Connectors of contrast

As their name itself suggests sentence connectors are used to combine sentences. They also express the relationship between ideas. We can add variety and sophistication to our writing by using appropriate sentence connectors.

To show the contrast between two ideas we can use the following sentence connectors.

But, although, despite the fact that, however, nevertheless, despite, in spite of, yet

His rope was thin but it was strong.

He is fat but he runs fast.

Although the boy was injured, he didn’t give up.

Nevertheless is very formal. In a less formal style, we can use conjunctions like but or yet.

Nevertheless and however don’t combine two clauses. They are used to emphasize the fact that the point expressed by the second clause contrasts with the first. In writing, they are separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.

He says that he is a socialist. However, he owns three houses and four luxury cars.

There was little chance of success. Nevertheless, we didn’t give up.

We went out in spite of the rain.

In spite of having a headache, I enjoyed the film.

Despite working hard, she failed the exam.

Grammar notes

In spite of is written as three words. It is the opposite of because of.

She got good marks in spite of her teacher. (= She had a bad teacher.)

She got good marks because of her teacher. (= She had a good teacher.)

EXERCISES:

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-although.php

connectors of addition cause and effect

Connectors or linkers are words or groups of words that help us connect words, phrases or sentences. Thanks to them, we can express relationships between ideas and improve our expression by making longer, more complex sentences.

 Connectors can be used to show contrast, purpose, sequence, etc.

CAUSE

·         Conjunctions followed by a complete sentence:

·         Because: it usally follows the main clause: Everybody likes her because she's very kind and friendly.

·         As and since are very similar. As is less formal than since. They are used when the reason is well known. The clauses that start with these words often begin the sentence:
As I was very tired, I went to bed early.
 Since you are not interested, I won't tell you about it.
(As and since can also be used as time connectors).

·         For suggests that the reason is given as an afterthought. For-clauses never come at the beginning of the sentence. For is mainly used in literary texts, therefore, it is very formal.
 We listened eagerly, for he brought news of our families.

·         Connectors followed by a noun, a noun phrase, a pronoun or a gerund:

·         Because of: They have had problems raising cash because of the credit crunch.

·         Due to and owing to are considered by many speakers as exact equivalents, but this is not so, because due to is adjectival (it follows a noun or pronoun), whereas owing tois adverbial (it complements a verb). Compare these examples:
The game was cancelled owing to torrential rain. 
The cancellation of the game was due to torrential rain.
If you are doubtful as to which of these you can use, here's a trick: try to substitute due to with “caused by” and see if it works. *The game was cancelled caused by torrential rain.* doesn't sound correct, so it's not possible to use due to in this case. On the other hand, The cancellation of the game was caused by torrential rain, sounds fine.
Owing to is interchangeable with because of: The game was cancelled because of torrential rain.

·         On account of: The nurse had to keep the baby in another room on account of my illness.

·         Thanks to suggests that there is some cause for gratitude, though it can be used sarcastically. She was given a scholarship thanks to her excellent grades.

RESULT OR CONSEQUENCE

·         Thus (very formal): He was the eldest son, and thus, heir to the title.

·         Therefore (formal, used mainly in written English): She is only seventeen and therefore not eligible to vote.

·         As a result: There has been a rise in the number of accidents. As a result, the government has decided to lower the speed limit. As a result of is followed by a noun, pronoun or gerund. Can you rewrite the previous example using as a result of?
 As a result of the rise in the number of accidents, the government... 

·         So (less formal): There was nothing on TV, so I decided to go to bed.

·         That's why: Cold temperatures kill mosquitos. That's why you won't see them in winter.

·         For this reason: The Colonel was confident that war was impending, and for this reason he hurried his preparations to leave the country.

·         Consequently (used especially in written English): This poses a threat to the food chain, and consequently to human health.

EXERCISES: 

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=5348

Verb + Gerund/ Infinitive with a change in meaning 

Some verbs have different meanings when they are follwed by a gerund or an infinitive.

forget

GERUND	INFINITIVE
looks back in the past	looks into the future
He'll never forget spending so much money on his first computer.	Don't forget to spend money on the tickets.

go on

GERUND	INFINITIVE
to continue with the same thing	to change the activity
Go on reading the text.	Go on to read the text.

mean

GERUND	INFINITIVE
sth. has to be done to get a result	intend to do sth.
You have forgotten your homework again. That meansphoning your mother.	I meant to phone your mother, but my mobile didn't work.

regret

GERUND	INFINITIVE
you did sth in the past and you are not happy about it	to tell bad news and you are not happy about it
I regret being late for school.	We regret to inform you that the flight has beeen delayed for another two hours.

remember

GERUND	INFINITIVE
looks back in the past	looks into the future
I remember switching off the lights when I went on holiday.	Remember to switch off the lights when you go on holiday.

stop

GERUND	INFINITIVE
to stop with an activity	to stop in order to do sth.
I stopped smoking.	I stopped to smoke.

try

GERUND	INFINITIVE
to test sth.	to do sth. that is not easy
I tried taking an aspirin but it didn't help.	Try to be quiet when you come home late.

The following words are a little more tricky.

like

I like reading books. = I like to read books.
There is normally no difference in meaning.

• Use the Gerund when like is used in the sense of 'enjoy'.
  Example: I like riding my bike.
• Use the Infinitive when you do sth. in the sense of a habit.
  Example: I like to do my homework in the afternoon. (I think, it is good to do my homework in the afternoon).

Mind the following examples:

• I like watching films.
• I would like to watch the film.

be afraid

Use the Gerund when you worry about sth.

• I'm afraid of having an accident.

In other cases there is no difference in meaning whether we use Gerund or Infinitive.

• I'm afraid to go by bike on this road. = I'm afraid of going by bike on this road.

need

If we use a Gerund after need, then the sentcene has a passive meaning:

• The window needs cleaning.

used to

The form to be used to + Gerund means that the person is familiar with sth.

• He is used to smoking. (He still smokes.)

The form used to + Infinitive means that the person did sth. in the past.

• He used to smoke. (He does not smoke any more.)

Attention!

• He is used to smoke. (This sentence is wrong.)

EXERCISES: 

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=5401#a