connectors

CONNECTORS

REASON, RESULT, CONTRAST, PURPOSE

REASON:

My flight was delayed because the weather was bad.

RESULT:

The weather was bad so my flight was delayed

CONTRAST:

The car is old but it is still reliable

PURPOSE:

Stuart phoned me to invite me to his birthday party

REASON because / since / as + clause

My flight was delayed because/as/since the weather was bad

As if often used at the beginning: As the weather was bad, my flight was delayed

Since is more formal

because of /due to /owing to + nounMy flight was delayed because of/due to/owing to the bad weather

Due to and owing to are more formal

RESULT so

The weather was bad so my flight was delayed

Consequently, / As a result, / Therefore,

The weather was bad. Consequently,/As a result,/Therefore, my flight was delayed

RESULTso + adjective/adverb + that

The storm was so terrible that the roofs were ripped off.

such + (a) + adjective + nounIt was such a boring film that I fell asleep

They were such working people that they soon got promoted

CONTRAST but

He was ill but he went to work

YetHe was ill, yet he went to work

Yet is more formal/literary

However, / Nevertheless,He was ill. However,/Nevertheless, he went to work.

Nevertheless is more formal

CONTRAST Although + clause

Although he was ill, he went to workEven though (more formal) & Though (more informal) are other options for although

Despite / In spite of + ing Despite being ill, he went to work

+ nounDespite his illness, he went to work

+ the fact that + clause

Despite the fact that he was ill, he went to work

PURPOSE to / in order (not) to / so as (not) to +

infinitiveHe went to London to/in order to/so as to learn English.

He came in the room very quietly so as not to/in order not to wake me up.

so (that) + clauseHe came in the room very quietly so (that) he didn’t wake me up.