Hey everyone, how are you? My name is Abbe and I'm your English teacher at Mosalingua.
Welcome to today's video. Today, we're talking about some little English words
and phrases that are super useful: "and," "or," "so"... Words like these are called
connectors or linking words or transitions.
And today's video is all about them.
Don't worry if you don't know what I'm talking about quite yet. As with
all of our videos, I'll point out lots of examples to help you understand better.
That reminds me: have you subscribed to our channel yet? We post new videos every week.
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Today I'll not only give you a list of the most important connectors
and explain how to use them, but if you watch until the end,
I have a pro tip for you about how to sound as
natural as possible in English. Ready to get started?
Connectors can do lots of things. They can help you
emphasize a point, organize a sequence by time, space
or importance, add information, create contrast, describe relationships of cause
and effect, summarize or introduce your arguments and much more. They can be the
first or the last words of a sentence, or somewhere in between. Why do we need
connectors? Well, for one, they create relationships and transitions between
thoughts, and that leads to more logical and smooth-flowing conversations. They
can also make your conversations more interesting and more natural sounding,
even if you have a limited vocabulary. Adding linking words easily turns simple
sentences into complex ones, and makes you sound like you have a more advanced
level than you might really have. Think of them like salt and pepper.
You shouldn't overuse them, but a little sprinkle here and there can make your
dish much tastier. They can also buy you some time
while you're thinking of what to say next. Sort of like "umm" and "uhh," except for
they actually sound deliberate. There are lots of connectors. You don't need to
memorize a big long list. Just focus on a few at a time and integrate them slowly
into your vocabulary. To find out how to use connectors in the most natural way
possible, pay close attention to how native speakers -- either your conversation
partner or even characters in American or English sitcoms or other TV shows -- use them.
So here are a few of the most common connectors, some of which are
conjunctions, and a few possible ways you can use them.
This one is very, very common and can be used either
as a filler or to show a purpose. For example: "So, what do you think?"
Or: "I brought a hat to the game, so the sun won't be in my eyes."
This is another common connector. It can be used for emphasis: "You're actually
going to go through with it?" Or for contrast. For example, if someone says
something that isn't true, like, "Today is Wednesday." "Actually, today is Tuesday!"
It can also be used as a filler that doesn't *actually* have much meaning at all.
Here's another filler: "Well, I think that's enough work for today."
And one more filler, usually used to change the subject or end a conversation:
"Anyway, thanks for the chat, I have to get going now." The next two words are used to add
an opposing viewpoint. For example: "I love to cook, although I don't do it often."
"I am horrible at basketball. However, I'm a great swimmer."
"But" is an even simpler way to say "however" or
"although," *but* it works just as well.
"Plus": this is the perfect way to add new information,
like so: "The music at the party was awesome, plus there was a piñata!"
That same sentence *also* works if you replace "plus" with "also."
This word can be used in several different ways. For example:
"I didn't steal your dessert! I was sleeping when it happened. And besides, I don't even like ice cream!"
Or: "Do you have anything besides fiction? I prefer biographies."
You're probably very familiar with this next one, but just in case
you aren't, here's an example: "We're late because there was a cow blocking the road."
This one can be used in two ways, but as a connector, it is used
similarly to "because." "Since I forgot my wallet, you'll have to pay for dinner."
"Overall": This connector is a nice way to sum up an argument or an event.
For example: "Overall, we had a lovely trip." Use this connector to put the spotlight or
stress on one thing out of a group. Like this: "All the kittens are cute, especially
the orange one." Connectors can also be phrases or groups of words. For example:
"by the way." This connector is useful for adding information you have just thought of,
like this: "See you later. Oh, by the way, could you pick up milk on your way home?"
Use this connector if you have two arguments that contradict one
another or to show two different points of view. For example: "On one hand, I don't
really need a new phone. But on the other hand, it is on sale."
This next phrase is useful for showing
cause and effect or the consequences of an action: "I crashed
my bike once. That is why I always wear a helmet now."
And this one is obviously used for emphasis, like this:
"You can make the check out to me, and most importantly, don't forget to sign it."
So there you have it! A few useful connectors that you
can start using in your English conversations.
I have one last tip for you, especially if you want
to sound more like a native speaker: be aware of register.
Register is the level of formality that you use. And it can really
affect the way people interpret your message. There are lots of other
linking words and phrases that I didn't include in this short list, such as
"furthermore," "moreover," and "thus." That's because some connectors are more
appropriate for academic or legal writing than everyday conversation, and
if you use them in everyday conversation they can make you sound somewhat
pretentious. We sometimes call these "expensive" words. If you'd like to read
more about connectors in your native language, I've put some links to our blog
in the video description. For some extra practice, try to find all of the
connectors that I used in this video outside of the list that I gave you. And
of course, you'll find the most common and useful connectors and linking words
in our mobile apps and Mosalingua Web. To sum it up: connectors are super easy
to learn and use and they go a long way in making your English sound more
natural. Thanks for watching and I'll see you again soon!
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