CONNECTORS: USAGE AND MEANING

Types of Connectors

Connectors show the relationship between the ideas in two clauses. There are 3 kinds of connectors that we use to join clauses in sentences. They are coordinators, subordinators, and transitions.

Coordinators are used to join two independent clauses. The coordinators are and, for, so, but, yet, or and nor. Usually a comma is put before the coordinator.

Examples:

The office is closed for the next two days, but you can still phone to leave a message.

I forgot my computer disc, so I will have to hand in my assignment late.

Subordinators join a dependent clause to an independent clause. Examples of subordinators are before, when, if, because and although. They are used before the dependent clause. They can be used in two positions:

1) The subordinator and dependent clause can come before the independent clause with a comma.

When the bell rang, the students ran to the sky-train station.

2) The subordinator and dependent clause can come after the independent clause with no comma.

The students ran to the sky-train station when the bell rang

Transitions are used between two independent clauses. Examples of transitions are however, besides, nevertheless and furthermore. After the first clause, use a semi-colon, then the transition, then a comma, and then the second clause. 

Examples:

The students laughed; however, the instructor was not trying to be funny.

May U. Phail decided to take classes during the summer. She wanted to enjoy the city in summer; besides, she didn’t have enough money to go

Meanings for Connectors

Connectors express many different relationships between ideas. This section describes different purposes for connectors. It also lists words that show each relationship and gives examples of some of those words in use. These are the purposes for the various connectors:

♦ To Add Another Idea

♦ To Restate, Explain or Emphasize an Idea

♦ To Give an Example

♦ To Show a Choice

♦ To Show a Difference

♦ To Show the Opposite of What You Might Expect

♦ To Show a Similarity

♦ To Show a Cause or Reason

♦ To Show a Result or Effect

♦ To Show a Time Relationship

♦ To Show a Condition