Linking words for the IELTS test – 1

An aspect of the last week of teaching in Taiyuan, Shanxi Provience , China, has been identifying a variety of linking words in a reading passages, and incorporating these into our writing.

For short answer questions, students also practiced predicting the kind of information we expect to look for, in both the reading and listening test, according to the question.

Using linking words for meaning and clarity

By the end of this class you should be able to:

• Use linking words for contrast accurately, both in terms of meaning and grammar.

 

Glossary: •       Unsightly (adj) – not nice looking. Parts of the city are neglected and unsightly •       Displacement (n) – forced to move/leave. The displacement of many people has caused a crises. •       Hydropower (n) – powered by water and gravity – China’s is increasing it’s use of hydropower •       Stable (adj) – constant – After the economic crash, the economy is now considered stable again. •       Inexhaustible. Unlimited, unending –  The sun’s power is thought to be inexhaustible in relation to the existence of  human beings.

 

Task 1: Identify whether the following pairs of sentences contain contrasting ideas (ü) or not.

1. a. Solar PV is good for the environment.
2. It can be used in remote areas.

 

1. Hydropower is a clean source of energy.
2. It leads to the displacement of people and animals.

 

1. Renewable energy creates jobs.
2. These jobs are often not permanent.

 

1. Renewable energy is getting cheaper.
2. It is getting more stable.

 

1. Wind turbines are unsightly.
2. They make a lot of noise.

 

1. Solar PV is a local source of energy.
2. It can only be used when the sun shines.

 

1. Traditional energy sources provide a lot of jobs.
2. They are cost effective.

 

1. Wind energy is inexhaustible.
2. It can only be used in windy places.

Answers

Task 2: Combine the pairs of sentences expressing contrast in task 1 by linking them with but. Remember the grammar and punctuation.

1. Hydropower is a clean source of energy. It leads to the displacement of people and animals.                                                                                                                                                
2. Renewable energy creates jobs. These jobs are often not permanent.                     
3. Solar PV is a local source of energy. It can only be used when the sun shines.               
4. Wind energy is inexhaustible. It can only be used in windy places.

Answer

Task 3: Combine the pairs of sentences expressing contrast in task 1 again.

This time, use although and however. Remember the grammar and punctuation.

• (use although in the middle of the sentence)

Hydropower is a clean source of energy. It leads to the displacement of people and animals.

• (use however)

Renewable energy creates jobs. These jobs are often not permanent.

•  (use although at the beginning of the sentence)

Solar PV is a local source of energy It can only be used when the sun shines.

• (use however)

Wind energy is inexhaustible. It can only be used in windy places.

Answers

Task 4: Complete the sentences with although or in spite of.

Example: I have installed solar panels, although they are very expensive.

1.  It is obvious that solar panels are less disruptive than wind turbines, many local councils still prefer the latter.
2. Wind energy is environmentally friendly the noise of the wind turbines.
3.  The neighbourhood’s protests, the wind turbines were installed.
4.  I had solar panels installed last year, I still haven’t switched to renewable energy.
5. Fossil fuels are still widely used  being environmentally damaging.

Answers

Task 5: Use whereas, while and on the other hand to combine the sentences below. Remember the correct grammar and the punctuation.

 

• Traditional energy is cost efficient. Renewable energy is still quite expensive. (Use whereas)

Answer

 

• Hydropower is less noisy than wind power. It requires a big dam to be built in a river. (Use On the other hand)

Answers    

                                                                                                                                                            

• Solar power can provide energy in dry, sunny areas. Hydropower can provide energy in any area where there is a lot of water. (Use while)

Answers

                                                                                                     

 

• Traditional energy provides many jobs. It is also bad for the environment. (Use On the other hand)

Answers

 

• Wind power is dangerous for bats and birds. Hydropower displaces people. (Use whereas).

Answers

Recap linking words of contrast:

Form:

There are different types of linking words of contrast. The type of linking word determines the grammar.

Coordinating conjunction: but

Sentence +, + coordinating conjunction + sentence

Renewable energy provides a possible solution for global warming, but it still has many problems.

DO NOT START A SENTENCE WITH ‘BUT’ ‘AND’ or ‘BECAUSE’ IN ACADEMIC WRITING.

Subordinating conjunctions: although, whereas, while

Sentence + subordinating conjunction + sentence

Renewable energy provides a possible solution for global warming although it still has many problems.

Subordinating conjunction + sentence +, + sentence

Although renewable energy still has many problems, it provides a possible solution for global warming.

Sentence connectors: However, On the other hand

Sentence connector +, + sentence

Renewable energy provides a possible solution for global warming. However, it still has many problems.

Wind turbines are expensive to construct. On the other hand, once they have been constructed, they are relatively cheap to run.

Prepositions: in spite of, despite

Preposition + -ing form +, + sentence

In spite of/Despite being clean, wind energy is not used as widely as traditional energy.

Preposition + noun +, + sentence

In spite of/Despite the environmental benefits, wind energy is not as popular as traditional energy.  

Use:

Although these linking words are all very similar in meaning, there are some slight differences between them.

Linking words used to express contrast between two ideas (where usually one idea is positive and one idea is negative):

but, although, however, in spite of, despite

Renewable energy provides a possible solution for global warming although it still has many problems.

Linking words used to express comparison between two different things/ideas:

whereas, while, on the other hand

Solar PV is most effective in areas that get a lot of sun whereas/while wind power produces most energy in windy areas.

 

Task 6:  Put the correct linking words in the blanks in the sentences below. Choose from but, although, however, in spite of, despite, whereas, while, on the other hand. Pay attention to the surrounding grammar structures and also to the meaning, i.e. what types of ideas are contrasted/compared?

1. Hydropower is suitable in areas where large dams can be built  wind power is suitable in windy areas, such as Scotland.
2.  traditional power plants are expensive to maintain, they do provide a lot of jobs.
3.  polluting the environment, traditional power is still the most use source of energy in the world.
4. Wind power does not produce any emissions of poisonous gases. , wind turbines are unsightly.
5. A lot of people are having solar panels installed on their roofs  the cost.
6. Solar panels are very expensive,  they last very long.
7. It is argued that wind power provides considerable annoyance to local people  solar power is much less disruptive.
8. Traditional energy is economical. , renewable energy is quite expensive.

Answers