Some words and phrases (sentence connectors) are used to ...



Some words and phrases (sentence connectors) are used to connect one sentence with a previous sentence or sentences. Often (but not always) these go at the beginning of the sentence:

o Soraya (...) had apparently been instructed not to answer questions from pilgrims. Even so, one got the feeling she dreamed along the path with the pilgrims she saw pass by...

Other words and phrases (conjunctions) are used to connect clauses within a single sentence:

o While the Camino faded in popularity after the Black Plague and the birth of Protestantism, it has never been entirely abandoned or forgotten...

|Type of connection |Example sentence connectors |Example conjunctions |

|Comparing, contrasting, and indicating |After all, all the same, alternatively, anyway, by |Although, even though, |

|that a situation (in the main clause) is|contrast, even so, however, in any case, in contrast, |though, whereas, while, yet |

|unexpected |instead, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand | |

Even though is a conjunction used to say that a fact doesn’t make the rest of the sentence untrue. It connects ideas within a sentence: Even though it was midday, I put on the light.

Even so is a sentence connector used to introduce a fact that is surprising in the context of what was just said. It connects ideas between sentences: It was midday. Even so, I put on the light.

However is often used as a sentence connector, but it can also be used as

a) an adverb when it is followed by an adjective, adverb, or much/many:

o We just don’t have the money to do the work, however necessary you think it is.

b) a conjunction when it means ‘in whatever way’:

o However she held the mirror, she couldn’t see the back of her neck.

Contrast and Concession Clauses

|Subordinating |Example |Notes |

|conjunction | | |

|While |While some find it a spiritual succor, el infierno is |Use ‘while’ and ‘whereas’ to show that two things or|

|Whereas |where pilgrims in a hurry are most likely to catch a |situations are in direct opposition or contrast. |

| |bus. | |

| | |‘While’ and ‘whereas’ have the same meaning, but |

| |Arriving at Santiago de Compostela, while a beautiful |‘whereas’ is more formal. |

| |town, is a bit anti-climatic. | |

| | |Unlike other subordinating conjunctions, ‘while’ and|

| | |‘whereas’ may occur before either the main or the |

| | |subordinate clause with no change in meaning. |

| | | |

| | |A comma is sometimes placed after the main clause, |

| | |but it is not necessary. |

|Although |Athough it is wise to be prepared, especially when |A concession clause shows contrast by placing limits|

|Even though |travelling in the colder months, it is possible to |on the ideas in the main clause. The main clause |

|Though |show up with the basic necessities in a knapsack, and |shows surprising or unexpected results. |

| |without a clue. | |

| | |Although, even though, and though have basically the|

| |It is wise to be prepared, especially when travelling |same meaning. |

| |in the colder months, though it is possible to show up| |

| |with the basic necessities in a knapsack, and without |A comma is sometimes placed after the main clause, |

| |a clue. |but it is not obligatory. |

| | | |

| | |These last two phrases have the same meaning as |

| | |although. |

| |In spite of the fact that Santiago de Compostela is a | |

| |beautiful town, arriving at it is a bit anti-climatic.| |

|In spite of the fact | | |

|that | | |

|Despite the fact that| | |

Transform the following sentences using an appropriate subordinating conjunction of contrast from the list above. (Example: The pilgrimage is usually made on foot. Some pilgrims follow the route on horseback. Although the pilgrimage is usually made on foot, some pilgrims follow the route on horseback.)

1. My long time dream was about to come true. So far everything had gone wrong.

2. I thought I had been smart buying a cheap ticket to Pau via London. All flights were cancelled on the day of my flight because of a general strike.

3. I made several attempts to call my airline information desk. All of them proved unsuccessful.

4. I finally got a hold of a very stressed officer who offered me a flight to France on Friday. No way did I want to stay in London that long!

5. My intended starting point had been Pau. I considered starting my pilgrimage from Pamplona.

6. I still don't know exactly why I wanted to spend one month slowly walking towards the presumed tomb of Saint James, carrying my belongings in a backpack, and sleeping in humble refugios. I found the experience profoundly impressive.

7. At first I thought of editing and publishing part of my diary. I felt it difficult to translate some of my thoughts from Finnish into English.

8. A list of advice based on my experiences seemed like a good idea. I ended up scanning some of the pictures I took and building simple web pages around them.

9. I have arranged the pictures in themes to illustrate the many aspects of the Way of St James. The collection of pictures is very uneven.

10. There were many spectacular sights and great moments on the road to Santiago. Sometimes I was just too tired or too busy to grab my camera at the right moment.

11. There is much pain and exhaustion on the Way of St James. Pilgrimage is a lot of fun.

(Adapted from Tuija Lehtonen’s Sketches for a Portrait of my Camino, )

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