
_because/as/since _ websites provide convenient access data.
6. Owing to __ the fact __ that the first few performances attracted very
small audiences, the show was cancelled at the end of its first week.
Re-write the information as one sentence, using
the connecting words in brackets.
• 1. The pressure of water was very great. The dam broke. (so…that)
• 2. The nuclear facility was damaged by the tsunami. The local area
had to be evacuated. (For this reason)
• 3. Most of the bridges in the region have a very strong structure.
They can survive serious earthquakes. (such)
• 4. The business had made a late surge in sales. The redundancy
programme was cancelled. (since)
• 5. Her first novel was very successful. She immediately gave up her
job. (such)
• 6. There were many complaints. The company withdrew the
product. (so..that)
 Answer Key
• 1. The pressure of water was so great that the dam broke.
• 2. The nuclear facility was damaged by the tsunami and for
this reason, the local area had to be evacuated.
• 3. Most of the bridges in the region have such a very strong
structure that they can survive serious earthquakes.
• 4. Since the business had made a late surge in sales, the
redundancy program was cancelled.
• 5. Her first novel was such a success that she immediately
gave up her job.
• 6. There were so many complaints that the company
withdrew the product.