Connecting Words

Linking or connecting words are essential tools in Spanish sentences that help clarify relationships between ideas, actions, and thoughts. Each type of connector has a specific purpose—it doesn’t just “glue” ideas together randomly but explains how the ideas interact.

In real life, when you speak or write, you’re often doing more than just stating simple facts. You’re explaining:

  • Why something happens
  • When something happens
  • What you think about a situation
  • What the outcome of an action is

Different linking words help you signal these relationships so that your message is clear.

Basic Level:
Write 3-4 sentences in English as a sequence of events.
Each sentence should focus on one tense; past, present, and future.
Each sentence should focus on the use of one these most common irregular verbs:
Ser, Estar, Tener, Hacer, Ir, Decir, Poder, Poner, Querer, Saber
The sentences should be based on everyday situations and flow logically as a sequence.
Use A1 level vocab and sentence construction.

  1. Yesterday, I went to the park with my dog. (Past – ir)
  2. Now, I am tired and sitting on the couch. (Present – estar)
  3. Tomorrow, I will have a picnic with my friends. (Future – tener)

Types of linking/connecting words and their roles:

CAUSE and EFFECT Connectors

Purpose: These show the reason behind an action or statement.

Example: No salí porque estaba lloviendo. (I didn’t go out because it was raining.)

  • porque (because)
    No fui a la fiesta porque estaba cansado.
    (I didn’t go to the party because I was tired.)
  • ya que (since, because)
    Ya que no había transporte público, decidimos caminar.
    (Since there was no public transport, we decided to walk.)
  • así que (so, therefore)
    No estudié, así que saqué una mala nota.
    (I didn’t study, so I got a bad grade.)

TIME Connectors

Purpose: Show when an action happens in relation to another

Example: Voy a cenar después de que termine el trabajo. (I’ll have dinner after I finish work.)

  • cuando (when)
    Cuando llegué, ya estaban cenando. (When I arrived, they were already having dinner.)
  • antes de que (before)
    Me lavé las manos antes de que empezara la cena. (I washed my hands before dinner started.)
  • después de que (after)
    Fui a casa después de que terminó la película. (I went home after the movie ended.)

PURPOSE Connectors

Purpose: These show the reason behind an action or statement.

Example: Estudio para que pueda conseguir un buen trabajo. (I study so that I can get a good job.)

  • para que (so that, in order to)
    Estudio para que pueda viajar por el mundo. (I study so that I can travel the world.)

CONDITION Connectors

Purpose: These show conditions that must be met for an action to happen.

Example: Iré al parque si no llueve. (I will go to the park if it doesn’t rain.)

  • si (if)
    Vamos a la playa si hace sol.
    (We’ll go to the beach if it’s sunny.)
  • a menos que (unless)
    No vamos a salir a menos que deje de llover. (We won’t go out unless it stops raining.)

CONTRAST Connectors

Purpose: Show a difference or contradiction between two ideas

Example: Aunque llovía, salimos a caminar. (Although it was raining, we went for a walk.)

  • pero (but)
    Quiero ir al cine, pero no tengo dinero. (I want to go to the movies, but I don’t have money.)
  • aunque (although)
    Aunque estaba cansado, fui al gimnasio. (Although I was tired, I went to the gym.)

OPINION or THOUGHT Connectors

Purpose: Explain what you think or believe about something

Example: Estoy seguro de que vendrá mañana. (I’m sure that he will come tomorrow.)

  • que (that)
    Creo que es una buena idea. (I think that it’s a good idea.)
  • de que (of the fact that, that) – after certain phrases like “estar seguro/a de” or “darse cuenta de”
    Estoy seguro de que nos vamos a divertir.
    (I’m sure that we’re going to have fun.)

CONSEQUENCE Connectors

Purpose: Show the result or outcome of an action.

Example: Aunque llovía, salimos a caminar. (Although it was raining, we went for a walk.)

  • Entonces (so, then)
    Estaba cansado, entonces fui al gimnasio.
    (I was tired, so I went to the gym.)
  • Así que (so, therefore)
    Estaba cansado, así que fui al gimnasio.
    (I was tired, so I went to the gym.)
  • Por eso (that’s why, for that reason)
    Estaba cansado, por eso fui al gimnasio.
    (I was tired, that’s why I went to the gym.)
  • Por lo tanto (therefore, thus)
    Estaba cansado, por lo tanto fui al gimnasio.
    (I was tired, therefore I went to the gym.)

🧠 CAUSE and EFFECT

porque

  • I didn’t eat dinner because I wasn’t hungry.
  • We stayed home because the streets were flooded.

ya que

  • We left early since the event was canceled.
  • I skipped breakfast since I woke up late.

así que

  • He didn’t reply, so I stopped messaging him.
  • It got dark, so we turned on the lights.

⏰ TIME

cuando

  • When she arrived, we were already eating.
  • I’ll call you when I get to the office.

antes de que

  • I always stretch before I go running.
  • Wash your hands before you touch the food.

después de que

  • We went out after the rain stopped.
  • I’ll clean the kitchen after the guests leave.

🎯 PURPOSE

para que

  • I’m working extra so that I can pay off my debt.
  • We left early so that we’d get good seats.

⚠️ CONDITION

si

  • If it’s cold, we’ll make soup.
  • We can go hiking if the weather is good.

a menos que

  • I won’t go unless you come with me.
  • Don’t leave unless she gives you the keys.

⚖️ CONTRAST

pero

  • I want to go, but I have no energy.
  • She’s nice, but a little too loud.

aunque

  • Although I was sick, I still went to work.
  • Although it’s small, the apartment is cozy.

💬 OPINION or THOUGHT

que

  • I think that he’s telling the truth.
  • They believe that everything will be fine.

de que

  • I’m sure that we’re making the right choice.
  • She realized that the lights were still on.

➡️ CONSEQUENCE

entonces

  • He was hungry, so he made a sandwich.
  • It was raining, so we stayed inside.

por eso

  • I didn’t sleep well, that’s why I’m grumpy.
  • The road was blocked, that’s why we were late.

por lo tanto

  • She forgot her umbrella, therefore she got soaked.
  • The store was closed, so therefore we went elsewhere.

así que (again, but as consequence here)

  • I lost my keys, so I had to call a locksmith.
  • We ran out of time, so we skipped dessert.