Linking Words

Table of contents 

1. What are Linking Words lessons?
2. Target students
3. Key features
4. Lesson details & links
   
   

What are Linking Words lessons?

Linking Words lessons focus on one of the most essential skills for developing fluency and coherence in English: connecting ideas clearly and logically. The series introduces and practices a wide range of linking words and phrases that help students organize their speaking and writing more effectively.

The lessons are carefully sequenced to help learners understand how different types of connectors function and how they shape meaning in context. Each lesson builds on previous knowledge, while still being designed as a standalone unit, giving teachers the flexibility to introduce or review specific categories of linking language as needed. The series covers:

• Subordinators, coordinators, and transitions – Understanding the differences between these key categories and how they connect clauses and sentences (e.g., and, but, because, although, however)
• Expressing addition – Adding information and building arguments (e.g., furthermore, in addition, also)
• Expressing time and sequence – Organizing events and ideas logically (e.g., first, then, after that, finally)
• Expressing comparison – Highlighting similarities between ideas (e.g., similarly, likewise, just as)
• Expressing contrast – Showing differences or opposing ideas (e.g., however, on the other hand, whereas)
• Expressing clarification and intensity – Restating, emphasizing, and strengthening ideas (e.g., in fact, actually, indeed)
• Expressing cause, reason, and effect – Explaining why something happens and its result (e.g., because, so, therefore, as a result)
• Expressing condition – Describing real and hypothetical situations (e.g., if, unless, provided that)
• Consolidation and practice activities – Opportunities to apply multiple categories of linking words in extended speaking and writing tasks
  
  

Target students

As general English lessons focused on discourse organization and sentence structure, Linking Words lessons can be used with all students who need to improve coherence and cohesion in their communication. However, due to the range and complexity of connectors introduced, they are most appropriate for intermediate learners (CEFR B1+, WIDA Expanding) and above.

Teachers can use the lessons to introduce new linking structures, address gaps in students’ written or spoken organization, or reinforce previously taught connectors in a more structured way. The series is particularly useful for students preparing for academic study, exams, or workplace communication where clarity and logical flow are essential.

Key features

All Linking Words lessons feature:

1. Easy-to-follow explanations: Linking words are introduced by function and category, with clear models and contextualized examples that show how meaning changes depending on the connector used.
2. Structured progression: Lessons move from controlled practice to freer production, helping students gain confidence using connectors accurately and appropriately.
3. Extensive practice: Students regularly practice identifying, selecting, and producing linking words in sentences and extended texts, developing both accuracy and fluency.
4. Productive activities: Each lesson includes speaking and writing tasks that require students to organize ideas logically, encouraging meaningful use of linking language in realistic contexts.

Lesson details & links

The lesson name (with link) and objectives are listed below for a quick overview of each lesson. Click a lesson name to launch it directly from this article. To see a spreadsheet of all Off2Class lessons, click here.