Connector Summary

Addition & Contrast

Conn Diagnostic

Connector Diagnostic Quiz: a tool to help you identify specific points that need review

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)
FANBOYS – and, but, so, yet, or / nor
Punctuation

See connector definitions in Connector Summary.

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

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)

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

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