ENGLISH CONNECTORS (BACHILLERATO)

Los conectores (connectors) son aquellos trminos que usamos para sealar las relaciones entre
ideas. As pues, los conectores, tambin llamados en Ingls linking words (nexos), pueden expresar
contraste u oposicin de ideas, razn, causa y finalidad. Asimismo, se usan para introducir ejemplos y
aadir informacin adicional, o tambin para mostrar una sucesin de hechos y las consecuencias de los
mismos.

1. EXPRESIN DE LA RAZN Y LA CAUSA.-

Estos conectores indican la razn o la causa de algo.
because (porque)
as (puesto que) + oracin con verbo en formal personal
since (ya que)
Ex: Because/ As/ Since its late, we should all go home.
NOTA: Si la oracin subordinada va al principio, debe ir separada por coma de la oracin principal.

Because of (a causa de)

Owing to (debido a) + sustantivo o pronombre
Due to (debido a)
Ex: Because of / Owing to / Due to the weather, we stayed at home.

2. EXPRESIN DE LA FINALIDAD.-
Expresan el propsito o la finalidad de algo.
2.1. Oracin principal y subordinada con el MISMO sujeto:
To (para +infinitivo)
In order to (para + infinitivo) + verbo en infinitivo
So as to (para + infinitivo)
Ex: She uses her video to / in order to / so as to record her favourite shows.
NOTA: Para negar la oracin final, basta con aadir not delante de to:
Ex: She took her raincoat not to / in order not to / so as not to get wet.
2.2. Oracin principal y subordinada con DISTINTO sujeto:
In order that (para que. . . )
+ oracin con verbo modal (can, could,
may, might)
So as to (para que. . . )
Ex: I went to Mikes house in order that / so that he could help me to do my homework.

3. INTRODUCCIN DE EJEMPLOS.-
Para ejemplificar y aclarar lo que estamos explicando.
; for example, (por ejemplo)
; for instance, (por ejemplo)

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 Ex: Vegetables are a good sorce of vitamins; for example / for instance, pepper has vitamin C.

Such as (como)
Ex: Singers such as Michael Jackson and Madonna are popular all over the world.

4. INTRODUCCIN DE INFORMACIN ADICIONAL.-

Sirven para aadir algo ADEMS de lo que estamos diciendo.
Moreover, (adems)
Furthermore, (adems)
Besides, (adems)
Ex: Im too busy to take a holiday. Moreover / Furthermore / Besides, I dont have the
money.
In addition to. . . , ( adems de )
+ sustantivo o pronombre
. . . as well as. . . ( adems de )
Ex: In addition to classical music, she likes jazz.
She likes jazz as well as classical music.
Apart from. . . , (excepto, exceptuando)
+ sustantivo
Except (for) (excepto, exceptuando)
Ex: Apart from English, she speaks three other languages.
He eats nothing except (for) bread and fish.

5. EXPRESIN DEL RESULTADO Y LA CONSECUENCIA.-

Expresan el resultado o la consecuencia de una accin o idea anterior.
Therefore, (por ello)
Consequently, (en consecuencia)
For this reason, (por esta razn)
Thus, (as pues)
Ex: Tina gets her car in good condition. Therefore / Consequently / For this
reason / Thus, it always passes its annual road test.
As a result of + sustantivo o pronombre
Ex: As a result of his brave action, he was given a military medal.

6. EXPRESIN DEL CONTRASTE Y LA OPOSICIN DE IDEAS.-

but (pero, sino) + sustantivo o adjetivo
Ex: The book is short but interesting.
She didnt buy a house but a flat.
, but (pero) + oracin con verbo en forma personal
Ex: She loves English, but she hates Maths.

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 However, (sin embargo)
Nevertheless, (sin embargo)
On the contrary, (por el contrario)
Ex: She was quite ill. However / Nevertheless, she went to school.
She was ill, but she didnt go to the doctor. On the contrary, she went to work.
, while (mientras que)
+ oracin con verbo en forma personal
, whereas (mientras que)
Ex: Last nights film was very interesting, while / whereas todays film is very boring.

7. EXPRESIN DE LA CONCESIN.-
Estos conectores sirven para expresar que algo ocurre a pesar de una contrariedad o una
adversidad.
Although ( aunque, a pesar de que)
Though ( aunque, a pesar de que) + oracin
Even though (aunque, a pesar de que)
Ex: Although / Though / Even though the students hadnt studied, they all passed the exam.
In spite of ( a pesar de )
+ sustantivo o verbo en -ing
Despite ( a pesar de )
Ex: In spite of / Despite the late hour, they went on with the meeting.
He arrived on time despite / in spite of getting up late.
NOTA: Podemos encontrar las expresiones in spite of the fact that y despite the fact that seguidas de
oracin con verbo en forma personal:
Ex: In spite of the fact that / Despite the fact that she was tired, she played the tennis match
and won it.

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 ACTIVITIES ON CONNECTORS
Before you do these activities, make sure you have checked the handouts on connectors. Keep
them in front of you while you are doing the activities. If you realise that you make common mistakes in
relation to connectors when writing your compositions, write them down in your list of mistakes (if you
have any). Good luck!

1.- LINK THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES BY MEANS OF A CONNECTOR:

a) I havent studied enough this term. ________________ , I have failed my exams.
b) They finished playing the match _______________they were quite tired.
c) I want Susan to come to the party ____________ I can introduce her to my friend Peter.
d) _____________ she didnt call us, we thought she didnt want to come to the cinema with us.
e) Mandy went to the library ___________ give a book back and ___________ borrow a new one.
f) Things have changed in relation to the womens role in society; _____________ , both men and
women share the housework.
g) Mike hated Jenny at first. ________________, he fell in love with her in the end.
h) Sevilla lost their match against Jerez. ______________, Betis was defeated by Jaen.
i) The teacher gave us more activities ______________ we could practise on Christmas holiday.
j) A lot of people in poor countries sell drugs ______________ their children can have food to eat.

2.- REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITHOUT CHANGING THE MEANING

AND USING THE CONNECTOR GIVEN TO YOU. REMEMBER THAT YOU OFTEN HAVE
TO MAKE SOME OTHER CHANGES IN THE SENTENCES:
1. Despite his heart disease, he ran 5 miles everyday.
2. David collected stamps when he was a child. He collected The Beatles posters too.
3. I think Internet has a lot of advantages, but it has a lot of disadvantages too.
4. My father loved Dire Straits. Thats why he bought all their albums.
5. As a result of his bad marks at school, he decided to leave three years ago and start to work.
6. Luke had to repair the roof before the rainy weather came, so I helped him.
7. Esther called me up. She wanted to talk to me because she felt lonely without her mother.
8. I dont like Brad Pitts movies. Well, I only like Seven.
9. David is a very kind person, but his brother is very stupid.
10. Kathy wanted to listen to Paul McCartney live, so she travelled to Liverpool.

3.- CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION:

1. In spite of/Although unlawful, they sell tobacco to teenagers under eighteen in that shop.
2. Since/Due to she was late, the teacher didnt let her in.
3. My little brother always tells me tender things so that/ in order to I will play with him.
4. Frank sold his old car to/for to buy a new one.
5. My neighbour had no car and, therefore/however, he had to walk everywhere.
6. Rich countries dont help poor countries but/thus they exploit them.

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7. My parents will let me go to Italy unless/as long as I get good resulta at the end of the course.
8. I watch football on TV despite/although I prefer basket to football.
9. I would like to go to France at Christmas. Although/However, thats not possible. I dont have
enough money!
10. The rate of male smokers in Spain is lower that the rate of female ones, whereas/however in France it
is just the opposite.
11. Tomorrow the price of petrol will go up. Consequently/Besides, everybody is taking their cars to the
petrol stations today.
12. I love Steve Wonder, but/although I dislike his last album.
13. According to some surveys, most policemen do not want to be sent to the Bask Country not to/to not
take any risk in relation to terrorist actions.
14. They decided to put off the meeting, since/because of there were only ten people at the conference
room.
15. Tom promised to lend me his car, however,/.However, he changed his mind the very last minute.

4.- FIND THE MISTAKE AND CHECK THEM SO THAT THE SENTENCE WILL BE
CORRECT:
1. The nurse left so that the doctor spoke to the patient privately.
2. Tomorrow Ill go to the barber shop for to have my hair cut.
3. I was invited to Mikes party however I didnt feel like going.
4. Although Jane was very tired, she decided not to go out last Saturday night.
5. Some companies want to control the international market. For this, they try to set new factories all
over the world.
6. Although/Although she knew it was Margarets birthday, she didnt buy her anything.
7. My parents thought I hadnt sit for any exams last term. But/Nevertheless, I did all of them, though I
didnt pass any.
8. All Gore is very popular among American people, but/although George Bush Jr. is criticized for his
supporting death penalty.
9. I always wash the dishes after dinner so that/so as to my mother can have a rest.
10. The coach often talks to the players just before the match for to/in order to encourage them.