ESL students often fail to connect their sentences and ideas with appropriate connecting words. Although this doesn’t necessarily make their prose grammatically incorrect, it affects the flow of ideas.
Good writers use a large number of words and phrases to show relationships between ideas and information. In grammars these linking words are called transitional adverbs or conjunctive adverbs.
Here is an overview of the most common transition words in English.
To add information
In order to add more information to what has already been said, you can use the following conjunctions and transitional adverbs:
Conjunctions: and, as well as, not only…but also
We have got a car and a bike.
We have got a car as well as a bike.
We have got not only a bike but also a car.
Transitional adverbs: moreover, in addition, furthermore, again, what’s more, besides, equally important, too, also
Examples are given below
Smoking makes you smell bad. Moreover, there is now clear evidence that it causes cancer.
Mr. Rai has earned the respect of laborers everywhere. Furthermore, they know they can trust him.
Smoking is dangerous. What’s more, it makes you smell bad.
Regular physical exercise helps you burn those unwanted calories. In addition, it relieves stress.
Besides being a colleague, he is my best friend.
Notes
Also, as well and too have very similar meanings. But they do not go in the same position in clauses.
He not only smokes; he also drinks.
He not only smokes; he drinks as well.
He not only smokes; he drinks, too.
