Did you know that words such as however, instead meanwhile,
and therefore can help your speech to flow? In other words,
these words create smooth transitions from one sentence to the next.
I like to think of these words as building bridges between our
sentences or ideas,
and without those bridges there can be unexpected or abrupt
gaps between those ideas leading to confusion among our
listeners right now, you might be thinking, that sounds great,
Annemarie would love to use those words and improve my flow,
but I'm not really sure how to use them or what these words mean and
I totally hear you. That's exactly why I'm doing this lesson today. Moreover,
these linking words are a crucial component to fluent
cohesive communication in English.
They help us connect ideas,
show the relationship between sentences and create a logical
flow of thought. In this particular Confident English lesson,
we're going to focus on linking words that help you compare and contrast
show, cause and effect,
indicate progression and much more along the way,
you'll learn what common linking words such as, however,
meanwhile and therefore mean and I'll share with you how to use them
using practical examples. By the end of this lesson,
you'll have a solid understanding of how to use these linking words
in your English communication for improved fluency and cohesion.
But before we start, if you don't already know,
I'm Annemarie with Speak Confident English.
Everything I do is designed to help you get the confidence you want for your
life and work in English.
One way I do that is by sharing weekly Confident English lessons where I
highlight my top fluency and confidence-building strategies,
targeted vocabulary lessons,
and a focus on grammar topics such as this lesson on linking words
in English. While you're here,
make sure you subscribe to my Speak Confident English channel so you never miss
one of these Confident English lessons. To start,
let's get a clear understanding of how these linking words in
English or conjunctive adverbs work and why they're important.
A conjunctive adverb is an adverb such as however or
accordingly or an adverb phrase such as on the other
hand or as a result that are used to connect
ideas together,
creating a bridge or a smooth transition from one idea to
the next. These conjunctive adverbs are also known as linking words.
What's most important about these words is that they have a job to do in a
sentence.
This job includes showing the connection between
ideas or thoughts shared within one sentence.
They also link ideas mentioned through two or more sentences,
and finally they clarify the relationship between ideas.
What this really means is they help us clearly indicate when
we are making a comparison or drawing contrasts.
They help us show cause and effect.
They clearly indicate a progression or sequence and
so much more.
Before we take a look at our first category of conjunctive adverbs
used for contrast,
I want to talk about how we use these linking words in written and
spoken communication in writing, for example.
There are few specific rules we need to follow.
I want you to take a look at this sentence and notice where we have the
conjunctive adverb. My daughter broke her arm while climbing a tree.
Consequently,
she won't be able to write her homework for school for the next few weeks.
When a conjunctive adverb connects two ideas within one
single sentence,
we use a semicolon before and then a comma after the
conjunctive adverb. On the other hand,
when a conjunctive adverb is used to connect ideas across several sentences or
indicate a relationship within a sentence, it is followed by a comma.
Here are two examples. Imagine your office is having a two day meeting.
Everyone is attending the first day except for one person.
After you indicate who is joining on day one, you might say Lena however,
is joining us for the meeting tomorrow or however Lena will
be joining us tomorrow. With those rules in mind,
let's take a look at our first group of conjunctive,
adverbs or linking words used for contrast.
Here we're going to look at however, conversely instead,
and on the other hand, the word,
however is used to indicate contrast or to
contradict something that has been said previously and it means despite
whatever manner, way, or degree.
Let's take a look at another sentence where we use the word however to indicate
that contrast or contradiction.
There may however be a good reason Nina couldn't come to the party.
The initial assumption of course might be that there would never be a good
reason to not attend a party,
but we're contradicting that assumption or belief with the statement that
perhaps Nina did have a good reason.
Our second word conversely means in a reverse manner or the opposite way.
For example, Kelly has a sweet tooth. Conversely,
her husband prefers savory foods.
The word instead is used to indicate substitution or
replacement. An alternative. For example,
we had planned to go to dinner and then to a movie,
but we were running late and by the time we got there the movie was over.
Instead, we decided to go straight to the restaurant and just have dinner.
The last one in this category is on the other hand like the word. However,
this indicates contrast to a statement that was previously stated
and we use it to present a different point of view. For example,
I'd love for us to implement this new social media strategy. On the other hand,
I think it's going to take much longer than we anticipate and we already have a
number of projects that we're working on right now.
While linking words for contrast allow us to indicate opposing
or contradicting statements,
we can also use linking words for comparisons or similarities
and two words we often use to do this are the words,
likewise and similarly.
Likewise means in the same way. For example,
we offer a great benefit package to our employees. Likewise,
we offer competitive salaries as well.
The word similarly is used to mean in a like style
manner or way. For example,
we all know cars need to stop at red lights. Similarly,
cyclists must stop at red lights as well,
and now let's take a look at four conjunctive adverbs used to indicate cause and
effect. For this category, we're going to look at the words accordingly,
hence, therefore,
and consequently accordingly means in agreement with
or correspondingly. For example, after a major storm in your area,
you might see or hear this sentence, classes are canceled today.
Accordingly, you'll have an extra day to study for your upcoming exam.
The next word is,
hence this means because of a preceding fact or premise
or a fact or premise that has come before. For example,
the project deadline has changed and will need to finish this earlier
than expected. Hence,
we'll need everyone on the team to shift their focus to this project until
it's completed the next one. Therefore,
this means for that reason,
for that cause or for that purpose.
For example,
let's say you've recently reserved a meeting location and then you discover
that there was a mistake. You might hear this conversation,
we accidentally double booked this room for your meeting,
therefore we'll have to ask you to move your meeting to a later time
and lastly, consequently,
this is used to mean as a negative result of something.
For example, I spent all my money on the renovations. Consequently,
I couldn't buy a new car.
We have two more categories for linking words that help you create these smooth
connections in your speech.
The next category is conjunctive adverbs for
sequence or progression.
This is particularly useful when you're communicating a process, for example,
or giving someone instructions,
and here we have four words we're going to review subsequently.
Then finally, and incidentally,
the first one subsequently means at a later time or
following right after in a time or place.
For example,
the third quarter losses were unforeseen and the company
subsequently laid off 50 employees.
In that sentence subsequently indicates that after one thing happened,
the third quarter losses, something else happened right Afterward.
Our next word then can be used in the same way. In fact,
it has nearly the same meaning. For example,
we could follow up the last two sentences of the third quarter losses and
the company layoff with then the company filed for bankruptcy.
The word finally is used to indicate that we're at the end or the
conclusion of something.
It can also mean ultimately or lastly. For example,
if someone is giving an opinion and while doing so,
they give several reasons for having that opinion.
You might hear this at the end. Finally,
I believe it's important to advocate for gender equity in the workplace and our
fourth word in this category. Incidentally,
this is used to introduce a related thought or idea and it comes
after the main topic or ideas mentioned, but with less importance.
Let's say you recently went to a theater performance and you loved it,
so you've been recommending it to friends.
You have a friend who has decided to go,
but she's never been to this theater before. In that conversation you might say,
we loved the play incidentally,
remind me to send you directions to the theater and now our final category,
conjunctive adverbs. For time.
Here we're going to look at the words meanwhile later and now
meanwhile means until something expected happens
or wow something else is happening. For example,
perhaps you're following a series of steps to bake a cake. In that process,
you might see these two steps. After you take the cake out of the oven,
the cake should cool for an hour. Meanwhile,
you can begin preparing the buttercream. In other words,
while the cake is cooling, during that time, you can begin to do something else.
Our next word is lately, which means of late or recently.
For example, lately I've been walking to work instead of taking the bus,
and finally the word now, which means at the present time,
it's also used when we're beginning to tell someone about something.
Here are two examples.
Now keep in mind New York is a busy city with millions of people.
In that particular sentence, I'm not talking about the present moment.
I'm actually using the word now to begin telling someone something
and now here's a second example.
It took Xena many years to sharpen her skills.
Now she mentors young people across the city and with that you have
multiple examples of conjunctive,
adverbs or linking words that can be used to help you have smooth transitions
and improve your flow. When you speak,
I know these words can be challenging to learn and use,
so I have an in-depth practice for you.
I'm going to share with you a couple of example paragraphs, and in doing so,
I want you to review the words you've learned here and try to identify
example words you could use to create links between these sentences or
ideas. Of course,
you can share your example answers with me in the comments below,
and I'll include my answers in the comments as well.
Let's take a look at the first example paragraph.
Stress is a common issue in today's fast paced world.
It can be managed effectively with some simple techniques.
Taking breaks throughout the day or going for a walk can help alleviate stress.
Meditating can help as well. What do you think?
What two words might you use in those sentences provided?
And now let's take a look at a second example. For this one,
I want you to imagine a team leader communicating in a meeting.
The scope of this product launch is much broader than initially anticipated.
I'll need to reevaluate our priorities and we'll ask a few team members to shift
their focus to the launch so we can meet our deadlines.
Susan and Ahmed, I'll keep you on rebranding the campaign for X, Y,
Z company as we'll.
Have some important deadlines approaching for that project as well. Again,
I'd love to know what two words you think could be used to create
clear links in those sentences and those ideas.
If you found today's lesson helpful to you, I would love to know. As always,
you can tell me in one very simple way,
give this lesson a thumbs up here on YouTube and while you're at it,
don't forget to subscribe so you never miss one of my Confident English lessons.
Thank you so much for joining me and I look forward to seeing you next time.