English Connectors & Linking Words

Level: B1. Connectors (also called linking words) are the signposts of a sentence: they tell the reader whether you are adding an idea, contrasting it, giving a reason, or showing a result. This page groups the everyday English connectors by job, with the grammar each one needs and a short example you can copy.

By the end of this page you can…

…choose the right connector for addition, contrast, cause, result and sequence, punctuate ‘however’ and ‘therefore’ correctly, and avoid the classic ‘although … but …’ double mistake.

How this list was chosen

The connectors here are drawn from the English frequency list (hermitdave/FrequencyWords), which ranks words by how often they appear in a large collection of everyday subtitles, plus the linking adverbs a B1 writer needs for clear paragraphs. The Rank column is the word’s real position in the frequency list — a lower number means more common. Multi-word connectors such as as a result have no single rank.

Adding an idea

Rank	Connector	Meaning	Example
8	and	joins two equal ideas	I bought bread and milk.
301	also	in addition (mid-sentence)	She also speaks French.
1013	besides	in addition; anyway	Besides, it is too late to leave.
9193	moreover	furthermore, more formally	The plan is cheap. Moreover, it is fast.
—	in addition	as well	In addition, the room has wifi.

Showing a contrast

Rank	Connector	Meaning	Example
36	but	joins two opposite ideas	It is small but comfortable.
306	yet	but, despite that	It is simple yet clever.
463	though	although (often informal, can end a sentence)	It was hard. I enjoyed it, though.
1282	however	but (starts a new sentence)	It rained. However, we went out.
1402	although	in spite of the fact that	Although it rained, we went out.
6678	whereas	while, by contrast	He likes tea, whereas she likes coffee.
6875	nevertheless	in spite of that	It was risky. Nevertheless, they tried.

Giving a reason

Rank	Connector	Meaning	Example
68	as	because (reason)	As it was late, we took a taxi.
120	because	for the reason that	We stayed in because it was raining.
312	since	because (known reason)	Since you are here, let us start.
—	because of	due to (+ noun)	The match stopped because of the rain.
—	due to	caused by (+ noun)	The delay was due to heavy traffic.

Showing a result

Rank	Connector	Meaning	Example
38	so	and for that reason	It was late, so we left.
2349	therefore	for that reason (formal)	The data is clear. Therefore, we agree.
—	as a result	because of this	Prices rose. As a result, sales fell.
—	that is why	this is the reason	He trained hard. That is why he won.

Ordering and time

Rank	Connector	Meaning	Example
78	when	at the time that	Call me when you arrive.
91	then	after that, next	We ate, then we walked home.
141	first	before anything else	First, open the box.
157	before	earlier than	Wash your hands before you eat.
162	after	later than	After the film, we had dinner.
311	while	during the time that	She read while I cooked.
622	finally	last of all	Finally, add the salt.
3610	meanwhile	at the same time	I cooked. Meanwhile, he set the table.

Condition and alternative

Rank	Connector	Meaning	Example
48	if	on condition that	If it rains, we stay in.
779	instead	in place of that	We did not drive; we walked instead.
786	unless	if not; except if	We will go unless it rains.
1182	otherwise	if not, the result is	Hurry, otherwise we will be late.

Example sentences

Play each line, then say it aloud. Watch the punctuation around each connector.

I bought bread and cheese for lunch.

'And' joins two equal nouns.
She also plays the guitar.

'Also' adds, sitting before the main verb.
The flat is small but very bright.

'But' joins two opposite adjectives.
Although it rained all day, we enjoyed the trip.

'Although' opens a contrast clause; no 'but' needed.
It rained all day. However, we enjoyed the trip.

'However' starts a new sentence, comma after it.
He likes the city, whereas his wife prefers the countryside.

'Whereas' sets two facts against each other.
We stayed in because it was raining.

'Because' + a full clause (it was raining).
The match stopped because of the rain.

'Because of' + a noun (the rain).
The train was late, so I missed the meeting.

'So' introduces the result.
The evidence is clear. Therefore, the plan should change.

'Therefore' = for that reason, more formal.
First we booked the hotel, then we bought the tickets.

'First' and 'then' order the steps.
She read a book while I cooked dinner.

'While' = during the same time.
Finally, we added the salt and served the soup.

'Finally' marks the last step.
I cooked the rice. Meanwhile, he laid the table.

'Meanwhile' = at the same time, new sentence.
If you finish early, call me.

'If' sets a condition.
Leave now, otherwise you will miss the bus.

'Otherwise' = if you do not, this will happen.
We will go unless it rains.

'Unless' = except if; it means if it does not rain.
We did not take the car; we walked instead.

'Instead' replaces one option with another.

Recap cheat-sheet

A few patterns to remember before the quiz.

Cheat sheet: English connectors for adding, contrasting, reason and result

Quick recap before the quiz.

Job	Connectors
add	and, also, besides, moreover
contrast	but, however, although, whereas
reason	because, since, as, due to
result	so, therefore, as a result

Practice

Connectors practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Match each connector to its job.

because Match for because
so Match for so
however Match for however
also Match for also

Show answer

because → reason
so → result
however → contrast
also → addition

Knowing the job of each connector helps you pick the right one.

2 Reason + a clause: We cancelled the picnic ____ it was raining.

Hint: + a full clause

Show answer

because — 'Because' is followed by a clause; 'because of' would need a noun.

3 Result: The shop was closed, ____ we went home.

Hint: and for that reason

Show answer

so — 'So' introduces the result of the first clause.

4 Which sentence is correct? Although it was late, but we stayed. Although it was late, we stayed. Although it was late so we stayed. But although it was late, we stayed.

Show answer

Although it was late, we stayed. — Use 'although' OR 'but', never both in one sentence.

5 Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. It was cold, however we swam. It was cold however, we swam. It was cold. However, we swam. It was cold however we swam.

Show answer

It was cold. However, we swam. — 'However' starts a new sentence and takes a comma after it.

6 Put the words in order.

Show answer

the match stopped because of the rain — 'Because of' + a noun phrase: because of the rain.

Quiz

Previous set: Everyday English Adverbs
Next set: English Question Words & Phrases
Grammar that uses connectors: Present simple (affirmative)
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English Connectors & Linking Words

By the end of this page you can…

How this list was chosen

Adding an idea

Showing a contrast

Giving a reason

Showing a result

Ordering and time

Condition and alternative

Example sentences

Recap cheat-sheet

Practice

Connectors practice

Quiz

Connectors quiz

Next

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Vocabulary