Linking words

• Organisation is important in B2 First

(FCE) Writing.
 Linking words
• Students sometimes need to contrast
a positive idea with a negative idea.
 Linking words
• Students sometimes need to contrast
a positive idea with a negative idea.
• Three words for doing this are:
• A) but
• B) however
• C) although
 Linking words
• All three words do the same thing
but the way to use them is different.
 Linking words
• Think about this idea from an essay
about transport.
• (+) Aeroplanes are the fastest way
to travel.
• (-) They are bad for the
environment.
 Linking words
• but usually goes in the middle of the
two ideas:
• Aeroplanes are the fastest way to
travel but they are bad for the
environment.
 Linking words
• but is the easiest word of the three
words to use.
 Linking words
• however is a higher level word than
but.
• The important thing to remember
about however is that the two ideas
go in two sentences.
• however goes at the start of the
second sentence and is followed by a
comma.
 Linking words
• The two ideas go in two sentences.
• however goes at the start of the
second sentence and is followed by a
comma.
• Aeroplanes are the fastest way to
travel. However, they are bad for the
environment.
 Linking words
• although is a higher level word than
but.
• The important thing to remember
about although is that the two ideas
go in one sentence.
• although has two possible positions
in the sentence.
 Linking words
• Option 1:
• Put although at the start of the
sentence and separate the two ideas
with a comma.
• Although aeroplanes are the fastest
way to travel, they are bad for the
environment.
 Linking words
• Option 2:
• Put although in the middle of the
sentence (the same as but).
• No comma is needed.
• Aeroplanes are the fastest way to
travel although they are bad for the
environment.
 Linking words
• The sentences again:
• Aeroplanes are the fastest way to
travel but they are bad for the
environment.
• Aeroplanes are the fastest way to
travel. However, they are bad for the
environment.
 Linking words
• Although aeroplanes are the fastest
way to travel, they are bad for the
environment.
• Aeroplanes are the fastest way to
travel although they are bad for the
environment.
 Linking words
• Try to use although and however in
B2 First (FCE) Writing, especially in
more formal writing such as the
Question 1 essay.