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Grammar - Everyday Grammar - Make Your Writing Smoother with
Transitions |
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| Make Your Writing Smoother with Transitions |
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 Make
Your Writing Smoother with Transitions
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
grammar topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information. |
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this grammar
topic. Then read the following written information. |
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Make Your Writing Smoother with
Transitions |
For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar.
Today we are going to talk about important transition
words in English. We will focus on how to use transition
words to link ideas together. Some common transition
words are and, furthermore, in addition to, not to
mention, and in the same way.
Transition words are especially important in writing.
They help you give more information with fewer words.
When used skillfully, transition words can make your
writing clearer and more concise.
Adding information
Here’s an example. Listen to these three short
sentences:
Twenty minutes passed. We were standing. We were at the bus
stop.
As separate sentences, they could be related or
unrelated ideas. Let’s combine them into one sentence
using the transition word and and the adverb still.
Twenty minutes passed, and we were still standing at the bus
stop.
Notice how and clarifies the relationship among the
three ideas. It shows that these three ideas belong
together.
And belongs to a group of transition words called
coordinators.
Coordinators combine ideas of equal value, or weight.
Here are some more examples.
Cellular phones help us stay connected and allow us to find
information easily.
The politician said he would raise taxes, and he promised to
reveal the details of his plan.
In addition, moreover,
furthermore
In addition, moreover, and furthermore are good
alternatives to and. Here are some examples.
My new phone runs apps quickly; in addition, it takes great
pictures.
Our new teacher is highly qualified. Moreover, she is
friendly and down-to-earth.
The restaurant had slow service; furthermore, it was very
expensive.
In fact
Sometimes you want to add and emphasize information. In
fact is a good coordinator for stressing a detail. For
example:
Children perform better in positive environments; in fact,
most people react similarly.
Notice that the first sentence is about children, while
the second is about people in general. In fact helps the
writer move from specific to general information. You
can also use in fact to move from general to specific
information, as in this example.
Schools are moving toward project-based learning; in fact, my
son’s school just
adopted a new project-based program.
In this second example, the writer begins talking about
schools in general and then gives an example. You can
use as a matter of fact and indeed in the same way.
Using the semicolon (;)
Did you notice the punctuation mark that looks like a
mix between a colon and a comma? This is called the
semicolon. You have the option of using a semicolon when
you have two complete sentences that are closely
related. Semicolons often confuse native speakers. They
are not required; you can also just use a period.
In addition to
In addition and in addition to are used to add
information. But they have different sentence
structures. In addition to is a subordinator.
Subordinators show that one idea is more important than
another. For example:
Cellular phones help us stay connected in addition to
allowing us to find
information easily.
In this example, the main clause of the sentence --
“Cellular phones help us stay connected” -- is more
important than the subordinate clause of the sentence,
“in addition to allowing us to find information easily.”
The subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.
In addition to can be followed by a gerund or a noun
phrase. Here are two more examples:
In addition to providing medicine and food, volunteers handed
out clothes.
A gerund is when the “-ing” form of a verb acts like a
noun. The gerund phrase in this sentence is providing
medicine and food.
In addition to medicine and food, volunteers handed out
clothes.
In this sentence, the noun phrase is medicine and food.
In the same way, not to mention
Other useful subordinators include in the same way and
not to mention. Both have a similar meaning to also.
They introduce subordinate clauses. For example:
Egyptian youth demonstrated against their government in the
same way that young
people in Brazil have demonstrated.
For a more conversational tone, you can use not to
mention to add information. For example:
Congress did not get any bills passed today, not to mention
that many
representatives did not even show up.
Proceed with caution
This is only an introduction to transition words and
phrases. We will cover more of these in a future episode
of Everyday Grammar.
Transition words can be a great way to express ideas in
a concise and sophisticated way, especially in writing.
Next time you read a news article or a textbook in
English, look for some of these transition words and
think about how they are used.
English learners sometimes force too many transition
words into their writing. Start off slowly with simple
transition words that you really understand. Not every
paragraph requires a transition. With years of practice,
you will start to use them in a more natural way.
I’m John Russell. I’m Jill Robbins. And I'm Adam Brock. |
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Words in This Story |
-
coordinator – n.
a part of speech that connects words, sentences,
phrases, or clauses
-
subordinator – n.
a word that introduces a subordinate clause, a group
of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence
- semicolon
– n. a punctuation mark
(;) indicating a pause, typically between two main
clauses, that is more pronounced than that indicated
by a comma
- gerund
– n. the –ing form of a
verb that functions like a noun
-
sophisticated – adj.
having or showing a lot of experience and knowledge
about the world and about culture, art, literature,
etc.
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Additional Information |
Now it's your turn. Write a sentence with one of the
transition words in the
Facebook comments section below. |
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Source: Voice of America |
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Grammar Tips |
Can You Catch These Native Speaker Mistakes?
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of common mistakes. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
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The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
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