Linking words from yesterday

 And here are the solutions.

I hope you noted the commas and the formal vs informal tones. No?  Look again.  Is the sentence proper? What connector did it use?

Is the information a contrast or extra information?

LINKING WORDS

solutions

 

Their team has got the best players. Besides, their coach is fantastic.

Anna is talented at music as well as art.

In London we saw the Queen’s palace. In addition we visited the British Museum.

When I was young, I wanted to become a doctor. I also wanted to be famous.

The service at this restaurant is excellent. Moreover, the food is delicious.

Roger works very hard to help his parents. Furthermore, he’s also a good student.

I’m keen on Ice cream as well as chocolate.

 

 

Their team has got the best players. Nevertheless, they lost the last game.

Lorena seems to be quite clever. However, she often gets low marks.

Jordi is a careful driver. Nevertheless, he has had several accidents.

Although Jordi is a careful driver, he has had several accidents.

I’d love to come. However, I really haven’t got time.

Although they get on very well, they are not best friends.

Tina gets good grades because she works hard whereas Kate is simply lazy.

Tina gets good grades because she works hard. Kate, in contrast, is very lazy.

Tina is very hard-working. Kate, on the other hand, is lazy.

 

 

Chris did not revise before the test. Consequently, he got a poor grade.

Lena works very hard at school. As a result, she is one of the best students.

I forgot to bring my homework again. Therefore, I had to stay behind after school.

Linking word practice

..are an absolute must in essay writing.  Let's take a look at some of the most common ones and place them in their appropriate place. 

Not sure? Come back tomorrow for the solutions.

LINKING WORDS

 1. Use one of the words to complete the sentences. 

besides        furthermore        also        moreover        in addition        as well as

 

Their team has got the best players. _____________, their coach is fantastic.

Anna is talented at music ____________ art.

In London we saw the Queen’s palace. ______________, we visited the British Museum.

When I was young, I wanted to become a doctor. I ________ wanted to be famous.

The service at this restaurant is excellent. ______________, the food is delicious.

Roger works very hard to help his parents. _________________, he’s also a good student.

    I’m keen on Ice cream _______________ chocolate.

 

2. Use one of the words in the box to complete the sentences.

however       nevertheless        on the other hand        although        whereas    in contrast

 

Their team has got the best players. ______________, they lost the last game.

Lorena seems to be quite clever. ________________, she often gets low marks.

Jordi is a careful driver. _________________, he has had several accidents.

________________ Jordi is a careful driver, he has had several accidents.

I’d love to come. __________________, I really haven’t got time.

________________ they get on very well, they are not best friends.

Tina gets good grades because she works hard ______________ Kate is simply lazy.

Tina gets good grades because she works hard. Kate, ________________, is very lazy.

Tina is very hard-working. Kate, ____________________, is lazy.

 

3. Use one of the words in the box to complete the sentences. 

therefore        consequently        as a result

 

Chris did not revise before the test. __________________, he got a poor grade.

Lena works very hard at school. __________________, she is one of the best students.

I forgot to bring my homework again. ________________, I had to stay behind after school.

 

CAE writing linking words - time

Over the last weeks we have looked at ways to chese your writing.  Here is yet one more reminder: linking words are a must!

CAE Writing: Linking Words

Time

Click on the answer A or B that completes each sentence. Find the solutions under the exercise.

1) ........ I didn't really enjoy the course, but after a while I really started to enjoy it.

  A    In the beginning

  B   At the beginning

2) ........ of the film the main character arrives in town looking for somewhere to stay.

  A    In the beginning

  B   At the beginning

3) We waited ages for a bus. ........ we decided to walk home.

  A    Eventually

  B   At last

4) The audience waited patiently for the delayed performance to start. ........ the curtain rose.

  A    Lastly

  B   At last

5) I waited for you ........ 10.00. I finally decided you weren't coming.

  A    before

  B   until

6) I managed to get the house tidy ........ my parents got home.

  A    before

  B   until

7) ........ had I gone to bed than I heard the phone ring.

  A    Hardly

  B   As soon as

8) I played a lot of tennis ........ I was on holiday.

  A    during

  B   while

Solutions: 1A              2 B            3A              4B              5B              6A              7A             8B

CAE writing linking words - reason

When we write about a topic we often need to give reasons to support our thoughts.  Here is a way to practice that:

CAE Writing: Linking Words

Reason

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first using the word given. Use no more than SIX words and do not change the form of the word in capitals. Find the solutions under the exercise.

1) The accident happened because of terrible weather.

RESULT

The accident.............................................. bad weather.

2) The train was cancelled so I missed my appointment.

CONSEQUENCE

....................................... the train cancellation I missed my appointment.

3) They decided to buy a new car because of the problems they were having with their old one.

SINCE

They decided to buy a new car ................................... problems with their old one.

4) We were unable to contact you as communications were so poor.

OWING

We couldn't contact you ...................................... communications were so poor.

5) You have been late every morning this week so we have deducted the lost time from your wages.

DUE

We have deducted money from your wages ................... you have been late every morning this week.

6) I was sent home from school because I was feeling sick.

ACCOUNT

The student was sent home ................................................................. the fact that he was feeling sick.

7) It was too far to walk so we caught the bus.

ENOUGH

We got the bus as ........................................................... to walk.

8) The film was so boring that we decided to leave early.

SUCH

........................................................ we decided to leave early.

Solutions:

1) was a result of       

2) As a consequence of               

3) since having                            

4)owing to the fact that              

5)due to the fact (that)      

6)on account of                   

7) it wasn’t near enough             

8) It was such a boring film

Help with the 'comma'

Comma after ‘so’

When so is used to mean therefore, it is a transitional adverb. So, it should be followed by a comma.

I was not feeling well. So, I decided to consult a doctor.

Semicolon before ‘and’

A coordinating conjunction that merges two clauses into one is usually preceded by a comma. However, the comma can be left out when the clauses connected by the conjunction are very short.

The boys sang, and the girls danced.

The comma is not exactly necessary in the example given above because the clauses are short. However, it is possible.

If one or both of the clauses connected by a conjunction contains a comma, we sometimes use a semicolon instead of a comma. Note that although a semicolon is possible here, it may look dated.

Alan, Sophie and Mira absolutely love the steak pie; but Maria, a staunch vegetarian, detests it.

Here the two clauses are connected by the coordinating conjunction but. However, we separate them using a semicolon because the second clause contains two commas.

Note that a semicolon is not exactly necessary here. A comma will work just fine. In fact, a comma tends to be more common than a semicolon.

Alan, Sophie and Mira absolutely love the steak pie, but Maria, a staunch vegetarian, detests it.

‘that’ -clauses

Commas are not used before that-clauses.

She said that she would come. (NOT She said, that she would come.)

Notes

A that-clause is essentially a noun clause that serves as the subject or object of the verb in the main clause.

Comma before subordinate clauses

When subordinate clauses come at the beginning of sentences we usually separate them with a comma. The comma can be left out when the subordinate clause goes after the main clause.

Because he had been reading my letters without my knowledge, I was quite angry with him.

I was quite angry with him because he had been reading my letters without my knowledge.

CAE writing skill linking words - addition

Today we visit another set of linking words to pep up and bring a higher standard to your CAE writing paper.

CAE Writing: Linking Words

Addition

Choose the answer A or B that has the most appropriate level of formality for the sentence.

(solutions under exercise)

1) I overslept this morning. ........ , my car ran out of petrol on the way to work.

  A    Not only that

  B   Furthermore

2) The report is expected to be critical of the industry. ........, it is likely to recommend extensive changes to production.

  A    What's more

  B   Furthermore

3) The witness claims to have seen the suspect at the scene of the crime. ........, the police are in possession of video evidence of the man entering the building.

  A    Moreover

  B   As well as that

4) ........ the wonderful main meal we also had a delicious pudding.

  A    In addition to

  B   Besides

5) If you're going into town could you get me some shampoo? ........, we need some more bread.

  A    Also

  B   Furthermore

6) Payments to your account have fallen behind considerably. ........, on several occasions your credit limit has been exceeded.

  A    Moreover

  B   Besides this

7) It was a brilliant game. ........, we didn't have to pay to get in!

  A    What's more

  B   In addition

8) The meeting concluded without any agreement being reached. ........, several further issues arose.

  A    As well as that

  B   In addition

Solutions:  1A             2B             3A              4B              5A              6A              7A             8B

CAE writing linking words - contrast

In the CAE you are expected to show your writing skills.  Let's look now at some key words needed for producing a good writing.
First up: 

CAE Writing: Linking Words

Contrast

 Click on the answer A, B, C or D that completes each sentence. There are EIGHT questions in all.

  (Solutions under exercise)

1) The team haven't been playing too well. ......, they are expected to win this afternoon.

  A   Nevertheless

  B   In contrast

  C   On the contrary

  D   Whereas

2) ........ in nearly every country in the world they drive on the right, in England they insist on driving on the left.

  A    On the one hand

  B    While

  C    Nevertheless

  D    In contrast

3) ........ to the north, which will remain warm and sunny, the south will become cloudy during the early morning.

  A    On the contrary

  B    In contrast

  C    Although

  D    While

4) He couldn't get the machine to work ........ following the instructions carefully.

  A    despite

  B    however

  C    while

  D    yet

5) I'm not tired at all. ........, I'm feeling full of energy.

A    However

  B    In contrast

  C    On the contrary

  D    Despite

6) ........ the computer had recently been repaired, it still kept crashing.

  A   Although

  B   Whereas

  C    In spite of

  D    Nevertheless

7) I know we agreed to raise the issue at the next meeting ........ we simply won't have the time to discuss it.

  A    although

  B    whereas

  C    but

  D    still

8) The man was arrested ........ claiming to have been nowhere near the scene of the crime.

  A    whereas

  B    in spite of

  C    yet

  D    in contrast

Solutions:  1A             2B             3B              4A              5C              6A                7C           8B