Linking words

1. Clauses of contrast

 Although, even though, thought

After although and even though, we use a subject and a verb. Even though is slightly
stronger than although.

e. g. I enjoyed the course, although I would have liked more grammar practice.
Although we saw each other every day, we didn't really know each other.
Even though she spoke very quietly, he understood every word.
She didn't get the job, even though she had all the necessary qualifications.

Though can be used in the same way as although. Though can also go at the end of the
second phrase. This way of expressing contrasting ideas is most common in spoken
English.

e. g. We waited ages for our food. The waiter was really nice, though.

 in spite of / despite

After in spite of or despite we use a noun, gerund (-ing form of a verb) or a pronoun.

E.g. They never made much money, in spite of(despite) their success.
In spite of/Despite the pain in his leg, he completed the marathon.
Despite/in spite of having a headache, I had a great birthday.

 While/whereas

e.g. John is an intelligent guy, whereas/while Bob is hilarious.

While Angie enjoys horse-riding, Bill likes swimming.

Please note that whereas means the same as while in showing contrasts, but it does
not mean the same when it comes to referring to time:
e.g.Julian made some remarks about my project while I was away from the
office (it is not possible to use whereas in this case).
  However, nevertheless, yet
We use however and nevertheless to express more formal differences.
We usually put the two pieces of information in separate sentences and put however,
nevertheless (+comma) to introduce the second sentence.

e.g. I can understand everything you say about wanting to share a flat with
Martha. However, I am totally against it.

Rufus had been living in the village of Edmonton for over a decade. Nevertheless,
the villagers still considered him to be an outsider.

Less formal equivalents of however and nevertheless would be yet

e.g. He has over a million pounds in his bank account. Yet he still gets up at six
every morning to go to work.

2. Not only…but also – we use this phrase to give more

information.
Use it in the middle and end of the sentence:

e.g. He is not only arrogant but also selfish.

Tom is not only rich but also famous.

Use it at the beginning of the sentence:

When we do this, the subject and the verb are inverted.

e.g. Not only does he speak English but he also speaks French.
Not only does she speak Spanish but she also knows how to type.
Not only you but also I am planning to go.

3. Clauses of result

 As a result/Therefore/Consequently/So are used in the following

ways:

e.g Our boss went down with the flu, as a result/therefore/consequently the
meeting was called off.
 Our boss went down with the flu. As a result/therefore/consequently, the meeting
was called off.

 So is probably the most common linking word of result

e.g.It was cold, so I decided to put on my winter coat.

4. Clauses of purpose
 To is followed by an infinitive:

e.g She wanted to talk to Steve to clarify any ambiguities.

I went there to find out what had happened with my car.

 In order to/so as to are close in meaning to to, but they are more
formal:
e.g She took part in a few reputed conferences in order to broaden her
knowledge of environmental issues.
David did not make any remarks so as not to offend anyone.

 So that can be followed by can/will (in sentences that refer to the present
or future), or could/ would (in sentences that refer to the past)

e.g. Eric has bought a travel card so that he can commute without any problems.

He bought a travel card so that he could commute without any problems.

 In case + present tense is used in sentences that express the present or

future, whereas in case+past tense is used in sentences that express the
past
e.g. Take an umbrella in case it rains.
He took an umbrella in case it rained.

Please note that ‘in case’ is never followed by will or would.

Exercises
Ex 1 Choose the correct alternative
We decided to buy the house, _____ we didn't really have enough money.
despite
in spite of
even though
_____ my careful planning, we ended up staying in a really bad hotel.
Despite
Although
Even though
My partner snores really loudly but _____ that I sleep well.
even though
in spite of
although
You keep making that stupid noise _____ I've asked you to stop three times.
despite
in spite of
even though
I won the race _____ coming last in the practice run.
although
in spite of
even though
Even _____ you told me ten times, I still forgot.
despite
though
although
I handed my report in on time _____ the fact that I had been ill all day.
despite
even though
although
_____ she's arriving late, she still wants to eat when she gets here.
Despite
In spite of
Although
Ex 2 Choose the correct alternative.
1. Inspite of/Although having plenty of money, they are very mean.
2. Bill enjoys reading fantasy books, whereas/despite Sheila loves detective stories.
3. Henry lost the last match, yet/while he did not give up.
 4. Iwouldn’t recommend this idea, however/despite, some people may find it
appealing.
5. Peter did not see any point in filing a complaint although/in spite of his wife
wanted him to do so.

Ex. 3 Transform the sentences using the word in bold.

1. Although they were good classmates, they argued a lot.
In spite of
…..................................................................................................................
2. Even though he met the deadline, his work did not meet his bosses’ requirements.
Despite
….......................................................................................................................
3. Stephen wished Eric well, whereas Betty was jealous of his success.
.................................................... but
Ex. 4 Choose the correct answer

1. My sister is black despite/whereas I´m blonde

2. Despite/Yet going on a diet, she put on five kilos
3. Even though/Despite we are good friends, we don´t meet very often
4. My mother is French even though/whereas my father is Polish
5. I invited Tom. Although/ However, he didn´t come

Ex. 5 Rephrase the sentences using the words in brackets

1. In spite of travelling the world, he is narrow-minded (although)
2. He is a sailor but he can´t swim (despite)
3. He is a sailor but he can´t swim (although)
4. He did his best. He came last. (Yet)
5. The traffic was terrible. However, we arrived on time. (although)
6. Despite the age of the house, he managed to sell it. (although)
7. Although he has an English name, he is in fact German. (in spite of)

Ex. 6 Combine the following sentences using not only…but also….

1. There are problems with the children. There are problems with their parents.

2. He can make people laugh. He can make people cry.

3. She writes plays for television. She acts in movies.

4. I sent him many letters. I also tried to telephone him.

5. We visit our grandfather’s house in summer. We visit our grandfather’s house in winter.

6. She can dance. She can sing.

7. They need food. They need medicine.

8. He has been late four times. He hasn’t done any work.

9. She was upset. She was angry.

10. In winter the days are short. They are also cold and dark.

Ex. 7 Rewrite the following sentences. Replace “so” with as a result, therefore, consequently

1. There was a terrorist attack last year, so you can’t bring a knife or a lighter on the plane.

________________________________________________________________

2. I dropped my cell phone, and it stopped working, so I need to either buy a new phone or

borrow yours.

________________________________________________________________

3. The pitcher threw the ball at the batter’s head, so he was thrown out of the game.

________________________________________________________________

4. The weather is nice in the summer, but it rains almost every day, so spring is my favorite

season.

Ex. 8 Choose the correct answer

1. __________ the plot of the film was poor, I really loved the music.

A. ? In spite of

B. ? So that

C. ? Despite

D. ? Although

2. I'm taking conversation classes __________ I can speak more fluently with my English
boyfriend.

A. ? in spite of

B. ? despite

C. ? so as to

D. ? so that

3. He played the final match __________ his knee was hurting.

A. ? despite

B. ? so that

C. ? even though

D. ? so as to

4. __________ being able to swim very well, I managed to reach the shore.

A. ? In order not to

B. ? In spite of not

C. ? So as not to
 D. ? To not

5. The company created new procedures __________ improve customer service.

A. ? in order to

B. ? even though

C. ? so that

D. ? in spite of

6. I didn't tell her that I had seen her boyfriend with another girl __________ hurt her.

A. ? not to

B. ? so as not to

C. ? so as to not

D. ? for not

7. She went to the supermarket __________ some things she didn't have.

A. ? to

B. ? so that

C. ? although

D. ? for

8. I found the fantasy game very difficult _________ considering myself a very imaginative
person.

A. ? so as to
 B. ? in spite

C. ? even though

D. ? despite

9. He bought a very expensive home cinema _________ improve the quality of the TV.

A. ? even though

B. ? so as to

C. ? so that

D. ? for

10. My grandparents are very active _________ the fact that they are 80 years old.

A. ? so as to

B. ? for

C. ? although

D. ? in spite of