Unit 28 Connectives

28.1 Connecting ideas

28.2 Connectives include …
28.3 Functions of connectives

Grammar Practice
Part A Part B Part C Part D Part E
Language Practice
Part F Part G

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Unit 28 Connectives
28.1 We often need linking words and phrases to help us to
connect our ideas. These are known as connectives.

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Unit 28 Connectives
Compare:
Example 1: (without a connective)
John: Have you finished the novel?
May: No. I think I can return it to you
tomorrow. Have you decided on
a date for your party?

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Unit 28 Connectives

(with a connective)
John: Have you finished the novel?
May: No, but I think I can return it to
you tomorrow. By the way,
have you decided on a date
for your party?

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Unit 28 Connectives
Example 2: (without a connective)
It is a small second-hand bookshop. It
offers a wide range of novels.
(with a connective)
It is a small second-hand bookshop. In
spite of this, it offers a wide range of
novels.

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Unit 28 Connectives
28.2 Connectives include:

• conjunctions She lacks experience and people skills.

I don’t think he’ll go to the exhibition.

Firstly, he’s not interested in
• some adverbs
photography; secondly, he’s been
busy setting up his own website lately.

• some He’s learned to use a video camera. In

prepositional this way, he’ll be able to create his
phrases own short films.

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Unit 28 Connectives
28.3 Functions of connectives
Here are some common connectives and their functions:

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Unit 28 Connectives

Hong Kong is a popular tourist

destination.
In addition,
• to add
Besides this, it is one of the
information
busiest ports in the
Furthermore, world.
Moreover,

He collects many different things, for

• to give
example/instance, stamps, old coins
examples
and badges.

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Unit 28 Connectives

I would advise you to read that book,

because firstly/in the first place, it is
• to show the well-written and in the second
sequence, or place/secondly, it has an exciting plot.
order of
information
We can also use at first, next, later,
finally, in the end, etc.

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Tourism is one of Hong Kong’s leading

industries.

• to show Similarly,
similarity In a similar
way, Thailand relies
heavily on tourism.
In the same
way,

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Unit 28 Connectives

He is very clever. On the other hand,

he often makes mistakes because he
rushes things.
• to show He’s not ignorant. On the contrary,
contrast he’s very well read.

You can also use however, in

contrast, nonetheless, etc.

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Unit 28 Connectives

The new timetable seems to be

• to emphasise working well. Indeed, there are fewer
delays in students getting to class.

To conclude,
• to indicate the
In conclusion,
end of a our success is the
speech or a To sum up, result of exceptional
piece of In short, teamwork.
writing
In summary,

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Unit 28 Connectives
Grammar Practice
Complete the sentences using words and phrases in the box.
There may be more than one possible answer and some of
the words/phrases may be used more than once. The first
one has been done for you as an example.

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Unit 28 Connectives

1 In spite of
He can sometimes be rude. __________________ this,
For example/For one thing ,
he has many good points. ____________________________
he’s always ready to help his friends.

2 He’s shy. ___________________

However , he always participates in
class discussions.

3 She’s very outgoing. ____________________

For this reason , she is very
popular.

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Unit 28 Connectives

4 As
__________________ she is hard-working, many of her
classmates like to do projects with her.

5 What’s more
He is very talented. ____________________ , he practises
every day. _________________________
To be frank/In fact , I’ve never
met such a dedicated athlete.

6 I agree that she spoke well, __________________

but don’t you
think Chris was even better?

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Unit 28 Connectives

7 In addition to
____________________ Physics, I really enjoy Chemistry.

8 In spite of
___________________ the heat, I usually welcome summer
when it arrives.

9 He’s stubborn. _____________________

Because of this, he does not
have many friends.

10 There are many advantages to booking this venue. ________

For one thing/For example , it can accommodate many
___________________________
students.

OPTIONS P.281
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Unit 28 Connectives

Complete the short dialogues using the words and phrases in

the box. Some words and phrases may be used more than
once. The first one has been done for you as an example.

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Unit 28 Connectives

1 Mr Chan Do you like the flat the estate agent showed us?

Firstly
Mrs Chan Yes, I do. _________________ , it faces south;
__________________
secondly , it’s in a quiet area.

2 John I’d like to help more around the house. Any ideas?
For instance/
Peter Firstly
You could do lots of things. _________________ ,
you could help clear away the dishes after dinner.

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Unit 28 Connectives

3 Mr Wong Did you buy the car?

Mr Lee Yes, it was a bargain! The car is quite new and

what’s more/
__________________
secondly , the engine is in
perfect working order.

4 John Tomorrow’s a public holiday. What shall we

do?

Jane or
We could go cycling in Tai Po _______________ ,
if you like, we could go hiking on Lantau Island.

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Unit 28 Connectives

5 Belinda Did you call Ruth on your way home last night?

Tom on second
I was going to, but ______________________
thoughts , I thought it was a little late.
____________

6 David Which country do you like better – Canada or

Australia?

Lily As far as
______________________ the climate is
concerned, I like Australia better.

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Unit 28 Connectives

7 Rose What do you think of Marc? You’ve known

him for years, haven’t you?
what’s more/
Connie He’s very punctual and __________________
secondly ,
he’s very honest.

8 Peter Do you find it hard to finish a novel?

Mike On the contrary , once I start reading, I

____________________
find it hard to stop.

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Unit 28 Connectives

Some of the underlined words and phrases in the following

sentences are incorrect. Write a correction above each error,
and tick () sentences that are correct. The first two have
been done for you as examples.

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Unit 28 Connectives
Even so
1 She may not have been honest with us. Even though, you

should still talk to her and find out what the problem is.

2 I don’t think he started the gossip. To the best of my

knowledge, he’s not a busybody. 

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Unit 28 Connectives

3 The TV series was amazing. I got so carried away that I

watched every episode. 

4 I’m grateful to you. Without you, we would not have delivered

such a good presentation. 

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Unit 28 Connectives

5 The camping trip was brilliant! The temperature was perfect,

and at the same time, there was so much to do. 

Besides/Moreover/
Furthermore/In addition
6 The hotel is conveniently located near the beach. However,

it offers a frequent shuttle service to and from the city centre.

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Unit 28 Connectives
On the contrary/In fact/Actually
7 I don’t think he’s selfish. On the other hand, I think he

always shows concern for his family and friends.

8 On the one hand, I can’t wait to move into our new flat.

On the other hand, I’m a little nervous about living in a new

area. 

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Unit 28 Connectives
Besides/Moreover/Furthermore/In addition
9 The restaurant is easy to get to. However, it’s in a beautiful area

and the food and service are excellent.

so that/because
10 They booked a tour so as to it would save them the trouble of

arranging hotels and meals.

(Note: accept all reasonable answers)

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Unit 28 Connectives

Complete the passage using expressions from the list (A-N).

Use each expression ONCE only. The first one has been done
for you as an example.

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Unit 28 Connectives

SOME FACTS ABOUT VITAMINS

A vitamin is a natural substance essential
for good health which is found in food.
Lack of a particular vitamin can cause
illness. Scurvy, for example, is caused
by vitamin C deficiency. It results from not eating enough of
certain foods such as fruit and vegetables. A similar example
is rickets, a disease children get which causes their bones to
become soft and twisted as a result of a lack of vitamin D. In
addition, eye diseases and skin diseases may occur when our
bodies lack vitamin A.
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Unit 28 Connectives

Our bodies are made up of millions of cells. In order to function

M
properly, these cells need certain vital substances, (1) ________ .
Carbohydrates consist of three chemical elements: carbon,
oxygen and hydrogen, and these are converted into sugars for
A .
cells to use for energy. We need petrol to run a car. (2) ________
N
(3) ________ , fats and proteins are also important substances
that our bodies need to stay healthy.

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Unit 28 Connectives

Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are found in plentiful amounts in

the food we eat every day. Therefore, a healthy diet is important
B
for humans, (4) ________ F
. On the contrary, (5) ________ , your
K
body will not get the nutrients it needs. (6) ________ , the bad
cholesterol in your blood will increase, and this is not healthy for
your body.

INFORMATION OPTIONS P.283

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Unit 28 Connectives

C
(7) ________ , vitamins are something our body cannot do
I
without. A lack of vitamin A, (8) ________ , while insufficient
vitamin C can cause scurvy. (9) ________
G . Because of vitamins’
L
importance to our health, (10) ________ . Although vitamin
J
supplements are convenient substitutes, (11) ________ excessive
consumption of them can cause vitamin poisoning. Furthermore,
H
(12) ________ than to rely on supplements.

D
(13) ________ , our body needs a lot of different nutrients to run
E
properly. A balanced diet is therefore (14) ________ .
INFORMATION OPTIONS P.283
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Unit 28 Connectives

Read the first draft of Fiona’s letter. Complete the second draft
by filling in each blank with ONE appropriate word. The first
one has been done for you as an example.

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Unit 28 Connectives
First draft

Dear Alex

I have good news. I have bad news.

The bad news.

My brother fell off his bicycle and hurt himself yesterday.

Thankfully, he only suffered minor injuries. He couldn’t
take part in today’s swimming gala. This made him sad.
He’s been training very hard for months. His team won the
400 m relay.

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Unit 28 Connectives

The good news.

My sister passed her driving test. She was ecstatic! She

has promised to take me for a drive around town next week.
Next time you visit Hong Kong, my sister will be able to
drive us around.

It’s getting late. I’ll write again later this week.

Regards
Fiona

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Unit 28 Connectives
Second draft
Dear Alex

I have both good news (1) bad news. and

(1) ____________

(2) , let me give you the bad news. My brother First

(2) ____________

fell off his bike and hurt himself yesterday.

Thankfully, he only suffered minor injuries, (3) but
(3) ____________

he couldn’t take part in today’s swimming gala,

(4) made him sad. He’s been training very hard which
(4) ____________

for months.

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Unit 28 Connectives

(5) , his team won the 400 m relay, (6) he was (5) However/Still
____________
pleased about that.
so/and
(6) ____________

(7) are you ready for the good news? My sister

Now
(7) ____________
passed her driving test! She was ecstatic. She
has promised to take me for a drive around
town next week.

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Unit 28 Connectives

(8) you visit Hong Kong next time, my sister will When
(8) ____________

be able to drive us around, (9) some places are although/

though
(9) ____________
easier to get to by MTR or bus.

It’s getting late. I’ll write again later this week.

Regards

Fiona

(Note: accept all reasonable answers)

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Unit 28 Connectives
Language Practice
Fill in each blank in the passage with NO MORE THAN
FOUR words. The first one has been done for you as an
example.

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Unit 28 Connectives

Things to consider when choosing your major

While you are preparing for the HKDSE Exam, you will (1)
also need to decide on your university major. There
________
are a few things you might want to consider when you
choose your field of study.
In the first place/First/Firstly/
(2) _____________________________
For example/For instance , you may ask
yourself, ‘What kinds of subjects am I most interested in?’
also consider what you read or do in
You might (3) _______
in order to/to find out what most
your leisure time (4) ______________
interests you.
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Unit 28 Connectives
In addition/Furthermore/
Moreover/What’s more , you might ask yourself
(5) _______________________

if/whether you have the passion or interest to

(6) ____________

study a subject for four or more years. If the subject does

not interest you, you will not be motivated and you will
Although/Though/
have a rather hard time studying it. (7) _______________
Even though/Despite the fact that it is possible to change
___________________________
your major after you have started university, you will have
wasted a lot of time and effort on the subject that you
and
regret choosing, (8) _________ you may need to delay
your graduation, so consider carefully before you choose.
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Unit 28 Connectives
Next/Then/Second/Secondly/
In addition/Besides/Moreover/Furthermore , you
(9) _______________________________________

should ask yourself, ‘What do I want to do after I

graduate?’ (10) ___________________
Although/Though most jobs do not
require a specific degree, some jobs require that you have
so you should
knowledge in certain subjects, (11) ______
check if your intended major meets the requirements of the
field you want to enter, or not.

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Unit 28 Connectives

Apart from your interests and your career path,

(12) __________

if/whether you have the ability

you should evaluate (13) __________
to study the major you prefer. Some majors, (14)
such as law, require an excellent command of English,
_________
while many science and engineering fields
(15) _________

Therefore/
require you to be strong in mathematics. (16) __________
As a result/Thus , you need to make sure you can
_________________
meet the subject’s requirements before you make up your
mind.

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Unit 28 Connectives

conclude/sum up
To (17) _______________________ , you need to know
more about yourself and your intended major before
making a sound decision. You can talk to your parents and
teachers to get their opinions. (18) Similarly/In addition/
___________________
________
Also , you can discuss your options with friends to
benefit from what they know about you. They may offer
different perspectives and insights that you might not have
considered yet.

(Note: accept all reasonable answers)

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Unit 28 Connectives

Complete the text by choosing the correct answers from the

options opposite. The first one has been done for you
as an example.

Connectives are often used in argumentative

and expository essays to explain ideas clearly
and make the ideas coherent.

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Unit 28 Connectives

Should cooking class be made compulsory at school?

Home Economics classes, (1) cooking skills are taught, are not
compulsory in Hong Kong, (2) some people suggest that every
student be taught cooking at school. What do you think?

(1) A that (2) A despite

B which B or
C to which C but
D in which D since
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Unit 28 Connectives

✓ Agree
Cooking should of course be taught at school!
(3) , this is a basic life skill (4) should not be ignored. It’s often
sad to hear that, (5) , a child achieves academic excellence, but,
(6) , he or she doesn’t even know how to cook noodles, (7)
even boil water.

(3) A In the first place (4) A this

B At the beginning B that
C On the contrary C then
D As a consequence D thus
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✓ Agree
Cooking should of course be taught at school!
(3) , this is a basic life skill (4) should not be ignored. It’s often
sad to hear that, (5) , a child achieves academic excellence, but,
(6) , he or she doesn’t even know how to cook noodles, (7)
even boil water.

(5) A on the one hand (6) A but

B although B however
C despite the fact that C on the other hand
D no matter how D in spite of
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✓ Agree
Cooking should of course be taught at school!
(3) , this is a basic life skill (4) should not be ignored. It’s often
sad to hear that, (5) , a child achieves academic excellence, but,
(6) , he or she doesn’t even know how to cook noodles, (7)
even boil water.

(7) A if
B or
C to
D thus
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Unit 28 Connectives

✓ Agree
Young people should learn (8) care for themselves, (9) their
parents or other caregivers may not always be available to help
them.

(8) A what to (9) A but

B who to B as
C when to C or
D how to D so
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✓ Agree
(10) , (11) this is a basic survival skill, many parents
themselves do not know how to cook, or do not have time to
cook with their children. (12) we have to rely on professionals
to teach children basic cooking skills.

(10) A Secondly (11) A but

B Therefore B however
C In short C in spite of
D Despite this D although
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✓ Agree
(10) , (11) this is a basic survival skill, many parents
themselves do not know how to cook, or do not have time to
cook with their children. (12) we have to rely on professionals
to teach children basic cooking skills.

(12) A In addition
B In summary
C In that case
D In case
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✓ Agree
In my opinion, (13) should cooking skills be taught, but
knowledge about food, nutrition, (14) ways to reduce food
waste, should also be included in the curriculum. (15) , children
can learn more about what they eat and how their eating habits
impact the environment, as well as their health.

(13) A not only (14) A besides

B I think B in addition to
C besides C moreover
D whether or not D as well as
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✓ Agree
In my opinion, (13) should cooking skills be taught, but
knowledge about food, nutrition, (14) ways to reduce food
waste, should also be included in the curriculum. (15) , children
can learn more about what they eat and how their eating habits
impact the environment, as well as their health.

(15) A By the way

B On the contrary
C In this way
D In the same way
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 Disagree
I enjoy cooking, (16) I don’t think it should be made a
compulsory subject in our schools.
(17) , I don’t think running cooking classes in schools is
practical. There may not be enough space for every school to
accommodate the equipment needed.

(16) A or (17) A Furthermore

B but B First
C as C The reason is
D for D Indeed
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 Disagree
(18) , there may not be enough teachers qualified to teach the
subject. (19) , cooking can be a dangerous activity, so special
safety procedures would have to be put in place to keep
students from injuring themselves.

(18) A Besides (19) A In the second place

B Because of this B In a similar way
C On second thoughts C Moreover
D Not to mention D In spite of this
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 Disagree
(20) , it is quite affordable to buy cooked food here in Hong
Kong. (21) cooking is a useful skill, one doesn’t need to know
how to cook to survive in this food paradise.
(22) , I think basic cooking skills should be taught at home, not
at school. Children can receive one-on-one instruction at home,

(20) A In conclusion (21) A Nevertheless

B For instance B To be frank
C In addition C Though
D On the other hand D Despite
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 Disagree
(20) , it is quite affordable to buy cooked food here in Hong
Kong. (21) cooking is a useful skill, one doesn’t need to know
how to cook to survive in this food paradise.
(22) , I think basic cooking skills should be taught at home, not
at school. Children can receive one-on-one instruction at home,

(22) A Secondly
B As a result
C For this reason
D Moreover
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 Disagree
and (23) , cooking together is an excellent family activity. Class
time should be spent teaching other things, (24) parents should
take on the responsibility of teaching their children how to cook.

(23) A in fact (24) A on the contrary

B on the other hand B similarly
C however C so
D although D while
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