Linking words

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• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Linking words? What are they? 

Linking words help you to connect ideas and sentences when you speak or write English. They can be used to join two or more sentences or clauses. Linking words and phrases can be used to add ideas together, differentiate them, or show the purpose behind something. 

Zoom in and study the different types of linking words.  They are sorted into categories. 

Look up any words you don't know:

Contrast

In the next slides you will find quiz questions to practise some of the common linking words and expressions that are used to express contrast. For example, 'although', 'despite' etc.

1) ........ he's been really ill lately, he insists on going into work.

1. Even though
2. Even if
3. Even when

2. I'll never forget you, ........ I live to be 100.

1. Even if
2. Even though
3. Even when

3) We decided to go to Italy for our holiday, ........ it meant we needed to get our passports renewed.

1. Despite
2. Despite the fact that
3. In spite of

4) She decided to travel by plane ........ being very scared of flying.

1. In spite of
2. Despite the fact
3. Despite that

5) I'm not going out tonight. ........, I can see you tomorrow if you like.

1. Although
2. However
3. Yet

6) ........ to the party they had last year, this one is great.

1. Contrary
2. In contrast
3. On the contrary

7) I do not agree with the criticism that her latest film is disappointing. ........, I find it one of her best pieces of work so far.

1. Contrary
2. In contrast
3. On the contrary

Addition

In the next slides you will find quiz questions to practise words and expressions like 'moreover', 'in addition' etc.

1) ........ to being late with your repayments, you have also failed to reply to any of our letters.

1. Furthermore
2. In addition
3. As well as

2) We have decorated all the rooms in the flat ........ tidying up the garden.

1. Furthermore
2. In addition
3. As well as

3) The Government have banned the sale of the product. ........, they have threatened the company with legal action.

1. Furthermore
2. Besides
3. As well as

4) ........ being the chairman of the company she is also a regular member of several public organisations.

1. Equally
2. Besides
3. Moreover

5) Studying a second language can help you in your career. ........, it will also enable you to meet new people.

1. Anyway
2. As well
3. Moreover

6) ........ the many books he wrote, he was also well known for his work with charities.

1. In addition to
2. Furthermore
3. Moreover

7) I don't want to go out in this weather. ........, there's a really good film on TV tonight.

1. In addition to
2. Besides
3. Moreover

8) I don't want to see them tonight. ........, they were supposed to call us earlier.

1. In addition to
2. Moreover
3. Anyway

Purpose or reason

The next slides will give you practice in expressing purpose or reason with expressions like, 'as a result', 'owing to' etc.

For Questions 1-8, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the words given.

1) Because of the accident on the motorway, motorists are advised to use an alternative route.
CONSEQUENCE
Motorists should find an alternative route ........ an accident on the motorway.

2) I'm going to night school so that I can improve my German.
ORDER
I'm going to night school ........ improve my German.

3) The captain won't be playing today because of a bad injury.
DUE
........ that the captain has a bad injury, he won't be playing today.

4) He changed jobs because he wanted to be nearer to home.
ORDER
........ he could be nearer to home he changed jobs.

5) The man was released because the police had no evidence against him.
ACCOUNT
The police released the man ........ the fact that they had no evidence against him.

6) The college was closed for a month owing to the summer holidays.
RESULT
The college was closed for a month ........ the summer holidays.

7) Since we hadn't been out all day, we decided to go to the cinema.
OWING
........ that we hadn't been out all day, we decided to go to the cinema.

8) We phoned the hotel to complain as we'd had such terrible service.
BECAUSE
We phoned the hotel to complain ........ the bad service we'd had.

Time

The next exercises focus on linking words that express time, such as 'at first', 'eventually' etc.

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

1. In the beginning
2. At the beginning

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

1. In the beginning
2. At the beginning

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

1. Before
2. Until

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

1. Eventually
2. At last

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

1. Lastly
2. At last

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

1. Before
2. Until

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

1. Harly
2. As soon as

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

1. During
2. While

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