Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
Cohesion means that your sentences are clearly connected, so the reader can follow your ideas easily. Two simple tools help you do this:
| Meaning | Inside one sentence | At the start of a new sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Adding | and, as well as | Also, In addition, Moreover, |
| Contrast | but, although, while, despite + noun | However, On the other hand, |
| Reason | because + clause, because of + noun | This is because… |
| Result | so | As a result, Therefore, |
| Example | such as + noun | For example, For instance, |
| Sequence | before, after, when | First, Then, After that, Finally, |
Match each linking word with its meaning.
Is shopping in real shops better than shopping online?
Many people now buy almost everything online. However, I believe that shopping in real shops still has important advantages. First, you can see and touch products before you pay for them. For example, when I buy shoes, I always try them on because sizes are not the same in every brand. In addition, shopping in a town centre is a social activity. Friends can meet, have a coffee and look around the shops together. This is something a website cannot offer. Of course, online shopping is fast and often cheaper, so it is useful for busy people. Although I sometimes order books online, I prefer local shops for most things. As a result, I also help small businesses in my area. Overall, I think both types of shopping have a place, but real shops give us an experience that we should not lose.
Notice that not every sentence starts with a linking word. Several sentences connect through reference words or simply follow logically from the one before.
Complete the paragraph with linking words from the box. There are two extra words.
Some people prefer to live in a big city, while others prefer to live in the countryside. Which do you prefer, and why?
Write a paragraph of at least 120 words. Use at least five different linking words from this lesson and at least two reference words (it, they, this, these).
Write at least 120 words · about 15 minutes
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“Linking words and pronouns improve the cohesion of your writing.”
“Try to use a range of linking words in your essay.”
“‘However’ shows a contrast with the previous sentence.”
“One consequence of the new road was more traffic.”
“The flat is cheap. In addition, it is close to the station.”
“The tickets sold out quickly. Therefore, we watched the match at home.”
“Despite the rain, the concert went ahead.”
“In this sentence, ‘they’ refers to the students.”
“Use pronouns to avoid repetition.”
“Buses are not very frequent in my village.”
“The countryside is more peaceful than the city.”
