Linking words (although, despite…)

O cimento que segura suas ideias

Linking words conectam ideias com lógica: contraste (although, despite, however), causa e consequência (therefore, since), adição (moreover) e propósito (in order to). São elas que transformam frases soltas em textos maduros — e são presença garantida em redações, e-mails de trabalho e provas de proficiência.

Na prática

My essays sound like a shopping list: sentence, period, sentence, period. How do I fix that?

Minhas redações parecem lista de compras: frase, ponto, frase, ponto. Como resolvo isso?

Linking words! Compare: 'It was raining. We went out.' versus 'Although it was raining, we went out.'

Linking words! Compare: 'It was raining. We went out.' com 'Although it was raining, we went out.'

I learned one! Despite of the rain, we went out.

Aprendi uma! Despite of the rain, we went out.

So close, Max! It's 'despite the rain' or 'in spite of the rain'. 'Despite of' doesn't exist.

Quase lá, Max! É 'despite the rain' ou 'in spite of the rain'. 'Despite of' não existe.

Fox formula: although + full sentence, despite + noun or -ing. Swap them and the sentence falls apart.

Fórmula da raposa: although + frase completa, despite + substantivo ou -ing. Troque um pelo outro e a frase desmorona.

Therefore, I will practice every day. See what I did there?

Portanto, vou praticar todo dia. Viu o que eu fiz aqui?

Quando usar

Para contrastar com oração completa: "Although the test was hard, everyone passed."
Para contrastar com substantivo ou -ing: "Despite being tired, she finished the race."
Para contrastar entre duas frases separadas: "The hotel was expensive. However, the service was terrible."
Para indicar consequência: "He didn't back up his files; therefore, he lost everything."
Para expressar propósito: "She moved to Dublin in order to improve her English."

Como formar

Contraste + oração although/even though + sujeito + verbo

Even though he trained hard, he lost the match. — Mesmo tendo treinado muito, ele perdeu a partida.

Contraste + substantivo/-ing despite / in spite of + substantivo ou verbo-ing

Despite the traffic, we arrived on time. — Apesar do trânsito, chegamos na hora.

Contraste entre frases Frase 1. However, + frase 2

The apartment is small. However, the location is perfect. — O apartamento é pequeno. Porém, a localização é perfeita.

Consequência Frase 1; therefore, / As a result, + frase 2

Sales dropped; therefore, the company changed its strategy. — As vendas caíram; portanto, a empresa mudou de estratégia.

Os tropeços do Max

O Max erra como todo aprendiz — a Teacher Sofia corrige.

~~Despite of the problems, the event was a success.~~

Despite the problems, the event was a success.

É 'despite' OU 'in spite of' — misturar os dois cria o inexistente 'despite of', um dos erros mais cometidos por brasileiros.

~~Although the rain, we went to the beach.~~

Despite the rain, we went to the beach.

'Although' exige oração com sujeito e verbo ('although it was raining'). Antes de substantivo puro, use 'despite' ou 'in spite of'.

~~He studied a lot. Therefore he failed the exam.~~

He studied a lot. However, he failed the exam.

'Therefore' indica consequência lógica, mas reprovar depois de estudar é um CONTRASTE — o conector certo é 'however'. Escolha o conector pela lógica, não pelo som.

Mini-teste da Maya

Clique na alternativa para conferir na hora.

1 Complete: ___ having little experience, she got the job.

2 Complete: The flight was delayed. ___, we missed the connection.

3 Qual frase está correta?

Quer praticar de verdade? Resolva questões de nível B2 →