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Connector Summary

 

 

Addition & Contrast

Conn Diagnostic

Connector Diagnostic Quiz: a tool to help you identify specific points that need review
reader
  • Quiz 1: beginning – intermediate
  • Quiz 2: intermediate – advanced 

 

 

FANBOYS

FANBOYS: joining independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions
  • Using phrase connectors (conjunctions) vs. sentence connectors (coordinating conjunctions)
  • FANBOYSand, but, so, yet, or / nor
  • Punctuation

 See connector definitions in Connector Summary.
 

fan boy

She danced and waved a fan.  (conjunction)

She danced, and he played the flute.  (coordinating conjunction)

 

 

 

 And so / too

And so / too: shortening a repeated verb in a joined clause
  • and so do I
  • and I do too
  • but I don't

 

new toy

My brother has a new toy, and so do I.   (American English)
My brother has a new toy, and so have I.  (British English)

My bother got a new toy, and I did too.  
My brother got a new toy,  but I didn't. 

 

 

 Both...and

Both...and: joining sentence elements with paired conjunctions
  • both X and Y
  • not only   X  but also Y
  • either X or Y
  • neither X nor Y

 

movie

Both the movie and the play were good.  

Not only the movie but also the play was good.  

Neither the movie nor the play was good.  

Either the movie or the play was good. I can't remember.  

 

 

But / But still

But / But still:  stating contrast or contrary outcome

Contrasting:

  • but
  • while
  • whereas
  • on the one hand
  • in contrast to
  • yet

Contrary :

  • though
  • but still
  • even so
  • but ... anyway


sugar with coffee

I like sugar in my coffee, whereas Edward likes black coffee.
I like sugar in my coffee in contrast to Edward who likes none.

One the one hand, I like sugar in my coffee.
On the other hand, Edgard does not!

 

I shouldn't eat sugar, but still I do.
Though I shouldn't eat sugar, I do.
I shouldn't eat sugar.  Nevertheless, I do.

 

 

Outcome

But / Though

 

But / Though: expressing defeat versus challenge

Implied meanings

  • but  (obstacle)
  • though  (challenge) 
job seeker

Brian planned on attending a job fair, but the line to get in wrapped around the block.   (It discouraged him..)

Brian planned on attending a job fair, though the line to get in wrapped around the block.   (He stood in it anyway.)

 

 

 

Because / Though

Because / Though: expected and unexpected outcomes

Stating expected and unexpected reasoning:

  • because vs. though
  • because of  vs. in spite of

Shortening clauses to modifying phrases :

  • the weather was cold
  • it being cold / the cold weather
Snow travel

He wore his winter pants because it was snowing.
Schools were closed because of the snow.
It was snowing.  For this reason, the schools were closed.

 

He was biking in his shorts though it was snowing.
The schools were open in spite of the cold temperature.
It was snowing.  Nevertheless, the schools were open.

 

 Consequently

Consequently: using a transition word to introduce an effect clause
  • because
  • consequently
  • therefore
  • as a result
Girls School

She married at the age of thirteen because she had no other options.

She had no other options. Consequently, she married at the age  of thirteen.

 

 

 

Cause (Reason) and Effect (Result)

So / Such that

 

So that / Such that: emphasizing qualities and characteristics (cause - effect)

Using a modifying phrase indicating

  • so ... that
  • such ... that
  • so much / such
Meteor Shower

The meteor storm was so beautiful that we watched it all night.
It was such a beautiful meteor storm that we watched it all night.

 

We will learn so much interesting information that it will take years to process it.  (quantity)
We will learn such interesting information that it will take years to process it.  (quality)

 

 

So phrases

"So" Phrases: expressing purpose, cause-effect, or result
  • so… that  (emphasis / result)
  • so that , in order (purpose)
  • so  (result)
  • so-so, just so, so!  (expressions)
Baby reaching for gumball

The baby reached up so that he could get some candy.

He has to pull down on the lever in order to get some candy to come out.

The baby got nothing, so he cried.

 

 

 Cause-Effect Rev

Cause-Effect Review: expressing a cause and effect relationship

Summary of cause-effect connectors

  • coordinating –  so
  • correlative - so that
  • subordinating – because
  • transition – For this reason

 

Newton's Cradle

His computer froze, so he hit it.

 He hit it so hard that he damaged the keyboard.

 He took it to a repair center because it needed a new keyboard.

He paid a lot to have it fixed.  As a consequence, he never hit his computer again.

 

 

 

Emphasis

Indeed / Even

 

 

Indeed / Even:  emphasizing unexpected or extraordinary details
  • indeed
  • in fact  (details data)
  • even   (unexpected)
      

Gingerbread House

His work is indeed more amazing than before
His work is in fact more amazing than before
His work is even more amazing than before

 

 

Review

Connect Review

Connector Review: conjunctions, adverbs and transition words
  • addition
  • alternative
  • cause and effect
  • comparison
  • condition
  • contrast
  • emphasis
  • place
  • time

sailing

The day was cold and windy.
They day was cloudy, windy and also cold.
It was cloudy and windy.  Also, it was cold.
The wind was strong as well as cold.
Besides being windy, it was also cold.
The day was windy  and cold. In addition, it was bright and clear.
It was bright, clear and windy. Moreover, it was cold.
It was bright, clear and windy.  Furthermore, it was cold

 

 

Connector Edit

Connector Edit: finding conjunction, adverb and transition word errors

 

Writer

* We had to go home even we hadn't found what we were looking for.

 

Connector Paragr

Connector Paragraph: transitioning from one idea to the next

britney copycats 

________, it seems to me that the reasons for her behavior are more complex.

 

Parallel Phrasing

 

 

Parallel Phrasing:  joining like items with and and but
  • adjectives
  • adverbs
  • gerunds
  • infinitives
  • noun phrases


Also see Gerunds:   parallel phrasing

scale 

My English is improving slow but surely.

My English is improving slowly but surely.

 

Sentence Editing

Sentence Editing: correcting connector use
  • adding punctuation
  • removing wordiness
  • adding capitalization
Editor
 

*Because I needed to miss a board meeting, so I notified the speaker.

 

 

Related Pages

Adverbial Phrases

Adverbial Phrases: shortening clauses to modifying phrases
  • when
  • while
  • before
  • after
  • since
skunk

While John was walking home, he came across a skunk.
While walking home, he came across a skunk.  

 

 Because Phrases

Because Phrases: shortening because-clauses to modifying phrases
  • same time
  • earlier time

* Llocated in Adverb Summary

working hard

Because he was working so hard, he was earning a good salary. (same time)

Working so hard, he was earning a good salary. (same time)

 

Because he had been working so hard , he needed a vacation.
Having worked so hard (earlier time), he needed a vacation.

 

Fragments

Fragments:  recognizing complete vs. incomplete sentences
  • a phrase
  • a dependent clause
  • a independent clause

Also see  Semicolons | Commas

luggage 

Each year, millions of people travel to the U.S. In fact, eighty-six million.   (fragment)

Put your suitcase down.  Over there. (fragment)

How about a visa? (fragment)

 

 

Run-ons

Run-on Sentences: punctuating simple and complex sentences
  • developing complete thoughts
  • punctuating separate sentences 

Also see  Semicolons | Commas

football
 

* My friend and I blogged and read over his shoulder.
My friend blogged, and I read over his shoulder.