Linking words (Easy)

Hello and welcome to 6 Minute Vocabulary. Im Rob…

Catherine

And Im Catherine. And this programme is all about words, the words and phrases

we use to connect ideas and events when we speak or write.

Rob

Yes, call them linking words and phrases. They help people to follow what were saying

by showing how ideas are to each other.

Catherine

First, well look at some examples …*%��

Rob

Next, there will be a short quiz…

 � and finally, well leave you with a top tip for learning vocabulary.

Rob

But to start with, lets to Angela talking about a lucky escape she had. While you listen,

try to answer this question: who or saved Angela in the end?

Catherine

Heres Angela

INSERT

Presenter

So Angela, tell us: what did you escape from?

A shark.

Presenter

Wow! Really…?

Angela

Yes, what happened was I was swimming off the coast, when all of sudden, I saw

a huge black shape coming towards me. To begin with, I thought it was a dolphin …*%��

Presenter

But it wasnt’. So, what happened next?

Angela

Well, I then quickly realised it was a shark. Luckily, a very fast swimmer. But in the

end, it was a boat that saved me.

Rob

Thats an incredible ! We asked: who or what saved Angela?

Catherine

It was a boat. Angela said “In the end, a boat me.”

Rob

Lucky lady. Now Angela helped us to follow her story by using linking words and phrases to

us what happened, when it happened and how she felt about it. Lets have a look at

some of .

Catherine

OK, right, now the first one was right at the beginning. Angela said "What happened

was…" and this a really good way to introduce a story because it grabs the listeners’

attention and it tells them to ready to hear a story. Have a listen.

Angela

What happened was I was swimming off the coast, when of a sudden, I saw a

huge black shape coming towards me.

Rob

OK, good start. Now another way tell your story clearly is to use words that show the

order of events. Catherine and I did this the beginning of this programme when we used

words like First, Next and Finally: First, well look at examples …,*%��,

Catherine

Next, there will be a short quiz …*%��

Rob

And finally, well leave you with a top tip ….*%��.

Catherine

Exactly. Now lets listen to how Angela used words and phrases like these.

INSERT

Angela

What happened was was swimming off the coast, when all of a sudden, I saw a

huge black shape coming towards me. begin with, I thought it was a dolphin …*%��

Presenter

But it wasnt’. So, what happened next?

Angela

Well, then quickly realised it was a shark. Luckily, Im a very fast swimmer. But in the

end, it was boat that saved me.

Catherine

So, when you get to the end of your story use a phrase like the end or finally to

show that your storys about to finish.

INSERT

Angela

But in the end it a boat that saved me.

Rob

OK. Now, lets hear Angela tell us how the boat saved her.

INSERT

Fortunately, the boat had already seen the shark and fired a rocket, which scared the

creature off.

Presenter

That lucky!

Rob

Wow, so Angela uses the adverb fortunately as a linking word to comment on this.

Catherine

Yes in the first clip Angela said: "Luckily, Im a fast swimmer." Other comment

adverbs you may hear include unfortunately, and so on. And we can also use

adverbs and adverbial phrases like suddenly or all of a sudden, we heard in the

first clip to say how things happen.

STING

Rob

Were talking about words and phrases link different sentences and parts of a story

Catherine

Yep and its time for a quick recap. So, to a story we had …*%��

Rob

Well, what happened was …*%��

Catherine

For ordering events:

Rob

First of all, begin with, then, next, after that…

Catherine

To finish a story …*%��

Rob

Finally, in the end.

Catherine

To a comment:

Rob

Luckily, unfortunately, sadly

Catherine

And lastly we had:

Rob

Suddenly, all of a sudden

Catherine

Great, its quiz time. Choose the correct linking word or phrase to fill the gaps.

Number one: I tried for to get a ticket to the final. [sfx: beep] I gave up. Is it a) In the

end or ) Next.

Rob

Its a) In the end.

Catherine

Well done. Number two. It started to rain. [sfx: beep] I an umbrella with me. Is it a)

Suddenly or b) Luckily.

Rob

Its b) Luckily.

Catherine

Finally, number 3: is the correct phrase to introduce your story? Is it a) What

happened was  � or b) What happened  � ?*%

Rob

And its a) What happened was …*%��

Catherine

It is, and well done to you if got those right. Now before we finish heres Rob with a

quick tip for learning vocabulary.

Rob

Yes, why make a note of new linking devices when hear other people speak English  � on

the bus, waiting in queue or watching TV. Note them on your phone or just write them

down somewhere and then try to them yourself.

Catherine

Top tip Rob, thank you. Theres more about this at BBC learning English dot com. Join

again for more 6 Minute Vocabulary.

Both

Good bye!