In English, linking words help to express cause and effect between different actions or events.
There are three main linking words categories.[1]https://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/570/pulp/hemp5.htm
- Conjunctions
- Prepositions
- Transitions
They can be used with all the different verb tenses in English.
Conjunctions
Conjunctions can be used to both express cause and effect. They link two complete thoughts together.
The most important linking words for cause are “because” and “since”.
For example:
- I am going to eat because I am hungry.
- Since it is late, she is going to sleep.
As you can see, if the conjugation is in the beginning of the sentence, you must use a comma to separate the two clauses.
The most important linking word for effect is “so”.
For example:
- It was raining outside, so I brought an umbrella.
- They test is tomorrow, so I can’t go out to the party. I must study instead.
As you can see, with the conjunction “so”, you must always use a comma to separate the first and second clauses.
Examples of other linking word conjugations include[2]https://writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au/m3/m3u5/m3u5s6/m3u5s6_3.htm
- As
- Thus
- Hence
Prepositions
Linking words can form a noun phrase in order to talk about cause.
The most important ones are “due to” and “because of”.
For example:
- Because of the snow, all the roads were closed.
- I didn’t go to school due to my flu.
Transitions
Linking words can be used in transitions to express effect.
When doing so, you are joining two complete sentences together.
The most important ones are “therefore”, “consequently”, and “as a result”.
For example:
- There is a test tomorrow; therefore, I need to study tonight.
- It snowed a lot last night. Consequently, school was canceled today.
- We didn’t study for the test. As a result, we all failed.
As you can see, you can use the transition linking words in one of two ways:
- 1st sentence; transition word, 2nd sentence.
- 1st sentence. Transition word, 2nd sentence.
References