Conectivos

Relationships between ideas

CAUSE / EFFECT
AS
AS LONG AS
BECAUSE
INASMUCH AS
NOW THAT
SINCE
SO ( THAT )
SO
THEREFORE
THUS
DUE TO
FOR
BECAUSE OF
HENCE
OPPOSITION
ALTHOUGH
EVEN THOUGH
THOUGH
WHEREAS
WHILE
NEVERTHELESS
NONETHELESS
HOWEVER
ON THE OTHER
HAND
DESPITE
IN SPITE OF
BUT ... ANYWAY
YET ... STILL
CONDITION
IF
UNLESS
ONLY IF
EVEN IF
WHETHER OR NOT
PROVIDED ( THAT )
OTHERWISE
OR ELSE
IN CASE
IN THE EVENT OF
AS
Como, porque
As she had nothing in particular to do, she
decided to go out for a walk.
Before I became a teacher I worked as a
waiter.
Im tired. Ive been working like a dog.
AS LONG AS
J que, como, visto que
As long as youre not busy, could you help
me with this work ?
There was extra time, so the football match
lasted as long as the concert.
You can leave early, as long as you finish
the work.
BECAUSE
Porque, por causa de
He went to bed because he was sleepy.
Because is used when the reason is the most
important part of the sentence. The because
clause usually comes at the end.
I went to Spain last summer because I
wanted the guarantee of sunshine on every
day of my holiday.
INASMUCH AS
Haja visto que, visto que, porquanto
Inasmuch as the two government leaders could not
reach an agreement, the possibilities for peace are
still remote.
Used to add a comment on something you have
just said and to say in what way it is true:
He was a very unusual musician inasmuch as he
was totally deaf.
NOW THAT
Agora que
Now that the semester is finished, Im going
to rest a few days.
Used because the thing mentioned is
happening or has just happened:
Now that the kids have left home weve got
a lot of extra space.
SINCE
J que, considerando que, porque
Since hes not interested in classical music,
he decided not to go to the concert.
Used when the reason is already well
known and is therefore usually less
important:
Since John had already eaten, I made do
with a sandwich.
SO ( THAT )
Para que, para, de forma a
I turned off the TV so that my roommate
could study in peace and quiet.
Frequently used to talk about purpose:
Were going to leave by three so that we
dont get stuck in the rush-hour traffic.
SO
Portanto, por isso
It was hot. So we went swimming.
Used in informal English to connect two
ideas . It shows that what is about to be said
follows as a result of what was said before.:
Judy had her purse snatched on the Tube, so
she had to borrow some money from me.
THEREFORE
Por causa disso, por essa razo, assim sendo
It was hot. Therefore, we went swimming.
It means as a result and is used to introduce
the logical result of something that has just
been mentioned:
Hes only 15 and therefore not eligible to
vote.
THUS
Por causa disso, por essa razo, assim sendo
It was hot. Thus we went swimming.
It means as a result and is used to introduce
the logical result of something that has just
been mentioned:
He is the eldest son and thus heir to the title.
DUE TO
Devido a, por causa de
We stayed home due to the cold weather.
It is used to indicate that something
happened as a result of something or
introduce the reason for something
happening:
He was kept in after school due to his bad
behavior.
FOR
Porque
We had better stay home for the weather
was freezing.
It suggests that the reason is given as an
afterthought. It is never placed at the
beginning of the sentence:
I decided to stop the work I was doing for
it was late and I wanted to go to bed.
BECAUSE OF
Por causa de, devido a
We went swimming because of the hot
weather.
Used to indicate that something happened
as a result of something or to introduce the
reason for something happening:
The new cruise liner returned immediately
to port because of a broken propeller.
HENCE
Por esta razo, por isso, da ento
It is clear to us now that drug abuse can
never be beneficial to the user; hence we
seem to have got it wrong in suggesting that
it may sometimes be acceptable.
So is similar in meaning to hence, though
hence is much more formal.
ALTHOUGH
Apesar de, embora, ainda que
Although it was cold, I went swimming.
It introduces a subordinate clause of
contrast with an idea that makes the
statement in the main clause seem
surprising:
Although the sausages were past their sell-
by date, I ate them and didnt become ill.
EVEN THOUGH
Apesar de, embora, ainda que
Even though I wasnt tired, I went to bed.
Used as an alternative to though or although when
the ideas expressed appear more extreme or
surprising.
Even though the earthquake occurred ten days
ago, the authorities believe it may still be possible
to find survivors under the rubble.
THOUGH
Apesar de, embora, ainda que
Though it was cold, I went swimming.
As a conjunction it is a more informal alternative
of although:
Though I was late for the meeting, I decided to go
nevertheless.
As an adverb it has a meaning similar to however:
Everyone played well. We still lost the game,
though.
WHEREAS
Ao passo que, enquanto que
Mary is rich, whereas John is poor.
It is used to balance two ideas that contrast
with, but do not contradict, each other.
Some married couples argue all time,
whereas others never do.
WHILE
Embora, ao passo que, ainda que
While he was not rich, he was very
generous.
Used within sentences to contrast two ideas,
it is similar to whereas.
We would always choose somewhere in the
mountains for a holiday, while our children
always want the seaside.
NEVERTHELESS /
NONETHELESS
Mesmo assim, ainda assim, contudo
Used to emphasize a contrast with what has been
said before which may appear surprising to the
listener:
There is little chance that we will succeed in
changing the law. Nevertheless, it is important that
we try.
The problems are not serious. Nonetheless we will
need to tackle them soon.
HOWEVER
Entretanto, embora, todavia
Used when you are adding a comment which
contrasts with what has just been said:
It was cold. However, I still went swimming.
Careful:
She has the window open, however cold it is
outside.
Adverb meaning to whatever degree.
ON THE OTHER HAND
Por outro lado
Used to introduce different ideas, especially
when they are opposites:
Theyd love to have kids. On the other
hand, they dont want to give up their
freedom.
DESPITE / IN SPITE OF
Apesar de, a despeito de
Used when you are mentioning circumstances
which surprisingly do not prevent something from
happening or being true:
The morning air was still clear and fresh, in spite
of all the traffic and the crowd.
Despite the differences in their ages they were
close friends.
BUT...ANYWAY
Mas... mesmo assim
It was cold, but I went swimming anyway.
YET...STILL
Entretanto...ainda assim
It was cold, yet I still went swimming.