IELTS Band 9 Linking Words (Connectives)

IELTS Band 9 Linking Words (Connectives)

IELTS Band 9 Linking Words (Connectives) – To get a higher band in the IELTS Writing, you’ve to use appropriate linking words or connectives to meet the Coherence and Cohesion criterion of the IELTS exams. Let’s begin improving your CC by reading the following lessons in a focused way.

Conjunctions

A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF CONJUNCTIONS

A conjunction is a word that links words, phrases, or clauses. There are three types of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions. Coordinating conjunctions may join single words, or they may join groups of words, but they must always join similar elements: e.g. subject+subject, verb phrase+verb phrase, sentence+sentence.

When a coordinating conjunction is used to join elements, the element becomes a compound element.

Correlative conjunctions also connect sentence elements of the same kind: however, unlike coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs.

Subordinating conjunctions, the largest class of conjunctions, connect subordinate clauses to a main clause. These conjunctions are adverbs used as conjunctions.

The following tables show examples of the various types of conjunctions and some sample sentences using the conjunctions. Since coordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions are closed sets of words, all are included in the list. Subordinating conjunctions are a larger class of words; therefore, only a few of the more common ones are included in this list.

COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

F	A	N	B	O	Y	S
for	and	nor	but	or	yet	so

An easy way to remember these six conjunctions is to think of the word FANBOYS. Each of the letters in this somewhat unlikely word is the first letter of one of the coordinating conjunctions. Remember, when using a conjunction to join two sentences, use a comma before the conjunction.

Examples and Sentences – Coordinating Conjunctions

Conjunction	What Is Linked	Sample Sentences
and	noun phrase + noun phrase	We have tickets for the symphony and the opera.
but	Sentence + sentence	The orchestra rehearses on Tuesday, but the chorus rehearses on Wednesday.
or	Verb + verb	Have you seen or heard the opera by Scott Joplin?
so	Sentence + sentence	I wanted to sit in the front of the balcony, so I ordered my tickets early.

CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

both…and

not only…but also

either…or

neither…nor

whether…or

Remember, correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs. They join similar elements.  When joining singular and plural subjects, the subject closest to the verb determines whether the verb is singular or plural.

Examples and Sentences – Correlative Conjunctions

Conjunctions	What Is Linked	Sample Sentence
both…and	Subject + subject	Both my sister and my brother play the piano.
either…or	Noun + noun	Tonight’s program is either Mozart or Beethoven.
neither…nor	Subject + subject	Neither the orchestra nor the chorus was able to overcome the terrible acoustics in the church
not only…but also	Sentence + sentence	Not only does Sue raise money for the symphony, but she also ushers at all of their concerts.

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

Time	Cause + Effect	Opposition	Condition
after	because	although	if
before	since	though	unless
when	now that	even though	only if
while	as	whereas	whether or not
since	in order that	while	even if
until	so		in case (that)

Subordinating conjunctions, (subordinators) are most important in creating subordinating clauses or dependent clauses. These adverbs that act like conjunctions are placed at the front of the clause. The dependent clause can come either before or after the main clause. Subordinators are usually a single word, but there are also a number of multi-word subordinators that function like a single subordinating conjunction. They can be classified according to their use in regard to time, cause and effect, opposition, or condition. Remember, put a comma at the end of the dependent  phrase when it comes before the main clause.

Examples and Sentences – Subordinating Conjunctions

Conjunction	Sample Sentence
after	We are going out to eat after we go to the concert.
since	Since we have lived in Atlanta, we have gone to every exhibit at the High Museum.
while	While I was waiting in line for the Matisse Exhibit, I ate my lunch.
although	Although the line was long and the wait over two hours, the exhibit was well worth it
even if	Even if you have already bought your ticket, you will still need to wait in line.
because	I love Matisse’s works because he uses color so brilliantly.

Leading Expressions

How to Use Sentence Starter?

The most important tip to quickly improve your writing is to follow one rule:

Start every sentence in a paragraph with a different word. How? Here is my step-by-step guide:

Use the transition list as you write: Think about how the sentences in your paragraph relate to one another. Are you comparing and contrasting two ideas? Use “Showing Contrast” transition words below. Are you writing about steps in a process? Then use the “Adding to an Idea” transition words below. When writing about something that happened, use the “Sequence/Time” transitions I’ve provided.

Using the transition list while you are revising: Sometimes, it is easier not to worry about these words until your final draft stage, especially if you are a beginning writer. How do you do this? Use the following tips:

Go through your first draft and circle the first word in every sentence.

If you use the same word to start a sentence twice in a paragraph, then you need to choose another transition word and re-word the sentence.

Choosing the Right Word

How can you choose the right word for each sentence? What makes using transitions improve your writing is that it forces you to explain the connections between your ideas. Ask yourself:

What does the sentence before this one say?

How does this sentence relate to that one?

Scan the list for a transition that seems to fit best. You can also use these questions for help:

Does this sentence add information? Use: moreover, furthermore, additionally, not only…but also, or another addition transition.

Does the sentence contrast or contradict? Use: however, on the other hand, in contrast, yet, conversely, or another contrasting transition.

Are you writing something that happens in order? Use: next, then, in fact, similarly, or a time word like first, second, third, and finally.

Does this sentence add evidence? Use: for example, consequently, for this reason, or another adding transition.

Does the sentence emphasize an idea? Use: obviously, especially, as a rule, particularly, or another emphasizing transition.

Does the sentence start your conclusion: Use: finally, in conclusion, in sum, obviously, or another concluding transition.

Tips to Remember

• Use a variety of transition words, not the same one.
• Put a comma after the transition word.
• Put the subject of the sentence after the comma.

Transition Word List

Words to Show Contrast	Words to Add to an Idea	Words That Show Cause	Words That Add Emphasis
however	additionally	accordingly	admittedly
although	moreover	as a result	above all
conversely	furthermore	because	as a rule
in contrast	as well as	consequently	as usual
instead	another reason	due to	assuredly
in comparison	along with	for this reason	certainly
nevertheless	also	for this purpose	chiefly
whereas	coupled with	hence	especially
yet	correspondingly	otherwise	granted
on the one hand…on the other hand	for example	since	generally speaking
on the contrary	in addition	so then	for the most part
other than	indeed	subsequently	in this situation
outside of	in fact	therefore	no doubt (undoubtedly)
rather	identically	thereupon	obviously
still	likewise	this is why	of course
besides	again	thus	ordinarily
comparatively	similarly	wherefore	particularly
different from	whereas	following this	singularly
even though	likewise	as you can see	unquestionably
otherwise	one other thing	for all of those reasons	usually

2. Use a Variety of Words When Citing Examples

especially	for one thing	in particular (particularly)	specifically
chiefly	as an illustration	markedly	this can be seen in
for/as an example	illustrated with/by	namely	such as
for instance	in this case	including	in fact

Easy Ways to Improve Your Essay

3. Use Different Words to Order Events and Sequence Time

first… second… third…	currently	with this in mind	in turn
generally… furthermore… finally	during	for now	later on
in the first place… also… lastly	earlier	immediately	meanwhile
to be sure… additionally… lastly	eventually	in the meantime	next
first… just in the same way… finally	finally	for the time being	then
basically… similarly… as well as	first of all	the next step	simultaneously
afterward	to begin with	in conclusion	soon
at first	in the first place	in time	while

4. Use Interesting Words When Summarizing

after all	in any event	in other words	on balance
all in all	in brief	in short	that is (that is to say)
all things considered	in conclusion	in brief	therefore
briefly	in essence	in summary	to put it differently
by and large	indeed	in the final analysis	to sum up
hence	on the whole	in the long run	to summarize
in any case	overall	namely	finally
lastly	once and for all	conclusively	at the end

Examples of Using Transition Words

Example 1

Without transition words:

Cell phones have changed our family communication for the worse. Parents complain about their teenagers spending too much time on their phones. Teenagers are annoyed that they can’t get the attention of their parents, who are always working or shopping on their phones. We need to make some changes.

Adding transition words:

Generally speaking, cell phones have changed our family communication for the worse. Obviously, parents complain about their teenagers spending too much time on their phones. Moreover, teenagers are annoyed that they can’t get the attention of their parents, who are always working or shopping on their phones. Unquestionably, we need to make some changes.

Example 2

Without transition words

Eekra went to the store to get some groceries. She ran into her roommate Joy in the produce section. They argued about whether they were out of blueberries and what they should buy for dinner. Joy insisted that she was better at choosing ripe avocados. Eekra retorted that Joy didn’t know how to make guacamole correctly and that she was tired of Mexican food every night. They bickered for five minutes. Joy’s phone rang. It was their friend Mark inviting them over to his house for dinner. Listening, Eekra smiled and nodded. Joy laughed and told him, “We are on our way!”

With transition words

After work, Eekra went to the store to get some groceries. In the produce section, she ran into her roommate Joy. First of all, they argued about whether they were out of blueberries, and secondly what they should buy for dinner. Next, Joy insisted that she was better at choosing ripe avocados. Simultaneously, Eekra retorted that Joy didn’t know how to make guacamole correctly and that she was tired of Mexican food every night. Subsequently, they bickered for five minutes. Finally, Joy’s phone rang. Luckily, it was their friend Mark inviting them over to his house for dinner. Listening, Eekra smiled and nodded. Consequently, Joy laughed and told him, “We are on our way!”

Definitive Pronouns

That vs. Which ‘That’ is used as part of a clause that is restrictive, meaning that the clause is essential to the sentence and without it the meaning of the rest of the sentence would be different. ‘Which’ is used as part of a clause that may add extra information or a shade of meaning, but is not required in the same way.

IELTS Band 9 Linking Words (Connectives)

IELTS Band 9 Linking Words (Connectives)