Connector Review
Conjunctions, adverbs and transition words
Connector Chart
| COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS | CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS | SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS | LINKING ADVERBS / TRANSITION WORDS |
|---|---|---|---|
These join two words, phrases or independent clause. They mostly occur mid-sentence with a comma placed before the conjunction. They may also occur at the beginning of a sentence – note. |
These join equivalent sentence elements such as one noun phrase with another noun phrase. These occur as paired words. (Also see Focusing Adverbs.) |
These join a dependent clause to an independent clause. They occur at the beginning of sentences with a comma separating the clause mid-sentence or they occur mid-sentence with no comma. |
These join two independent clauses or sentences. They can be used at the beginning of a sentence or mid- sentence (with punctuation). They transition the reader from the thought of one sentence to the thought in the next. |
He talked and listened. (same subject) He talked, and I listened (different subjects) She was tired, so we left. |
Both his project and hers ended. Neither he nor she knows how to ski. You car uses more gas than this one. This computer is as fast as that one. |
Though it rained, we went. We went though it rained. Besides being cold, we were hungry. We were hungry besides being cold. |
We wanted to go. However, it rained. We wanted to go; however, it rained. We wanted to go; it rained, however. In addition, it was windy and cold. |
ADDITION |
ADDITION both...and, not only ...also, not only ... but also, and...too, and so |
ADDITION |
ADDITION / ORDERING in addition, furthermore, moreover, additionally, besides, firstly, secondly, next, finally |
ALTERNATIVE |
ALTERNATIVE |
ALTERNATIVE |
ALTERNATIVE |
CAUSE-EFFECT |
CAUSE-EFFECT |
CAUSE-EFFECT (reason) because, since, now that, as, in order, as long as, inasmuch, because of, due to, owing to, so that, in order that, if only because |
CAUSE-EFFECT therefore, consequently, as a consequence, as a result, thus, hence, accordingly |
COMPARISON
|
COMPARISON |
COMPARISON as (like), as if, as though |
COMPARISON |
CONDITION |
CONDITION |
CONDITION if, only if, unless, even if, whether, whether or not, provided (that), in case, in the event (that) |
CONDITION otherwise, in the event (that), anyway, anyhow |
CONTRAST |
CONTRAST |
CONTRAST (contrary outcome) although, even though, though, while, whereas, despite, in spite of, regardless of |
CONTRAST nevertheless, nonetheless, however, on the one hand, on the other hand, in contrast to, in contrast, on the contrary |
EMPHASIS
|
EMPHASIS
|
EMPHASIS
|
EMPHASIS |
PLACE
|
PLACE
|
PLACE |
PLACE
|
TIME |
TIME
|
TIME after, before, when, while, since, as, until, as soon as, by the time, once |
TIME first, second, next, then, finally, previously, now, presently, next, still, meanwhile, subsequently, afterward |
Note: For some writers, a coordinating conjunction (and, but, so, etc.) is only used between two independent clauses (separated by a comma.) That is, a conjunction is not used at the beginning of a sentence. However, grammarians do not support this notion. Conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence (comments by Fowler, Merriam-Webster and other grammarians.)
Also see Adverb Uses (an overview of adverbs and adverbials)
Practice 1
A Day on the Bay
Which connector can logically complete the sentence?
- Choose the answer that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer on the right by clicking the "check" button.

Practice 2
"The Spirit of the Sea" (Advanced)
Edit these sentences that belong to a paragraph. Add connectors.
- Write your corrections for the sentence in the text area.
- Then compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.
Text View — "The Spirit of the Sea"
Six "vaka moana" canoes arrived in San Francisco this morning after sailing across the Pacific from New Zealand to the Hawaiian Islands and to mainland U.S. In spite of the 15,00 mile ocean journey, the canoes arrived safely.
They are participating in the voyage "Te Mana o Te Moana" which translates to "The Spirit of the Sea".This voyage was made because they wanted to raise awareness about the state of the ocean and to share the wisdom of the Polynesian ancestors who loved and respected the sea. "We are all in one canoe," they said.
The canoes, each about 70 feet long, carry a crew of 16 sailors from not only Tonga but also the Cook Islands, Kiribati and Vanuatu. More than 150 crew members are participating in the voyage, which began in April in Auckland, New Zealand.
Though the canoes were built as the traditional vaka moana canoes used by the Pacific Islander ancestors, these have some modern changes. While the hulls (canoe bottoms) used to be made of wood, these are made of fiberglass. Moreover, they have solar panels to power equipment onboard.
Whereas the ancient Polynesians navigated by the stars, these modern sailors have Internet, Facebook and Twitter as well. They even have a website on which you can track their progress. www.pacificvoyagers.org
The six-canoe flotilla came in through the Golden Gate a week ago and were surprised because of the stiff winds and fog in the bay. Fortunately, the fog lifted and the winds calmed down so that the sailors could hold an open house and give rides to visitors.
"The Pacific is our home, our breath, our future. We can only survive if we come together as cultures, as crew-mates, to preserve the health of our ocean planet – Our Blue Canoe."
The flotilla will continue to Monterey, Los Angeles, and San Diego. In January of 2012, the journey will continue to the Galapagos Islands, Marquesas and Tahiti.
— SFGate news story 8 Aug 2011
