CONNECTIVES

ADVERB CLAUSE WORDS TRANSITIONS CONJUCTIONS PREPOSITIONS

Because Therefore So Because of
CAUSE AND EFFECT So (that) Consequently For Due to
Now that
Such that
Even though However But…anyway Despite
Although Nevertheless But…still In spite of
CONTRAST Though Nonetheless Yet…still
Whereas On the other hand
While
If Otherwise Or else
Unless
Only if
CONDITION Even if
Whether or not
In case
In the event that

USING BECAUSE AND DUE TO

(a) Because the weather was cold, we stayed home. Because introduces an adverb clause; it is followed by a subject and a
verb, as in (a).
(b) Because of the cold weather, we stayed home. Because of and due to are phrasal prepositions; they are followed by a
(c) Due to the cold weather, we stayed home. noun object, as in (b) and (c).
(d) Due to the fact that the weather was cold, we stayed home. Sometimes, usually in more formal writing, due to is followed by a noun
clause introduce by the fact that
(e) We stayed home because of the cold weather. Like adverb clauses, these phrases can also follow the main clause, as in
We stayed home due to the cold weather. (e).
We stayed home due to the fact that the weather was cold.
We stayed home because the weather was cold.

USING TRANSITIONS TO SHOW CAUSE AND EFFECT: THEREFORE AND CONSEQUENTLY

(a) Al failed the test because he didn’t study. (a), (b), (c) have the same meaning. Therefore and consequently mean
(b) Al didn’t study. Therefore, he failed the test. “as a result.” In grammar, they are called transitions (or conjunctive
(c) Al didn’t study. Consequently, he failed the test. adverbs). Transitions connect the ideas between two sentences.
(d) Al didn’t study. Therefore, he failed the test. A transition occurs in the second of two related sentences. Notice the
(e) Al didn’t study. He, therefore, failed the test. patterns and punctuation in the examples. A period or a semicolon (not a
(f) Al didn’t study. He failed the test, therefore. comma) can be used at the end of the first sentence. The transition has
several positions in the second sentence. The transition is separated
from the rest of the sentence by commas.
 EXPRESSING CAUSE AND EFFECT: SUCH…THAT AND SO…THAT
(a) Because the weather was nice, we went to the zoo. Examples (a), (b), and (c) have the same meaning.
(b) It was such nice weather that we went to the zoo.
(c) The weather was so nice that we went to the zoo.
(d) It was such good coffee that I had another cup. Such…that encloses a modified noun:
(e) It was such a foggy day that we couldn’t see the road.
Such + adjective + noun + that.
(f) The coffee is so hot that I can’t drink it. So…that encloses an adjective or adverb:
(g) I was so hungry that I could eat a horse.
(h) She speaks so fast that I can’t understand her. So + {adjective/adverb} + that.
(i) He walked so quickly that I couldn’t keep up with him.
(j) She made so many mistakes that she failed the exam. So…that is used with many, few, much, and little.
(k) He has so few friends that he is always lonely.
(l) She has so much money that she can buy whatever she wants.
(m) He had so little trouble with the test that he left twenty minutes early.
(n) It was such a good book (that) I couldn’t put it down. Sometimes, primarily in speaking, that is omitted.
(o) I was so hungry (that) I didn’t wait for dinner to eat something.

EXPRESSING PURPOSE USING SO…THAT AND IN ORDER TO

(a) I turned the TV off in order to enable my roommate to study in In order to expresses purpose. In (a): I turned off the TV for a purpose.
peace and quiet. The purpose was to make it possible for my roommate to study in peace
and quiet.
(b) I turned the TV off so (that) my roommate could study in peace and So that also expresses purpose. It expresses the same meaning as in
Quiet. order to. The word “that” is often omitted, especially in speaking.
(c) I’m going to cash a check so that I can buy my textbooks. So that is often used instead of in order to when the idea of ability is
(d) I cashed a check so that I could buy my textbooks. being expressed. Can is used in the adverb clause for a present/future
meaning. In (c): so that I can buy = in order to be able to buy.
Could is used after so that in past sentences.
So that + will/simple present In (e): so that I won’t get wet = in order to make sure that I won’t get wet.
In (f): It is sometimes possible to use the simple present after so that in
(e) I’ll take my umbrella so that I won’t get wet. place of will; the simple present expresses a future meaning.
(f) I’ll take my umbrella so that I don’t get wet. Would is used in past sentences; as in (g).
(g) Yesterday I took my umbrella so that I wouldn’t get wet.
 SHOWING CONTRAST (UNEXPECTED RESULT)
All these sentences have the same meaning. The idea of cold weather is contrasted with the idea of going swimming. Usually if the weather is cold,
one does not go swimming, so going swimming in cold weather is an “unexpected result.” It is surprising that the speaker went swimming in cold
weather.
ADVERB CLAUSE Even though (a) Even though it was cold, I went swimming.
Although (b) Although it was cold, I went swimming.
Though (c) I went swimming though it was cold.
CONJUNCTIONS But…anyway. (d) It was cold, but I went swimming anyway.
But…still. (e) It was cold, but I still went swimming.
Yet…still. (f) It was cold, yet I still went swimming.
TRANSITIONS Nevertheless. (g) It was cold. Nevertheless, I went swimming.
Nonetheless. (h) It was cold; nonetheless, I went swimming.
However…still. (i) It was cold. However, I still went swimming.
PREPOSITIONS Despite. (j) I went swimming despite the cold weather.
In spite of. (k) I went swimming in spite of the cold weather.
Despite the fact that. (l) I went swimming despite the fact that the weather was cold.
In spite of the fact that. (m) I went swimming in spite of the fact that the weather was cold.

SHOWING DIRECT CONTRAST

All of these sentences have the same meaning.
ADVERB CLAUSE While. (a) Mary is rich, while John is poor.
(b) John is poor, while Mary is rich.
Whereas. (c) Mary is rich, whereas John is poor.
(d) Whereas Mary is rich, John is poor.
CONJUNCTION But (e) Mary is rich, but John is poor.
(f) John is poor, but Mary is rich.
TRANSITIONS However. (g) Mary is rich; however, John is poor.
(h) John is poor; Mary is rich, however.
On the other hand. (i) Mary is rich. John, on the other hand, is
poor.
(j) John is poor. Mary, on the other hand, is
rich.
 EXPRESSING CONDITIONS USING OTHERWISE AND OR (ELSE)
ADVERB CLAUSE (a) If I don’t have breakfast, I get hungry. If and unless state conditions that produce
(b) You’ll be late if you don’t hurry. certain results.
(c) You’ll get wet unless you take your umbrella.
TRANSITION (d) I always have breakfast. Otherwise, I get Otherwise expresses the idea “if the opposite
hungry during class. is true, then there will be a certain result.”
(e) You’d better hurry. Otherwise, you’ll be late. In (d): otherwise = if I don’t eat breakfast.
(f) Take your umbrella. Otherwise, you’ll get wet.
CONJUNCTION (g) I always eat breakfast, or (else) I get hungry Or else and otherwise have the same
during class. meaning.
(h) You’d better hurry, or (else) you’ll be late.
(i) Take your umbrella, or (else) you’ll get wet.

Adrián Rodríguez Múnera