LINKING WORDS
CONTRAST-OPPOSITION
But/though
The employees are well payed but they work a lot.
The employees are well payed. They work a lot though.
In contrast (par contre)
It’s a good thing that they all came to the spectacle. In contrast, they made a lot of noise.
Although (bien que)
Although it’s getting late, I will stay a bit longer.
Even though (même si)
Even though I’m not allowed to go out, I shall still go out.
Despite/in spite of (bien que, malgré, en dépit de)
He climbed the mountain despite the weather was not good.
While (alors que)
Some of the walkers were eating while others were just admiring the view.
Whereas (alors que, tandis que)
Human beings are able to imagine whereas computers are not.
However (pourtant, cependant)
The man was a bit ill. However, he didn’t let himself get discouraged.
Nevertheless (toutefois)
This house is very expensive. Nevertheless, it is so beautiful that I can say it is worth the price (elle vaut le prix).
On the other hand (d’autre part)
He travelled a lot when he was young. On the other hand, he helped a lot of people.
Otherwise (sinon)
You should stay at home if the weather is too bad. Otherwise you might take too many risks.
REASONS
Because
I didn’t eat the meat meal because I’m a vegetarian.
As (comme)
As everybody had already left, we found ourselves alone.
Since (puisque)
Since we arrived late, we missed the beginning of the film.
Due to (en raison de)
The flight have been cancelled due to the bad weather.
Considering (étant donné)
Considering the situation, it’s too dangerous!
PURPOSE
In order to/in order not to/in order that
She called me in order to explain what had just happened at the office.
I left at once in order not to be late for the conference.
I changed my mind in order that everybody may/might be satisfied with the decision.
To
Eat to live or live to eat, that’s not the same thing!
So that (de manière à ce que)
He cut the grass so that the children might play football more easily.
SUMMARY
In other words (autrement dit)
The situation has worsened because of the food shortages. In other words, we urgently need help.
To put it simply/putting it simply (en résumé)
I think the accident is due to a lack of cautiousness. To put it simply, it is due to a human error.
To put it another way (autrement dit)
Progress is not always a good thing. To put it another way, progress is not everything.
In short /in brief (bref)
They had a party until very late and let everything on the carpet. In short, it’s a disaster!
On the whole (dans l’ensemble)
On the whole, things have improved.
Anyway (enfin, bon, …)
The town has been destroyed and people are in the streets. Anyway, we have to find a solution!
Clearly (en clair)
The result is clearly not satisfying.
All in all (en somme)
All in all, they did their duty (faire son devoir).
To sum up (en résumé)
To sum up, many changes are needed.
After all (après tout)
After all, we are just human beings.
In general
In general, people spend their holidays abroad.
CONSEQUENCE/RESULT
So/then (donc, alors)
We were too many, so some of us were not able to enter the discotheque.
If you have a pencil, use it then! Don’t us mine! (Sers-t’en donc !)
Thus (donc)
He passed his exam. He will thus go to university.
Accordingly (par conséquent)
We had difficulties to reach agreement. Accordingly, we were all the more satisfied with the decision.
Hence (d’où, par conséquent)
He is very nervous and hence a bit unpleasant to us.
Therefore (c’est pourquoi)
They were all very tired. Therefore, they went to bed at once.
Consequently/in consequence (par conséquent)
The relations have deteriorated. Consequently, it will have a devastating effect on the economy.
As a result/as a consequence (suite à, à la suite de)
It happened as a result of/as a consequence of a change in the mentalities.
So that (si bien que)
It was so hot today that everybody preferred to stay in the shade.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion/to conclude/as a conclusion/finally
In conclusion, we did everything we could to help them.
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Cathy