Linking words: ESL lesson plans and exercises

Q: What are linking words?

Words and phrases that connect ideas and show how. Some join two parts of one sentence, such as and , but , because and although . Others open a new sentence, such as However , First and In the end . Each one signals the kind of link: addition, contrast, reason, result, time or order.

Q: What's the difference between linking words and conjunctions?

Conjunctions are one kind of linking word. A conjunction such as and , or , so , because or although joins words or clauses inside one sentence. The wider group also has adverbs like however and therefore , which often start a new sentence, and prepositions like despite and because of , which go before a noun: despite the delay .

Q: How do I teach conjunctions to beginners?

Start with and , but and or . In English A1.2 on edio.ai, learners join words and sentences with them at the Iowa State Fair, after an earlier lesson on First , Then and Finally for washing hands. English A2.1 moves on to because and so , then to when , before and after for two past events.

Q: What are good conjunction games and activities?

Sentence halves that partners finish for each other. One student starts I like the rides, but… or We stayed inside because… , and a partner completes it. At A2, try a story chain in which each student adds a sentence opening with Then , Suddenly or Luckily . Every lesson here also has a speaking chapter with a chat and a game, such as a memory game or Open the box.

Q: Are there interactive linking words exercises?

Yes: try the ones near the top of this page. They come from the lessons listed here and need no account. The lessons themselves hold many more on conjunctions and connectors, from gap-fills and drag-and-drop to quizzes, and students see straight away whether each answer is right. The free trial unlocks all of them.

Q: What's the difference between although and despite?

Although takes a clause; despite takes a noun or -ing. Although the price was high, the hotel signed the contract has a subject and a verb after the linker, while Despite the high price, … has a noun. Despite never takes of , but in spite of always does. Before a clause, say despite the fact that .

Q: Where do commas go with so, because and however?

Before so , and usually not before because . It was rainy, so we stayed inside , but We stayed inside because it was rainy . A sentence that opens with Because puts a comma after the reason. However usually begins a new sentence and takes a comma after it: Prices fell. However, our costs rose.

Q: What's the difference between in the end and at the end?

In the end means finally, after all that happened. In the end, the medicine reached Nome. At the end needs of and the thing that ends: at the end of the race , at the end of the street . So a story closes with In the end , not with At the end on its own.

Q: Do these linking words lessons work one-to-one?

Yes, both live and as homework. During a live lesson, your student works in their own account, in sync with you, and the speaking games work with just two people. Assigned as homework, the drills check the answers themselves, and a few tasks are left for you to review.

Levels A1 to C1 16 lesson plans · 4 drill lessons Exercises that check themselves

Linking words, conjunctions among them, join two ideas and show how they connect: and adds, but contrasts, because gives a reason, so a result and then the next step. This page lists 16 ready-made lessons from the edio.ai library that teach them, levels A1 to C1, in American English. Play a sample of their exercises, read each rule in the lesson's own grammar scheme, and find the right lesson for your group by level. All of them are interactive, and the practice marks itself as students go.

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Linking words lesson plans and drills

16 lesson plans and 4 drill lessons, A1 to C1. Lesson plans are whole lessons with reading, listening and speaking; drill lessons are 43 to 46 self-checking exercises with no new words.

Try the linking words exercises

One exercise from each of 6 lessons. These are the same exercises your students do in edio.

Linking words explained

We use linking words to show the listener what kind of idea comes next. Each one also decides the grammar after it: although takes a clause, despite a noun or an -ing form, and however a new sentence.

First, then, next: steps in instructions

At A1, step words put instructions in order (First, Then, Next, After that, Finally), each followed by a verb and no you: First, wet your hands. Then add soap. A comma follows each step word except Then.

Step	Step word	Example
1 · the start	First,	First, wet your hands.
2	Then	Then add soap.
3	Next,	Next, scrub for at least 20 seconds.
4	After that,	After that, rinse your hands.
5 · the end	Finally,	Finally, dry them.

From the lesson Clean hands in five steps (English A1.2)

And, but and or

And adds one more thing, but sets a yes against a no, and or gives a choice of two. They join single words or whole sentences, and when but joins sentences, a comma goes before it: I like the rides, but I don't like the lines.

Word	Use it to…	Example
and ➕	add one more thing	We can see the Butter Cow and eat corn dogs.
but ↔️	show a difference: a yes ✓ and a no ✗	I like the rides, but I don't like the lines.
or ❓	give a choice: one of two	We can go on Friday or Saturday.

From the lesson A cow made of butter? (English A1.2)

Because for the reason, so for the result

Because answers Why? with the reason, and so gives the result: He sat on the bench because he was lonely and He was lonely, so he sat on the bench say the same thing. A sentence takes one or the other, never both.

because + the reason

What happenedbecauseThe reason (Why?)

He sat on the bench because he was lonely.

The kids ran over because they noticed Biscuit.

…, so + the result

The reasonsoThe result

He was lonely, so he sat on the bench.

The kids noticed Biscuit, so they ran over.

From the lesson A bench for making friends (English A2.1)

Story linkers: suddenly, luckily, in the end

Story linkers open a sentence and prepare the listener for the news: Suddenly for a surprise, Luckily for good news, Unfortunately for bad news, In the end for the last event. Use the -ly words: Luckily, not Lucky.

Linker	It shows…	Example
First,	the first thing 1️⃣	First, Amber put the harnesses on the dogs.
Then / After that,	the next thing ➡️	Then Skye started to run.
Suddenly,	a surprise: it happens very fast 😮	Suddenly, the dogs ran really fast!
Luckily,	good news 🙂	Luckily, Marco was holding on tight.
Unfortunately,	bad news 🙁	Unfortunately, the dogs stopped. Marco didn't!
Finally, / In the end,	the last thing 🏁	In the end, Marco landed in the snow.

From the lesson The dogs who saved Nome (English A2.2)

Although or despite: a clause or a noun

At B2, although and even though take a clause, while despite and in spite of take a noun or an -ing form: although prices fell, but despite the fall in prices. Cause works the same way: because + a clause, because of + a noun.

+ clause (subject + verb)

although prices fell
even though costs rose
because the harvest was small
despite the fact that prices fell

+ noun or -ing form

despite the fall in prices
in spite of rising costs
because of the small harvest
due to the rain

From the lesson Explaining Prices (Business English B2)

Whereas or although: two sides or a surprise?

Whereas and while set two different facts side by side: Option A is faster, whereas option B is safer. When one fact works against another, use although or despite: Although the team is small, it ships every two weeks.

whereas / while: compare two different things

Option A is faster, whereas option B is safer.
The mobile team knows the screens, while the payments team knows the money rules.

although / despite: one fact works against another

Although the team is small, it ships every two weeks.
Despite the long wait, Wes still likes the payments team.
Not with whereas: ✗ Whereas the team is small, it ships every two weeks.

From the lesson Your system copies your org chart (English for IT B2)

Questions about linking words

What are linking words?

Words and phrases that connect ideas and show how. Some join two parts of one sentence, such as and, but, because and although. Others open a new sentence, such as However, First and In the end. Each one signals the kind of link: addition, contrast, reason, result, time or order.

What's the difference between linking words and conjunctions?

Conjunctions are one kind of linking word. A conjunction such as and, or, so, because or although joins words or clauses inside one sentence. The wider group also has adverbs like however and therefore, which often start a new sentence, and prepositions like despite and because of, which go before a noun: despite the delay.

How do I teach conjunctions to beginners?

Start with and, but and or. In English A1.2 on edio.ai, learners join words and sentences with them at the Iowa State Fair, after an earlier lesson on First, Then and Finally for washing hands. English A2.1 moves on to because and so, then to when, before and after for two past events.

What are good conjunction games and activities?

Sentence halves that partners finish for each other. One student starts I like the rides, but… or We stayed inside because…, and a partner completes it. At A2, try a story chain in which each student adds a sentence opening with Then, Suddenly or Luckily. Every lesson here also has a speaking chapter with a chat and a game, such as a memory game or Open the box.

Are there interactive linking words exercises?

Yes: try the ones near the top of this page. They come from the lessons listed here and need no account. The lessons themselves hold many more on conjunctions and connectors, from gap-fills and drag-and-drop to quizzes, and students see straight away whether each answer is right. The free trial unlocks all of them.

What's the difference between although and despite?

Although takes a clause; despite takes a noun or -ing. Although the price was high, the hotel signed the contract has a subject and a verb after the linker, while Despite the high price, … has a noun. Despite never takes of, but in spite of always does. Before a clause, say despite the fact that.

Where do commas go with so, because and however?

Before so, and usually not before because. It was rainy, so we stayed inside, but We stayed inside because it was rainy. A sentence that opens with Because puts a comma after the reason. However usually begins a new sentence and takes a comma after it: Prices fell. However, our costs rose.

What's the difference between in the end and at the end?

In the end means finally, after all that happened. In the end, the medicine reached Nome. At the end needs of and the thing that ends: at the end of the race, at the end of the street. So a story closes with In the end, not with At the end on its own.

Do these linking words lessons work one-to-one?

Yes, both live and as homework. During a live lesson, your student works in their own account, in sync with you, and the speaking games work with just two people. Assigned as homework, the drills check the answers themselves, and a few tasks are left for you to review.

More English grammar

Lessons for every grammar point, from the verb to be to reported speech. All grammar points

Linking words: ESL lesson plans and exercises

Linking words lesson plans and drills

Clean hands in five steps

A cow made of butter?

A bench for making friends

A college graduate at 95

The dogs who saved Nome

A calendar made of posts?

A bakery that hires anyone?

Although, however, despite: great view, tiny room

So, such and because of: what a storm!

Explaining Prices

A newspaper of their own

Read like a fact-checker

Seven rules for the wild?

Sunrise with the turtles

Who needs a referee?

Your system copies your org chart

Rules for AI at work

To, in order to and so that: what's it for?

System Design: Every Choice Has a Cost

Contrast and concession: office or home?