The Ultimate 2nd Year Bac Linking Words & Functions Guide
Are you a 2nd Year Baccalaureate student striving to perfect your English writing skills for the Moroccan National Exam? Or perhaps an English teacher seeking a comprehensive, easy-to-digest resource for your classes? Mastering the art of writing is impossible without a solid grasp of linking words. Also known as transition words or discourse markers, linking words are the essential glue that holds your sentences and paragraphs together. They provide coherence and cohesion, ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one point to the next. To help you achieve top marks in both your writing and language sections, we are sharing an ultimate cheat sheet: a complete guide to Linking Words and Functions, available for download at the bottom of this post.
This incredibly useful document categorizes linking words by their specific functions, making it exceptionally easy to memorize and apply them. Let us delve into the key lessons and grammatical functions covered in this resource. First, the document explores the function of Addition. When you want to expand on a point, you need more than just 'and'. This list provides sophisticated alternatives such as 'moreover,' 'furthermore,' 'in addition,' and 'what's more.' Following this, the resource tackles Concession. Expressing contrasting ideas is a staple of argumentative essays. Words like 'however,' 'nevertheless,' 'although,' and 'despite' are broken down with clear examples to show you how to contrast ideas without losing your reader's attention.
Next, the guide focuses on expressing Purpose and Similarity. Whenever you need to explain the 'why' behind an action, expressions like 'in order to,' 'so as to,' and 'for fear that' become invaluable. Similarly, when drawing parallels between two concepts, you will learn how to seamlessly integrate words like 'likewise,' 'similarly,' and 'in the same way.' Furthermore, a massive portion of the National Exam writing tasks requires you to analyze situations. For this, the Cause and Effect section is a lifesaver. You will discover how to elegantly state reasons using 'owing to,' 'due to,' or 'on account of,' and how to present outcomes using 'consequently,' 'as a result,' and 'hence.'
Of course, an argument is never complete without solid proof, which is why the Giving Examples category highlights phrases like 'for instance' and 'such as.' Moreover, structuring your essay is just as important as the vocabulary within it. The section on Listing Ideas in Order of Time will guide you through organizing your paragraphs chronologically—from 'first of all' and 'initially' to 'subsequently' and 'afterward.' Finally, wrapping up your essay requires strong Summarizing and Concluding markers, such as 'in a nutshell,' 'to sum up,' and 'all in all,' alongside conversational tools for Giving your Opinion.
Download the full table using the button below. It is the perfect resource to keep by your side while practicing your essay writing!
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FUNCTIONS | LINKING WORDS | EXAMPLES
Addition
1. ….. and ….
2. ….. In addition, ……
3. ……. Moreover, ….
4. ……. Besides, ……
5. ….; furthermore, …
6. …, too
7. …. Also, ….
8. Not only …. but also
9. What’s more, …
Examples:
1. She enjoys reading and painting in her free time.
2. She speaks three languages. In addition, she's learning a fourth.
3. Education is important. Moreover, it is empowering.
4. The new software enhances security. Besides, it’s user-friendly.
5. I love to travel; furthermore, I enjoy trying new foods.
6. She’s an accomplished pianist. Her brother plays the guitar, too.
7. He excels in mathematics. Also, he’s a skilled chess player.
8. She speaks not only English but also Spanish.
9. The trip was affordable; what’s more, it included guided tours.
Concession
1. …; however, …
2. …., but
3. …; nevertheless, ….
4. …; nonetheless, …
5. ...; still, ……
6. ……; yet, ….
7. On the one hand, … on the other hand; …
8. Although/Though/Even though.
9. Despite/In spite of …., …
10. No matter how ……, …
Examples:
1. He apologized sincerely; however, she remained upset.
2. The food was expensive, but it was delicious.
3. The weather was cold; nevertheless, they enjoyed the picnic.
4. The traffic was terrible; nonetheless, we arrived on time.
5. She was busy; still, she found time for hobbies.
6. I know I should exercise more; yet, I always find an excuse not to.
7. On the one hand, studying abroad is good; on the other, it's costly.
8. Although it was raining, we decided to go for a hike anyway.
9. Despite the bad reviews, we decided to try the new restaurant.
10. No matter how busy you are, make time for family.
Purpose
1. ….. to ….
2. ….. in order to
3. so as to...
4. ….. so that ….
5. . with the goal of ….
6. ….. in order that ….
7. ….. for ….
8. ….. lest ….
9. …. for fear that ….
Examples:
1. I went to the gym to work out.
2. He studied hard in order to/so as to pass the exam.
3. She saved money so that she could buy a new laptop.
4. I write daily for the purpose of improving my skills.
5. They volunteer with the goal of helping the community.
6. She revises her lessons in order that she excels in her exams.
7. We work for a better future.
8. I keep a backup lest my computer crashes.
9. I carry an umbrella for fear that it might rain.
Similarity
1. …; similarly, ….
2. ……; likewise, ….
3. .. in the same way ….
4. Just as ….
5. Compared to ….
6. …. similarly to …
Examples:
1. She enjoys painting; similarly, he finds joy in sketching.
2. She's good at math; likewise, her brother excels in physics.
3. She loves reading; in the same way, her sister enjoys writing.
4. Just as the sun sets, the moon rises.
5. Compared to painting, drawing uses similar artistic skills.
6. The book ends similarly to the movie, with a surprising twist.
Cause /Reason
1. . …. because …
2. ….. since ….
3. As …., ….
4. ….. due to ….
5. …. owing to …
6. …. thanks to …
7. On account of ….
8. … as a result of …
9. Because of …., ….
10. …; for this reason, ….
Examples:
1. He joined an NGO because he loves helping others.
2. I’ve been socially active since joining the environmental club.
3. As Ahmed enjoys humor, he watches comedy shows regularly.
4. She received a full scholarship due to her academic excellence.
5. Ahmed's blog gained fame owing to his unique sense of humor.
6. Women gained more representation thanks to new voting laws.
7. On account of her research, she received a science award.
8. Many laws are being reconsidered as a result of women’s activism.
9. Because of his humor, Ahmed's articles are widely shared online.
10. She excels in science; for this reason, she won awards.
Effect /Result
1. ...., so ....
2. ....; as a consequence, ....
3. ......; as a result, ....
4. ....; consequently, ....
5. ......; hence, ......
6. ........ Therefore, .......
7. ..... Thus, .......
Examples:
1. She worked hard, so she got good marks.
2. He overslept; as a consequence, he missed his class.
3. He studied daily; as a result, he aced the test.
4. She ignored the regulation; consequently, he got injured at work.
5. The chef used fresh ingredients; hence, the meal was great.
6. The printer is broken. Therefore, we can't print reports.
7. He forgot to set the alarm. Thus, he was late.
Giving Examples
1. .......; for example, ....
2. ... for instance, ....
3. ... such as
4. Like/Including, ...
5. ... one example is, ....
6. … as an example, ....
Examples:
1. Ahmed enjoys outdoor activities; for example, hiking and running
2. There are several energy sources; for instance, coal and gas.
3. He enjoys classic authors such as Orwell, Shakespeare, and Dickens.
4. He enjoys classic authors like Orwell, Shakespeare, and Dickens.
5. Many students excel in sciences; one example is Ahmed.
6. There are efficient means of transport; as an example, electric cars.
List Ideas in Order of Time
1. Firstly, ....
2. First of all, ....
3. To begin with, ....
4. Initially, ....
5. At the outset, ....
6. At first, ....
7. In the beginning, ....
8. Second(ly), ....
9. Next, ....
10. Then, ....
11. Afterward(s), ....
12. Subsequently, ....
13. Following that, ....
Examples:
1. To combat climate change, firstly, we must reduce carbon emissions.
2. In learning a new skill, first of all, master the basics.
3. To begin with, turn off all your smartphones before studying.
4. Initially, the organization targeted only local communities.
5. At the outset, the team faced numerous challenges.
6. At first, the gym offered a one-month free trial.
7. In the beginning, the company focused solely on staff development
8. The athletes warmed up; secondly, they started the actual practice.
9. She finished her homework; next, she read her favorite book.
10. He washed the dishes; then, he took out the trash.
11. They watched the movie; afterward, they discussed its themes.
12. She passed the exam; subsequently, she applied for the job.
13. They had breakfast; following that, they went for a hike.
Summarizing / Concluding
1. In conclusion, ….
2. To sum up, ….
3. Overall, ….
4. In summary, ….
5. To conclude, ….
6. Finally, …
7. All in all, ….
8. In a nutshell, ….
9. In the end, ……
Examples:
1. In conclusion, the party was a huge hit among neighbors.
2. To sum up, the hiking trip was both challenging and rewarding.
3. Overall, the new restaurant offers a variety of tasty dishes.
4. In summary, the book covered many aspects of ancient civilizations.
5. To conclude, the movie had a surprising but satisfying ending.
6. Finally, the garden was complete with a variety of flowers.
7. All in all, the concert was a musical feast for attendees.
8. In a nutshell, the game was a rollercoaster of emotions.
9. In the end, the detective solved the mystery ingeniously
Giving Opinion
1. In my opinion, ….
2. I think that ….
3. Personally, ….
4. I believe that ….
Examples:
1. In my opinion, PCs are better than consoles
2. I think that videogames can help people relax
3. Personally, I think that sport is good for the body
4. I believe that people should think about themselves first
