University of M’hamed Bougara - Boumerdes

Faculty of Hydrocarbons and Chemistry.

Lesson n 4: helpful tools for a good paragraph

Group: STH20 1stsemester

Types of sentences:

I. Simple sentences: A simple sentence has only one clause: The children were
laughing.
II. Compound sentences: A compound sentence has two or more clauses:
(We stayed behind) and (finished the job), then (we went home)
The clauses in a compound sentence are joined by co-ordinating conjunctions: The
common coordinating conjunctions are: and – but – or – so – then – yet
I. Complex sentences: A complex sentence has a main clause and one or more
adverbial clauses. Adverbial clauses usually come after the main clause:
She had a difficult childhood (main clause) because (subordinating
conjunction)her father died (adverbial clause) when (subordinating conjunction)
she was very young (adverbial clause).
There are seven types of adverbial clauses:
1. Contrast clauses; although; though; even though; while.
2. Reason clauses: because; since; as
3. Place clauses: where; wherever; everywhere.
4. Purpose clauses: so that; so; because…
5. Result clauses: so that; so … that; such … that.
6. Time clauses: when; before; after; since; while; as; as soon as; by the time;
until.
7. Conditional clauses: if; unless; provided (that); as long as.
Linking words:
1. For Agreement / Addition / Similarity use: also, in addition, and, likewise,
moreover, as well as, furthermore, additionally.

2. For Opposition / Limitation / Contradiction use: although this may be true, in

contrast, on the other hand, on the contrary, even so / though, but, although,
however

3. For Cause / Condition / Purpose use: as / so long as, for the purpose of, in order
to, because of, as, since
4. For examples / Support / Emphasis use: These transitional devices (like especially)
to introduce examples as a support, to indicate importance or as an illustration so
that an idea is cued to the reader.

5. For effect / Consequence / Result use: thus, then, accordingly, consequently,

therefore, henceforth which are time words that are used to show that after a
particular time there was a consequence or an effect.
Note that for and because are placed before the cause/reason. The other devices
are placed before the consequences or effects. You can also use: as a result,
under those circumstances, in that case, for this reason, in effect, because the,
therefore.
6. For Conclusion / Summary / Restatement: As shown above, in a word, after all,
in summary, in conclusion, in short, in brief, to sum up.
These transition words and phrases to conclude, summarize and /
or restate ideas, or indicate a final general statement. Also some words
(like therefore) from the Effect / Consequence category can be used to
summarize.