A2 — Lesson 20

Linking Words

Because · So · When · While · But · Although · However · Furthermore · In Addition
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Vocabulary: Emotions, Events & Situations

Context: We use linking words to explain why we feel something, when something happens, or how two ideas contrast. This vocabulary gives you the building blocks for complex sentences.

1. Emotions — Reasons & Results

Relieved/rɪˈliːvd/Облекчен
Anxious/ˈæŋk.ʃəs/Тревожен / Притеснен
Embarrassed/ɪmˈbær.əst/Засрамен
Proud/praʊd/Горд
Disappointed/ˌdɪs.əˈpɔɪn.tɪd/Разочарован
Determined/dɪˈtɜː.mɪnd/Решителен / Упорит
Exhausted/ɪɡˈzɔːs.tɪd/Изтощен / Много уморен
Overwhelmed/ˌəʊ.vəˈwelmd/Съкрушен / Претоварен

2. Actions & Events

To happen/ˈhæp.ən/Случва се
To arrive/əˈraɪv/Пристигам
To leave/liːv/Тръгвам / Напускам
To fail/feɪl/Провалям се / Не успявам
To pass/pɑːs/Успявам (на изпит)
To manage/ˈmæn.ɪdʒ/Успявам / Справям се
To struggle/ˈstrʌɡ.əl/Мъча се / Боря се
To give up/ɡɪv ʌp/Отказвам се

3. Connector Phrases

Despite/dɪˈspaɪt/Въпреки
Nevertheless/ˌnev.ə.ðəˈles/Въпреки това / Независимо от това
On the other hand/ɒn ðə ˈʌð.ər hænd/От друга страна
As a result/æz ə rɪˈzʌlt/В резултат на това
In addition/ɪn əˈdɪʃ.ən/Освен това / Допълнително
Furthermore/ˈfɜː.ðə.mɔːr/Нещо повече / Освен това
📝 Exercise A — Match the emotion: Choose the correct word.
1. I passed the exam I had been studying for all month.
2. She tripped and dropped all her books in front of everyone.
3. He had so many deadlines at once that he couldn't cope.
4. Her daughter won first prize in the competition.
5. She worked 16 hours and could barely keep her eyes open.
🎯 Exercise B — In context: Write the correct word.
1. He studied hard but the exam was cancelled — he felt very ___.
2. She didn't quit even though it was very difficult — she was really ___.
3. He had too much on his plate at work — he felt completely ___.
4. She was ___ about the interview — she kept checking her phone for messages.
5. ___ this, he carried on and eventually finished the race.

Grammar Lab: Connecting Sentences

Linking words join two ideas. The word you choose changes the meaning (reason, result, contrast, time, addition) and also the punctuation. Both matter.
!

Before You Start: How English and Bulgarian Connect Ideas Differently

Understanding this will prevent the most common mistakes

In English grammar, you look at a sentence in terms of a simple sentence (a single standalone thought) and a compound or complex sentence (a larger sentence made of two or more parts). When you join two parts with a linking word, each part is called a clause — it has its own subject and verb, and could theoretically stand alone.

English works the same way underneath — but the terminology is different, and that difference matters for punctuation.

Bulgarian termEnglish termExample
просто изречение
a simple sentence / one part		 clause
a group of words with a subject + verb		 "I was tired" — one clause. "I went to bed" — one clause.
сложно изречение
a complex sentence (two parts joined)		 complex / compound sentence
two clauses joined by a linking word		 "I was tired, so I went to bed." — one English sentence, two clauses.
свързващa дума
connecting word		 linking word / conjunction / connector
joins two clauses		 because, so, when, although, but, however…
⚠️ The key difference: what counts as "one sentence"

In Bulgarian school grammar, you often write the two parts as separate sentences joined by a comma and a connector:
Бях уморен, затова легнах. → две прости изречения, едно сложно изречение.

In English, this is also written as one sentence — but the punctuation rules are stricter and depend on which linking word you use and where you place it. This is the main challenge for Bulgarian learners.

✅ "I was tired, so I went to bed." — correct English: one sentence, comma before SO.
❌ "I was tired. So I went to bed." — incorrect in formal English: SO cannot start a sentence.
✅ "I was tired. However, I kept going." — correct: HOWEVER starts a new sentence with a full stop before it.

The rule is simple: the linking word decides the punctuation. Learn the word → learn its punctuation.
💡 One more thing: English has two types of linking words that work differently.
Conjunctions (because, so, when, while, but, although) sit inside the sentence and join the two clauses directly.
Connectors / adverbs (however, furthermore, in addition) sit at the start of a new sentence and link the idea to the previous sentence. This is why they always follow a full stop.
1

Reason & Result: BECAUSE and SO

They are two sides of the same coin — both connect a cause and a result

BECAUSE answers the question Why? and introduces the reason. SO introduces what happened as a result. Imagine an arrow: BECAUSE points backwards (here is why), SO points forwards (here is what happened next).

BECAUSE → introduces the reason

"I went to bed because I was tired."

Result + because + Reason. No comma needed in the middle.

↔
SO → introduces the result

"I was tired, so I went to bed."

Reason + , so + Result. Always a comma before SO.

BECAUSE

Answers WHY? — connects directly to the reason.

  • "He is happy because he passed the exam."
  • "She left because she was bored."
  • "I can't come because I am working."
  • "Because it was raining, I took a taxi."
✍️ Can start a sentence: Because + clause, + result.
SO

Shows what happened next — the result or consequence.

  • "He passed, so he was happy."
  • "She was bored, so she left."
  • "I was working, so I couldn't come."
  • "It was raining, so I took a taxi."
✍️ Always a comma before SO. Never starts a sentence in formal English.
💡 Quick test: Can you answer it with "Why?" → use BECAUSE. Is it the thing that happened next? → use SO.
📝 Exercise A — Easy: Choose BECAUSE or SO.
1. It was raining, ___ I took an umbrella.
2. I took an umbrella ___ it was raining.
3. She was nervous, ___ she prepared extra carefully.
4. He failed ___ he didn't study enough.
5. She was exhausted, ___ she went to bed early.
🎯 Exercise B — Harder: Fill in BECAUSE or SO. Focus on meaning: which idea is the reason, and which is the result?
1. She was determined, ___ she never gave up. (what happened as a result?)
2. He asked for help ___ he was overwhelmed. (why did he ask?)
3. She felt proud ___ her son had won the competition.
4. The train was delayed, ___ we missed the meeting.
5. He was disappointed ___ he had worked so hard but still failed.
2

Time: WHEN and WHILE

WHEN = a moment. WHILE = a period of time.

Both connect two events in time. WHEN refers to the moment something happened — like a click. WHILE means during the time something was happening — two actions going on at the same time.

WHEN

At the moment something happened — a single point in time.

  • "Call me when you arrive."
  • "I was sleeping when the phone rang."
  • "When I was young, I lived in London."
  • "She smiled when she saw the cake."
💡 WHEN + simple tense for future: "I will call when I arrive." — NOT "will arrive".
WHILE

During the period of something — two things happening at the same time.

  • "I listen to music while I cook."
  • "She fell asleep while she was reading."
  • "While he was working, she went out."
  • "He phoned me while I was driving."
💡 WHILE often pairs with the past continuous (-ing) for one of the actions.
📝 Exercise A — Easy: Choose WHEN or WHILE.
1. I was cooking ___ he arrived.
2. I listen to podcasts ___ I run.
3. She fell asleep ___ she was reading.
4. Call me ___ you get home.
5. ___ I was young, I lived in the countryside.
🎯 Exercise B — Harder: Fill in WHEN or WHILE — and correct the verb if needed. (Write only the linking word)
1. I will tell her ___ I see her tomorrow.
2. She was embarrassed ___ everyone stared at her.
3. He struggled ___ he was learning the new system.
4. We will go out ___ it stops raining.
5. ___ she was waiting, she read a book.
3

Contrast: BUT, ALTHOUGH and HOWEVER

Showing the unexpected — same meaning, different position and register

These three words all show contrast — something surprising or opposite to what you expect. The difference is in position (where in the sentence), punctuation, and register (formal vs informal).

BUT

Simple contrast. Goes in the middle of a sentence. Everyday/informal.

  • "I tried, but I failed."
  • "It was cold, but we went out."
  • "She works hard but never complains."
✍️ Always a comma before BUT if the linked clause has a subject.
ALTHOUGH

More formal than BUT. Can go at the start or middle.

  • "Although I was tired, I kept going."
  • "I kept going although I was tired."
  • "Although it rained, we had fun."
✍️ At start: ALTHOUGH + clause, + result.
HOWEVER

Formal written English. Always starts a new sentence.

  • "I studied hard. However, I failed."
  • "She managed. However, it was not easy."
  • "It was expensive. However, we bought it."
✍️ Full stop before. HOWEVER, + rest.
WordPositionPunctuationRegister
BUTMiddle onlyComma before: "..., but ..."Informal / everyday
ALTHOUGHStart or middleComma after clause at start: "Although ..., ..."Neutral / slightly formal
HOWEVERStart of new sentenceFull stop before. Comma after: "... . However, ..."Formal / written
📝 Exercise A — Easy: Choose BUT, ALTHOUGH or HOWEVER. Look at the sentence structure — it tells you which word fits.
1. I tried, ___ I failed.
2. ___ I tried, I failed.
3. I tried. ___, I failed.
4. It was cold, ___ we went out.
5. ___ it was cold, we went out.
🎯 Exercise B — Harder: Fill in BUT, ALTHOUGH or HOWEVER. The sentence structure shows you where the word sits — choose the one that fits that position.
1. She was exhausted. ___, she finished the project.
2. ___ he was disappointed, he didn't give up.
3. The course was expensive, ___ it was worth every penny.
4. She managed the task. ___, it took much longer than planned.
5. ___ the weather was awful, they enjoyed the walk.
4

Adding Information: AND, ALSO, IN ADDITION, FURTHERMORE

Building on the previous point

These words add more information to what you have already said. AND and ALSO are simple and informal. IN ADDITION and FURTHERMORE are formal — used in written English to strengthen an argument or add a new, equally important point.

AND / ALSO

Simple addition — basic and neutral. Everyday English.

  • "I like tea and coffee."
  • "I like tea. I also like coffee."
  • "She is kind and intelligent."
IN ADDITION / FURTHERMORE

Formal addition — starts a new sentence. Used in essays and reports.

  • "The job pays well. Furthermore, it has great benefits."
  • "It was cheap. In addition, it was well made."
  • "She is experienced. Furthermore, she speaks French."
✍️ New sentence. FURTHERMORE / IN ADDITION, + rest.
📝 Exercise A — Easy: Choose the best option.
1. The flat is big. ___, it has a garden. (formal addition)
2. She is experienced ___ reliable. (simple, informal)
3. The course is free. ___, it offers a certificate. (formal addition)
4. He is good at maths ___ science. (simple joining)
5. It was cheap. It was ___ well made. (addition, same sentence)
🎯 Exercise B — Harder: Fill in AND, ALSO, IN ADDITION or FURTHERMORE. Think about formality and whether it is one sentence or two.
1. She speaks French ___ Spanish fluently.
2. The hotel is beautiful. ___, it is surprisingly affordable.
3. He is a great teacher. He is ___ a published author.
4. The new system is faster. ___, it uses far less energy.
5. I was tired ___ hungry after the long journey.
5

Punctuation: The Comma Rules — Full Summary

Now that you know all the words, let's look at how position changes punctuation

You have practised choosing the right linking word. Now we add the final layer: where you put the word changes the punctuation. This is one of the most common error areas at A2–B1 level. Study the table, then test yourself on sentences using all the words from Parts 1–4.

WordIn the MiddleAt the Start
BECAUSENo comma: "I cried because I was sad."Comma after clause: "Because I was sad, I cried."
WHENNo comma: "I will call when I arrive."Comma after clause: "When I arrive, I will call."
WHILENo comma: "She fell asleep while reading."Comma after clause: "While she read, she fell asleep."
ALTHOUGHNo comma: "I kept going although I was tired."Comma after clause: "Although I was tired, I kept going."
SOAlways comma before: "I was tired, so I slept."❌ Never starts a sentence in formal writing.
BUTAlways comma before BUT + subject: "I tried, but I failed."❌ Never starts a sentence in formal writing.
HOWEVER❌ Cannot sit in the middle like BUT.New sentence + comma after: "... . However, I kept going."
FURTHERMORE / IN ADDITION❌ Not used in the middle of a sentence.New sentence + comma after: "... . Furthermore, it was cheap."
📝 Exercise A — Spot the error: Each sentence has a punctuation mistake. Choose what is wrong.
1. "Because I was tired I went to bed."
2. "I cried, because I was sad."
3. "I studied hard, however I failed."
4. "She is experienced. Furthermore she speaks French."
5. "It was raining so I stayed inside."
🎯 Exercise B — Rewrite correctly: Each sentence is incorrect. Write ONLY the corrected version — choose the right word AND fix the punctuation. (Type the full corrected sentence or just the missing/moved punctuation mark)
1. Is this correct? → "Although it was raining we went out."
2. Is this correct? → "When I arrive, I will call you."
3. Is this correct? → "I was tired, but I kept going."
4. Is this correct? → "I studied hard. However, I failed."
5. Is this correct? → "She is kind, furthermore she is talented."
6. Is this correct? → "I will eat when I arrive home."
7. Is this correct? → "Because she was exhausted, she resigned."
8. Is this correct? → "It was expensive, so I didn't buy it."

Reading: Four Stories with Linking Words

Read each text carefully. Linking words are shown in bold. Then answer the four questions.
🎂

Text 1: The Surprise Party

Yesterday was Tom's birthday. We wanted to surprise him because he had worked very hard all year. When he left the office, his wife called me straight away. We turned off all the lights, so the house was completely dark. We waited quietly behind the sofa. When Tom opened the door, we all shouted "Surprise!" He dropped his keys because he was shocked. At first he looked anxious, but when he saw the cake, he felt relieved. He was overwhelmed because all his friends were there. It was the best birthday he had ever had.

Questions:

1. Why did they want to surprise Tom?

2. "They turned off all the lights, so the house was dark." — SO shows...

3. Why did Tom drop his keys?

4. "He looked anxious, but when he saw the cake..." — BUT shows...

🎓

Text 2: The Exam

Maria had been studying for her English exam for three months. Although she was exhausted, she never gave up. When the exam day arrived, she felt both anxious and determined. She had prepared well, so she managed to answer most of the questions. However, one section was much harder than she expected. She struggled with it, but she did not leave any answers blank. When she left the exam hall, she felt a mixture of relief and worry. Two weeks later, she received her results. She had passed. Because she had worked so hard, the success felt even more meaningful.

Questions:

1. How long had Maria been studying?

2. "She had prepared well, so she managed to answer most questions." — What does SO show?

3. "Although she was exhausted, she never gave up." — We can replace ALTHOUGH with...

4. Why did the success feel especially meaningful?

🏃

Text 3: The Marathon

Last spring, my colleague David decided to run a marathon. Although he had never run more than five kilometres before, he signed up immediately. He trained every morning while most people were still sleeping. When the race day came, he felt both proud and terrified. The first half went well, but he hit the wall at kilometre thirty. His legs ached because he had not eaten enough the night before. However, he did not stop. He slowed down, but he kept moving. When he crossed the finish line, he burst into tears. He was overwhelmed because he had finally done something he had always said was impossible. Furthermore, he raised £800 for charity.

Questions:

1. How far had David run before signing up for the marathon?

2. Why did his legs ache at kilometre thirty?

3. "He slowed down, but he kept moving." — BUT shows...

4. What does FURTHERMORE introduce at the end of the text?

📸

Text 4: A Fresh Start

Last year, my friend Sophie decided to change her life. Although she had a good job, she was not happy. She felt overwhelmed because she was working twelve hours a day. She decided to resign, so she had to find a new plan quickly. When she told her family, they were surprised. However, they supported her decision in the end. Although it was a risk, she felt excited rather than scared. Sophie enrolled on a photography course because it had always been her passion. When she started the course, she immediately felt at home. The work was challenging, but she loved every minute of it. Furthermore, she quickly made new friends. When the evening ended, she felt proud and relieved. Although the change had been frightening, it was the best decision she had ever made.

Questions:

1. Why did Sophie feel overwhelmed in her old job?

2. How did her family react when she told them?

3. Why did Sophie choose a photography course?

4. "The work was challenging, but she loved every minute." — What does BUT tell us?

Text 1 / 4

Cloze Text: Fill in the Linking Word

Choose the correct linking word for each gap. Think carefully about both meaning and punctuation.

A Fresh Start

Last year, my friend Sophie decided to change her life. (1) she had a good job, she was not happy. She felt overwhelmed (2) she was working twelve hours a day. She decided to resign, (3) she had to find a new plan quickly.

(4) she told her family, they were surprised. , (5) they supported her decision in the end. (6) it was a risk, she felt excited rather than scared.

Sophie enrolled on a photography course (7) it had always been her passion. (8) she started the course, she immediately felt at home. The work was challenging, (9) she loved every minute of it. , (10) she quickly made new friends.

Six months later, Sophie had her first exhibition. She was nervous (11) it was her first time showing her work in public. , (12) the response from visitors was wonderful. (13) the evening ended, she felt proud and relieved. (14) the change had been frightening, it was the best decision she had ever made. , (15) she sold three of her photographs that night.

Exercises (15 Sets)

Focus: Because · So · When · While · But · Although · However · Furthermore · In Addition. Type your answer and press Check Exercise.

Tense Writing Practice

Five exercises, 10 sentences each — all mixed tenses.
Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense. Use everything from your A2 tense knowledge.

Gerund or Infinitive?

Five mixed exercises. The verb before the gap decides the form.
Key verbs with gerund: enjoy · finish · like · love · hate · avoid · mind · stop · practise · keep · suggest · consider
Key verbs with infinitive: want · need · decide · hope · plan · manage · promise · agree · refuse · expect · offer · learn · forget · remember