A connector is a word or phrase that joins ideas in a logical manner; these ideas can be

within the same sentence, or in different sentences or paragraphs.

TERMS
• clause
a group of words, consisting of a subject and a verb. *

• sentence
a group of words, usually containing a verb, that expresses a thought in the form of
a statement or question and starts with a capital letter. *

• paragraph
a short part of a text, consisting of at least one sentence and beginning on a new line. *

• connector
a word or phrase the joins ideas in a logical manner.

• prefix
letters at the beginning of a word that change its meaning.

• suffix
letters at the ending of a word that change its meaning.

(*) Definitions from the Cambridge Dictionary online: http://dictionary.cambridge.org

Read this excerpt from the Herald newspaper:

Children disproportionately affected by poverty in

Argentina Friday, July 7, 2017

According to INDEC’s estimates, a family

needed 13,155.83 pesos per month in order
to be above the poverty line in December,
2016. While in order to be above the
extreme poverty line, a family income had
to be earning above 5,458.6 pesos per
month.
UNICEF has concluded previously that the poverty rate was able to be cut in
half for children of workers who are in an “irregular working situation” thanks
to the Universal Child Allowance (AUH) that was implemented under the
Fernández de Kirchner’s administration. However, there has been
practically no change observed in households where the main breadwinner
has a job that is registered.
Source: The BA Herald.
Full article: http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/226204/children-disproportionately--affected-by-poverty-
in-argentina
Connectors
Connectors are words or phrases that connect ideas between clauses or between
sentences; they also connect ideas between paragraphs.

• According to INDEC’s estimates, a family needed 13,155.83 pesos per month.

(Según el INDEC…)

• While in order to be above the extreme poverty line, a family income had to be
above 5,458.6 pesos per month. (Mientras que, para estar sobre la línea de
pobreza….)

• The poverty rate was cut in half thanks to the Universal Child Allowance.
However, there has been no change in households where workers have a
registered job. (Sin embargo, no han habido cambios…)

These connections between ideas can be inside a sentence:

• I like coffee; I also like mate. (ALSO connects “I like coffee” + “like mate”.)

Or the ideas can be in separated sentences:

• I like coffee and mate. But I don’t like tea. (BUT connects the two sentences.)

Different connectors join ideas in different ways:

Meaning Connectors Meaning Connectors

Addition And, moreover, in Contrast but, however, yet, on the other
addition, also, hand, in contrast,
furthermore unlike, though, although, even
though, while
Meaning Connectors Meaning Connectors
Emphasis in fact Examples for instance
indeed for example
as a matter of fact to illustrate
actually
Meaning Connectors Meaning Connectors
Explanation that is List first (firstly, first of all, to begin
namely with, in the first place)
in other words secondly (second, in the second
that is to say place)
thirdly (third, in the third
place)
finally, lastly
 Meaning Connectors Meaning Connectors
Reformulation in other words Result so, therefore, thus,
to put it in a different consequently, as a result
way,
put differently
Similarity similarly, likewise, in the Summation in summary
same way Conclusion in brief / short
in conclusion
to sum up
Time at first Unexpected however, nevertheless, still
afterwards result
later
then
in the meantime
meanwhile

Some examples of connectors:

Meaning Example Spanish

Addition Ryan plays football. Moreover/ Besides/ Ryan juega al futbol. Además, dirige un
Also, he runs a restaurant. restaurante.

Contrast Ali worked hard. On the other hand/In Ali trabajaba duro. Por otro lado/En
contrast/ However, Josh hardly did any contraste/Sin embargo, Josh casi nunca
work at all. trabajaba.

Emphasis He is quite wealthy. In fact, he is one of the Él es bastante acaudalado. De hecho, es

richest men in the city. uno de los hombreas más ricos en la
ciudad.

Reformulation Is there a cheaper solution? In other ¿Existe una solución más económica? Es
words, can you make a cheaper device? decir/En otras palabras, ¿puede hacer un
dispositivo más barato?

Result He passed his exams. Aprobó sus exámenes. Por lo tanto/Por

Therefore/Thus/Hence/Accordingly/Conse
quently, he had some good news to tell his
parents.
Similarity Men must wear a jacket and a tie;
similarly, women must wear a skirt or a
dress.
eso/Por consiguiente/Consecuentemente,
tenía buenas noticias para contarle a sus
padres.
Los hombres deben vestir traje y corbata;
de manera similar, las mujeres deben
vestir pollera o vestido.

Unexpected She studied methodically for several Ella estudió metódicamente durante varios
result months. meses. Aun así/Sin embargo/Pero/No
Nevertheless/However/Yet/Nonetheless, obstante, reprobó.
she failed.
Prefixes and Suffixes
Prefixes and suffixes are syllables or letters we add at the beginning or at the ending
of a word, to change the meaning of the word.

• In order to be above the poverty line.

• UNICEF has concluded previously.

Prefixes
Prefixes are letters added at the beginning of a word; they change its meaning. (Many
prefixes are used in the same way as in Spanish).
Here are common prefixes:

PREFIX Meaning Examples

DIS- not, opposite, reverse, away disagree, disappear

EX- out of, away from, without, exhale, explosion

previous
PRE- before prefix, prehistory

PRO- for, forward, before proactive, profess, program

RE- again, back react, reappear, rewrite

UN- against, not, opposite undo, unequal, unusual

IL- not illegal, illogical

NON- not nonfiction, nonsense

IM- not, without impossible, improper

IN- not, without inaction, invisible

MIS- bad, wrong misunderstand, misplace

UNI- one, together University, universe

Suffixes
Prefixes are letters added at the ending of a word; they usually change the function of
a word.
(For example, “easy” is an adjective; “easy” + “-ly” = “easily” – EASILY is an adverb).
Here are common suffixes:

SUFFIX Meaning Examples

-ABLE able to, having the quality of comfortable, portable

(adjective)
-AL relating to (adjective) annual, comical

-ER Comparative (adjective/adverb) bigger, stronger

-EST Superlative (adjective/adverb) strongest, tiniest

-FUL full of beautiful, grateful

-IBLE forming an adjective reversible, terrible

-ILY / -LY forming an adverb happily, lazily

clearly, hourly
-LESS without, not affected by friendless, tireless

-NESS / - denoting a state or condition kindness, wilderness /

MENT (noun) development, statement
-Y full of, denoting a condition, or a cloudy, messy, windy
diminutive (adjective)
AL- adjective personal, financial, elemental

-ITY noun equality, serenity, community

Further reading and practice on Connectors:

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/conn-diagnostic.html

Further reading and practice on Word Formation (Suffixes and Prefixes):

https://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/s08-04-prefixes-and-suffixes.html