How To Connect Ideas In English [with Linking Words]
TLDRIn this engaging English lesson from mmmEnglish, Emma introduces viewers to seven common English linking words and their more formal professional equivalents. The lesson is designed to enhance communication skills in both casual and professional settings. Emma first discusses her personal trip to Portugal using everyday linking words such as 'and', 'or', 'but', 'so', 'because', 'like', and 'especially'. She then transitions into a more formal presentation as 'Professional Emma', discussing tourism trends in Portugal and using formal linking words like 'as well as', 'whereas', 'either or', 'since', 'such as', and 'in fact'. The lesson emphasizes the importance of context in language use, illustrating how to sound more convincing and professional by choosing the right linking words for the situation. Emma also highlights the Hey Lady! community, an online platform for women to improve their English in a supportive environment. The lesson concludes with an invitation for viewers to practice by writing their own sentences in the comments section.
Takeaways
- 📚 Learn to use both casual and professional linking words to enhance your English communication skills.
- 🗣️ Spoken English tends to be more casual, while written English is more formal; it's crucial to understand and apply this distinction.
- 🎓 Using formal language in casual conversation can make you sound stiff and serious, whereas casual language in a professional context may not convey the desired level of professionalism.
- 🌐 Joining an online community like 'Hey Lady!' can provide a supportive environment to practice English without fear of judgment.
- 🔗 Linking words such as 'and', 'or', 'but', 'so', 'because', 'like', and 'especially' are common in everyday English and help to connect ideas.
- 📈 Professional linking words like 'as well as', 'whereas', 'either or', 'since', 'such as', and 'in fact' are more formal and suitable for professional or written contexts.
- 🔄 'And' can be replaced with 'as well as' for a more formal tone, while 'but' can be swapped for 'whereas' to show contrast in a professional manner.
- 🔄 'Or' and 'either or' are used to present alternatives or choices, ensuring they connect two elements of the same grammatical type.
- 🔄 'So' connects a reason with a result and can be informally replaced with 'as a result', which is more formal and requires an additional 'and' before it.
- 🔄 'Because' and 'since' are used to indicate reasons, with 'since' being more formal and suitable for emphasizing the cause.
- 🌰 'Like' and 'such as' are used to give examples, with 'such as' being more appropriate in formal settings.
- 📝 'Especially' adds emphasis to a particular point, while 'in fact' provides additional information or emphasis, often used to introduce a sentence or add an interesting piece of information.
Q & A
What is the main focus of Emma's English lesson?
-The main focus of Emma's English lesson is to teach seven common English linking words and their professional equivalents, which are useful for linking ideas in both spoken and written English.
Why are linking words important in English communication?
-Linking words are important because they help to connect ideas in speech and writing, making communication clearer and more effective.
What is the difference between casual and professional linking words?
-Casual linking words are more suited for everyday conversation and sound more natural and relaxed, while professional linking words are more formal and are used to sound more convincing and professional in formal contexts.
Why might using formal language in a casual conversation make one sound stiff?
-Using formal language in a casual conversation can make one sound stiff because it is not the typical style of communication expected in informal settings, which can come off as overly serious or unnatural.
What is the role of 'Hey Lady!' in Emma's script?
-'Hey Lady!' is an online community that Emma mentions, which helps women to succeed in English by providing a safe environment to meet new speaking partners, discuss interesting topics, and receive support from expert English coaches.
How does Emma differentiate between Casual Emma and Professional Emma in the lesson?
-Casual Emma discusses her personal trip to Portugal in a conversational tone, while Professional Emma gives a more formal presentation about tourism trends in Portugal, using more formal language and linking words.
What are some common linking words that Emma mentions in her casual conversation about her trip to Portugal?
-Some common linking words mentioned by Emma in her casual conversation include 'and', 'or', 'but', 'so', 'because', 'like', and 'especially'.
What is the function of 'as well as' in a sentence?
-'As well as' is used to add information in a slightly more formal way than simply using 'and'. It can introduce an additional item in a list or an alternative option.
How does the word 'whereas' provide a more professional tone in contrast to 'but'?
-'Whereas' is a formal conjunction used to show contrast between two statements, making it a more suitable choice for professional or formal contexts compared to the more common and casual 'but'.
What does Emma suggest using instead of 'or' when listing options in a more formal context?
-Emma suggests using 'either or' as a more formal alternative to 'or' when listing options or choices in a sentence.
How does the word 'so' differ from 'as a result' in terms of formality and focus?
-'So' is more casual and is used to connect a reason with a result, typically in the middle of a sentence. 'As a result' is more formal, can be used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a noun phrase, and places more emphasis on the result.
What is the difference between 'because' and 'since' when used to explain reasons?
-'Because' is commonly used in both speaking and writing to explain reasons, while 'since' is a more formal option and can be used to add emphasis to the reason for something when placed at the beginning or middle of a sentence.
How does 'like' function as a linking word and what are its more formal alternatives?
-'Like' functions as a linking word to mean 'for example' in casual speech. Its more formal alternatives are 'for example' or 'such as', which are preferred in professional or formal settings.
What are the uses of 'especially' and 'in fact' in a sentence?
-'Especially' is used to add emphasis to a particular point, indicating that one thing is more of a certain quality than others. 'In fact' is a discourse marker that provides additional information or emphasizes a point, often introducing a sentence or appearing at the end to add interesting extra information.
Outlines
😀 Introduction to Linking Words in English
In this first paragraph, Emma introduces the topic of the video, which is the use of common English linking words and their professional equivalents. She explains that linking words are essential for connecting ideas in speech and writing. Emma differentiates between casual and formal contexts, noting that using formal language in casual conversation can sound stiff, while using informal language in professional settings might not convey the desired level of professionalism. She emphasizes the importance of understanding formal and informal language use and encourages viewers to watch the entire video to learn how to communicate effectively in various situations. Emma also introduces 'Hey Lady!', an online community designed to help women improve their English through practice with expert coaches and speaking partners, and invites viewers to join the community for a free trial.
🌍 Portugal's Tourism Trends and Linking Words
The second paragraph delves into the topic of tourism in Portugal, highlighting the country's popularity due to its mild winters and hot summers. Emma discusses the diverse landscape that allows tourists to choose between coastal or mountainous vacations. She mentions that Portugal was voted the best European destination for a road trip in 2021 and notes the popularity of Lisbon among tourists. The paragraph also touches on the current state of international versus domestic tourism post-pandemic. Throughout the discussion, Emma uses formal linking words such as 'as well as', 'whereas', 'either or', 'since', 'such as', and 'in fact', providing a contrast to the more casual linking words used by 'Casual Emma' in the first part of the video.
🔄 The Use of Linking Words to Show Relationships
In this paragraph, Emma explains the use of linking words to show relationships between ideas. She discusses how 'so' and 'as a result' can be used interchangeably to connect a reason with a result, with a slight difference in formality and structure. Emma also covers 'because' and 'since', which are used to focus on reasons, and notes that 'since' is more formal. She then moves on to 'like' and 'such as', which are used to give examples, and points out that in formal settings, 'such as' is preferred over 'like'. Lastly, she distinguishes between 'especially', which adds emphasis to a particular point, and 'in fact', a discourse marker used to provide additional information or emphasize a point. Emma provides examples of how these words can be used in sentences to enhance communication.
📝 Encouraging Practice and Engagement
The final paragraph serves as a conclusion to the video, where Emma expresses hope that the viewers have learned something new and interesting. She challenges the audience to apply their knowledge by writing their own sentences using the linking words in the comments section. Emma also mentions her intention to check the comments, encouraging further interaction and engagement with the viewers.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Linking words
💡Casual English
💡Formal English
💡Professional equivalents
💡Online community
💡Tourism trends
💡Jetlag
💡Patterned pavements
💡Domestic tourism
💡Discourse marker
💡Gerund
Highlights
Emma from mmmEnglish is teaching seven common English linking words and their professional equivalents.
Linking words are essential for connecting ideas in speech and writing.
The lesson differentiates between casual and formal linking words for various communication contexts.
Formal language can sound stiff in casual conversations, whereas casual language might not convey professionalism in formal settings.
The lesson includes a shout-out to the members of Hey Lady!, an online community for women to improve their English.
Hey Lady! offers a safe environment to practice English with expert coaches and without judgment.
Casual Emma and Professional Emma present contrasting styles of using linking words in a narrative about a trip to Portugal.
Identifying linking words in sentences helps to understand how ideas are connected.
Common linking words include 'and', 'or', 'but', 'so', 'because', 'like', and 'especially'.
Professional Emma uses more formal linking words such as 'as well as', 'whereas', 'either or', 'since', 'such as', and 'in fact'.
The word 'and' can be replaced with 'as well as' for a more formal tone.
'Whereas' is used to show contrast in a more professional manner compared to 'but'.
The conjunctions 'or' and 'either or' are used to present alternatives or choices.
The pronunciation of 'either' can vary, but both are correct and can be used interchangeably.
The phrase 'either, either' or 'either or' is used to express indifference between two options.
'So' and 'as a result' are used to connect a reason with a result, with 'as a result' being more formal.
'Because' and 'since' are used to focus on the reason for something, with 'since' being more formal.
'Like' is used informally to mean 'for example', while 'such as' is more appropriate in formal contexts.
'Especially' and 'in fact' are used to emphasize a point, with 'in fact' providing additional information.
The lesson concludes with an invitation for viewers to write their own sentences using the linking words in the comments section.
Transcripts
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