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Discourse Connectors

How ideas are linked across sentences and paragraphs in Spanish, English and Chinese.

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Discourse connectors show relationships between chunks of text: addition, contrast, cause, sequence. Spanish and English share many Latinate connectors. Chinese uses both explicit connectors and implicit cohesion through topic continuity.

Overview

Discourse connectors organize text above the sentence level, showing how ideas relate.

Spanish: Rich Latinate connector inventory. Many are multi-word phrases (por lo tanto, a pesar de eso). Register variation is significant (formal no obstante vs colloquial o sea).
English: Mix of Germanic and Latinate connectors. Academic style prefers single-word Latinate forms (however, therefore) over phrasal Germanic ones (even so, because of that).
Chinese: Connectors can be explicit (而ér且qiě, 然rán而ér, 因yīn此cǐ) or implicit (topic continuity, zero anaphora). Paired structures (虽suī然rán…但dàn是shì, 因yīn为wéi…所suǒ以yǐ) are common.

Spanish

Addition

Connector	Register	Example
además	neutral	Además, es barato.
es más	informal	Es más, ni siquiera lo intentó.
por otra parte	formal	Por otra parte, debemos considerar…
también	neutral	También es cierto que…
así como	formal	Así como otros han dicho…

Contrast

Connector	Register	Example
sin embargo	formal	Sin embargo, no es tan fácil.
no obstante	very formal	No obstante, persistió.
a pesar de eso	neutral	A pesar de eso, siguió adelante.
por el contrario	formal	Por el contrario, creo que…
en cambio	neutral	Ella sí vino; él, en cambio, no.
aunque	subordinate	Aunque llueva, saldré.
pero	coordinate	Es caro, pero bueno.

Cause / result

Connector	Register	Example
por lo tanto	formal	Por lo tanto, debemos actuar.
por consiguiente	very formal	Por consiguiente, fue despedido.
en consecuencia	formal	En consecuencia, perdió el juicio.
así que	informal	Así que no pude ir.
por eso	neutral	Por eso me fui.
entonces	neutral	Entonces, ¿qué hacemos?
de modo que	formal	De modo que todo quedó claro.

Exemplification

Connector	Register	Example
por ejemplo	neutral	Por ejemplo, en España…
por instancia	rare/archaic	Por instancia, veamos…
a modo de ejemplo	formal	A modo de ejemplo, citaré…
tal como	formal	Tal como dijo el presidente…

Reformulation

Connector	Register	Example
es decir	neutral	Es decir, no podemos seguir.
o sea	informal	O sea, ¿que no vienes?
en otras palabras	formal	En otras palabras, fracasó.
dicho de otra manera	formal	Dicho de otra manera…

Conclusion

Connector	Register	Example
en conclusión	formal	En conclusión, el plan funciona.
en resumen	formal	En resumen, son tres puntos.
para concluir	formal	Para concluir, quiero agradecer…
en definitiva	formal	En definitiva, no hay solución.
al fin y al cabo	informal	Al fin y al cabo, somos amigos.
en fin	neutral	En fin, ya veremos.

Emphasis / clarification

Connector	Register	Example
de hecho	neutral	De hecho, nunca lo supe.
en realidad	neutral	En realidad, no es así.
en efecto	formal	En efecto, así ocurrió.
de verdad	informal	De verdad, te lo juro.
la verdad es que	informal	La verdad es que no sé.

English

Addition

Connector	Register	Example
furthermore	formal	Furthermore, the data show…
moreover	formal	Moreover, this is not unique.
in addition	formal	In addition, we must consider…
besides	neutral	Besides, it’s too late.
also	neutral	Also, it is cheaper.
what’s more	informal	What’s more, he didn’t apologize.
on top of that	informal	On top of that, it rained.

Contrast

Connector	Register	Example
however	formal	However, this is not proven.
nevertheless	formal	Nevertheless, she persisted.
nonetheless	formal	Nonetheless, we must try.
yet	formal/literary	Yet he remained calm.
still	neutral	Still, it’s worth considering.
even so	neutral	Even so, I disagree.
on the contrary	formal	On the contrary, I think…
conversely	formal	Conversely, some argue…
whereas	formal	Whereas X claims, Y believes…

Cause / result

Connector	Register	Example
therefore	formal	Therefore, we conclude…
thus	formal	Thus, the theory holds.
hence	formal	Hence, the discrepancy.
consequently	formal	Consequently, he resigned.
as a result	neutral	As a result, sales fell.
accordingly	formal	Accordingly, we adjusted.
so	informal	So I left.
that’s why	informal	That’s why I’m here.

Exemplification

Connector	Register	Example
for example	neutral	For example, in 2010…
for instance	neutral	For instance, consider…
e.g.	formal/written	Many countries, e.g., France…
such as	neutral	Sports such as tennis…
in particular	formal	In particular, I mean…
specifically	formal	Specifically, I refer to…
namely	formal	Three countries, namely…

Reformulation

Connector	Register	Example
in other words	neutral	In other words, it’s impossible.
that is	formal	The first step, that is, planning.
i.e.	formal/written	The main author, i.e., Smith.
to put it another way	informal	To put it another way…
or rather	neutral	He was early, or rather, on time.

Conclusion

Connector	Register	Example
in conclusion	formal	In conclusion, we have shown…
in summary	formal	In summary, there are three points.
to sum up	neutral	To sum up, it’s complicated.
ultimately	formal	Ultimately, the choice is yours.
all in all	informal	All in all, it was good.
at the end of the day	informal	At the end of the day, we tried.

Emphasis / clarification

Connector	Register	Example
indeed	formal	Indeed, the results confirm this.
in fact	neutral	In fact, he never said that.
actually	neutral	Actually, I disagree.
as a matter of fact	informal	As a matter of fact, I do.
to tell the truth	informal	To tell the truth, I’m tired.

Sequencing

Connector	Register	Example
first(ly)	formal	Firstly, we need data.
second(ly)	formal	Secondly, we must analyze.
next	neutral	Next, we examine…
then	neutral	Then we realized…
finally	neutral	Finally, we conclude.
lastly	formal	Lastly, I want to thank…
meanwhile	neutral	Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
subsequently	formal	Subsequently, changes were made.

Chinese

Addition

Connector	Pinyin	Register	Example
而ér且qiě	érqiě	neutral	而ér且qiě，它tā还hái很hěn便biàn宜yí。
此cǐ外wài	cǐwài	formal	此cǐ外wài，我wǒ们men还hái要yào考kǎo虑lǜ…
再zài说shuō	zàishuō	informal	再zài说shuō，太tài晚wǎn了le。
还huán有yǒu	háiyǒu	neutral	还hái有yǒu，这zhè个ge很hěn重zhòng要yào。
并bìng且qiě	bìngqiě	formal	并bìng且qiě，数shù据jù表biǎo明ming…

Contrast

Connector	Pinyin	Register	Example
但dàn是shì	dànshì	neutral	但dàn是shì，这zhè还hái没méi有yǒu证zhèng明ming。
不bù过guò	bùguò	neutral	不bù过guò，我wǒ觉jué得de…
然rán而ér	ránér	formal	然rán而ér，问wèn题tí还hái在zài。
可kě是shì	kěshì	neutral	可kě是shì，他tā没méi有yǒu来lái。
相xiāng反fǎn	xiāngfǎn	formal	相xiāng反fǎn，我wǒ认rèn为wéi…
另lìng一yī方fāng面miàn	lìngyīfāngmiàn	formal	另lìng一yí方fāng面miàn…

Cause / result

Connector	Pinyin	Register	Example
因yīn此cǐ	yīncǐ	formal	因yīn此cǐ，我wǒ们men得děi出chū结jié论lùn。
所suǒ以yǐ	suǒyǐ	neutral	所suǒ以yǐ，他tā辞cí职zhí了le。
于yú是shì	yúshì	neutral	于yú是shì，我wǒ走zǒu了le。
结jié果guǒ	jiéguǒ	neutral	结jié果guǒ，销xiāo售shòu下xià降jiàng了le。
从cóng而ér	cóngér	formal	从cóng而ér实shí现xiàn目mù标biāo。

Exemplification

Connector	Pinyin	Register	Example
例lì如rú	lìrú	formal	例lì如rú，在zài中zhōng国guó…
比bǐ如rú	bǐrú	neutral	比bǐ如rú，考kǎo虑lǜ…
举jǔ例lì来lái说shuō	jǔlìláishuō	formal	举jǔ例lì来lái说shuō…
比bǐ方fāng说shuō	bǐfāngshuō	informal	比bǐ方fāng说shuō…

Reformulation

Connector	Pinyin	Register	Example
换huàn句jù话huà说shuō	huànjùhuàshuō	neutral	换huàn句jù话huà说shuō…
也yě就jiù是shì说shuō	yějiùshìshuō	neutral	也yě就jiù是shì说shuō…
换huàn言yán之zhī	huànyánzhī	formal	换huàn言yán之zhī…

Conclusion

Connector	Pinyin	Register	Example
总zǒng之zhī	zǒngzhī	neutral	总zǒng之zhī…
总zǒng的de来lái说shuō	zǒngdeláishuō	neutral	总zǒng的de来lái说shuō…
最zuì后hòu	zuìhòu	neutral	最zuì后hòu…
综zōng上shàng所suǒ述shù	zōngshàngsuǒshù	very formal	综zōng上shàng所suǒ述shù…

Emphasis / clarification

Connector	Pinyin	Register	Example
其qí实shí	qíshí	neutral	其qí实shí…
事shì实shí上shàng	shìshíshàng	formal	事shì实shí上shàng…
的de确què	díquè	neutral	的de确què…
说shuō实shí话huà	shuōshíhuà	informal	说shuō实shí话huà…

Implicit cohesion

Chinese often omits connectors when topic continuity is clear:

昨zuó天tiān下xià雨yǔ。今jīn天tiān也yě下xià。(It rained yesterday. [And] today it’s raining too. — connector omitted)
他tā很hěn聪cōng明ming。学xué习xí也yě很hěn好hǎo。(He’s smart. [And] he studies well too.)

Comparison at a glance

Function	Spanish	English	Chinese
Addition	además / es más	furthermore / moreover	而ér且qiě / 此cǐ外wài
Contrast	sin embargo / no obstante	however / nevertheless	但dàn是shì / 然rán而ér
Result	por lo tanto / así que	therefore / thus	因yīn此cǐ / 所suǒ以yǐ
Example	por ejemplo	for example / for instance	例lì如rú / 比bǐ如rú
Reformulation	es decir / o sea	in other words / that is	换huàn句jù话huà说shuō / 也yě就jiù是shì说shuō
Conclusion	en conclusión	in conclusion / to sum up	总zǒng之zhī / 总zǒng的de来lái说shuō
Emphasis	de hecho / en realidad	indeed / in fact	其qí实shí / 事shì实shí上shàng
Sequence	primero / entonces / finalmente	firstly / then / finally	首shǒu先xiān / 然rán后hòu / 最zuì后hòu

Examples

In Context

Spanish	English	Chinese
Sin embargo, esto no está probado.	However, this is not proven.	但dàn是shì，这zhè还huán没méi有yǒu证zhèng明míng。
Por lo tanto, debemos actuar.	Therefore, we must act.	因yīn此cǐ，我wǒ们mén必bì须xū行háng动dòng。
En otras palabras, es imposible. / Es decir, es imposible.	In other words, it’s impossible.	换huàn句jù话huà说shuō，这zhè是shì不bù可kě能néng的de。

Common mistakes

Spanish speakers learning English: Literal translation: Por lo tanto → For the so → Therefore
English speakers learning Spanish: Omitting commas around connector: Sin embargo no es cierto → Sin embargo*,** no es cierto*
English speakers learning Chinese: Overusing connectors: Chinese often omits them when topic is continuous
Chinese speakers learning English: Using informal connectors in academic writing: So, we must act → Therefore, we must act

Conjunctions: How sentence-level connectors work
Word Order: How connectors fit into sentence structure
Formal vs Informal: How register affects connector choice
Topic-Comment: How Chinese uses implicit cohesion

Examples

Furthermore / Moreover

además / es más / por otra parte

However / Nevertheless

sin embargo / no obstante / a pesar de eso

Therefore / Thus

por lo tanto / por consiguiente / en consecuencia

For example

por ejemplo / por instancia / a modo de ejemplo

In other words

en otras palabras / es decir / o sea

On the one hand... on the other hand

por un lado... por otro lado

In conclusion

en conclusión / en resumen / para concluir

Actually / In fact

de hecho / en realidad / en efecto

Examples

Furthermore / Moreover

furthermore / moreover / in addition / besides

However / Nevertheless

however / nevertheless / nonetheless / yet

Therefore / Thus

therefore / thus / hence / consequently / as a result

For example

for example / for instance / e.g. / such as

In other words

in other words / that is / i.e. / namely

On the one hand... on the other hand

on the one hand... on the other hand

In conclusion

in conclusion / in summary / to sum up / ultimately

Actually / In fact

actually / in fact / as a matter of fact / indeed

Examples

Furthermore / Moreover

此cǐ外wài / 而ér且qiě / 再zài说shuō

However / Nevertheless

但dàn是shì / 不bù过guò / 然rán而ér

Therefore / Thus

因yīn此cǐ / 所suǒ以yǐ / 于yú是shì

For example

例lì如rú / 比bǐ如rú / 举jǔ例lì来lái说shuō

In other words

换huàn句jù话huà说shuō / 也yě就jiù是shì说shuō

On the one hand... on the other hand

一yī方fāng面miàn...另lìng一yī方fāng面miàn

In conclusion

总zǒng之zhī / 总zǒng的de来lái说shuō / 最zuì后hòu

Actually / In fact

其qí实shí / 事shì实shí上shàng / 的de确què

Comparison at a glance

Grammar concepts	Spanish	English	Chinese
Furthermore / Moreover	además / es más / por otra parte	furthermore / moreover / in addition / besides	此cǐ外wài / 而ér且qiě / 再zài说shuō
However / Nevertheless	sin embargo / no obstante / a pesar de eso	however / nevertheless / nonetheless / yet	但dàn是shì / 不bù过guò / 然rán而ér
Therefore / Thus	por lo tanto / por consiguiente / en consecuencia	therefore / thus / hence / consequently / as a result	因yīn此cǐ / 所suǒ以yǐ / 于yú是shì
For example	por ejemplo / por instancia / a modo de ejemplo	for example / for instance / e.g. / such as	例lì如rú / 比bǐ如rú / 举jǔ例lì来lái说shuō
In other words	en otras palabras / es decir / o sea	in other words / that is / i.e. / namely	换huàn句jù话huà说shuō / 也yě就jiù是shì说shuō
On the one hand... on the other hand	por un lado... por otro lado	on the one hand... on the other hand	一yī方fāng面miàn...另lìng一yī方fāng面miàn
In conclusion	en conclusión / en resumen / para concluir	in conclusion / in summary / to sum up / ultimately	总zǒng之zhī / 总zǒng的de来lái说shuō / 最zuì后hòu
Actually / In fact	de hecho / en realidad / en efecto	actually / in fact / as a matter of fact / indeed	其qí实shí / 事shì实shí上shàng / 的de确què

Side-by-side comparison

Grammar concepts	Spanish	English	Chinese
Furthermore / Moreover	además / es más / por otra parte	furthermore / moreover / in addition / besides	此cǐ外wài / 而ér且qiě / 再zài说shuō
However / Nevertheless	sin embargo / no obstante / a pesar de eso	however / nevertheless / nonetheless / yet	但dàn是shì / 不bù过guò / 然rán而ér
Therefore / Thus	por lo tanto / por consiguiente / en consecuencia	therefore / thus / hence / consequently / as a result	因yīn此cǐ / 所suǒ以yǐ / 于yú是shì
For example	por ejemplo / por instancia / a modo de ejemplo	for example / for instance / e.g. / such as	例lì如rú / 比bǐ如rú / 举jǔ例lì来lái说shuō
In other words	en otras palabras / es decir / o sea	in other words / that is / i.e. / namely	换huàn句jù话huà说shuō / 也yě就jiù是shì说shuō
On the one hand... on the other hand	por un lado... por otro lado	on the one hand... on the other hand	一yī方fāng面miàn...另lìng一yī方fāng面miàn
In conclusion	en conclusión / en resumen / para concluir	in conclusion / in summary / to sum up / ultimately	总zǒng之zhī / 总zǒng的de来lái说shuō / 最zuì后hòu
Actually / In fact	de hecho / en realidad / en efecto	actually / in fact / as a matter of fact / indeed	其qí实shí / 事shì实shí上shàng / 的de确què

Examples in context

Furthermore / Moreover

Spanish

además / es más / por otra parte

English

furthermore / moreover / in addition / besides

Chinese

此cǐ外wài / 而ér且qiě / 再zài说shuō

However / Nevertheless

Spanish

sin embargo / no obstante / a pesar de eso

English

however / nevertheless / nonetheless / yet

Chinese

但dàn是shì / 不bù过guò / 然rán而ér

Therefore / Thus

Spanish

por lo tanto / por consiguiente / en consecuencia

English

therefore / thus / hence / consequently / as a result

Chinese

因yīn此cǐ / 所suǒ以yǐ / 于yú是shì

For example

Spanish

por ejemplo / por instancia / a modo de ejemplo

English

for example / for instance / e.g. / such as

Chinese

例lì如rú / 比bǐ如rú / 举jǔ例lì来lái说shuō

In other words

Spanish

en otras palabras / es decir / o sea

English

in other words / that is / i.e. / namely

Chinese

换huàn句jù话huà说shuō / 也yě就jiù是shì说shuō

On the one hand... on the other hand

Spanish

por un lado... por otro lado

English

on the one hand... on the other hand

Chinese

一yī方fāng面miàn...另lìng一yī方fāng面miàn

In conclusion

Spanish

en conclusión / en resumen / para concluir

English

in conclusion / in summary / to sum up / ultimately

Chinese

总zǒng之zhī / 总zǒng的de来lái说shuō / 最zuì后hòu

Actually / In fact

Spanish

de hecho / en realidad / en efecto

English

actually / in fact / as a matter of fact / indeed

Chinese

其qí实shí / 事shì实shí上shàng / 的de确què

Key Takeaways

Spanish: Rich Latinate connector inventory. Many are multi-word phrases (por lo tanto, a pesar de eso). Register variation is significant (formal no.

English: Mix of Germanic and Latinate connectors. Academic style prefers single-word Latinate forms (however, therefore) over phrasal Germanic ones (.

Chinese: Connectors can be explicit (而ér且qiě, 然rán而ér, 因yīn此cǐ) or implicit (topic continuity, zero anaphora). Paired structures (虽suī然rán... 但dàn是shì.

Key concepts compared: Furthermore / Moreover, However / Nevertheless, Therefore / Thus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Spanish connectors tend to be multi-word phrases while English prefers single words?

Spanish connectors are often phrasal: *por lo tanto* (for the so = therefore), *a pesar de eso* (despite of that = nevertheless), *sin embargo* (without embargo = however). English equivalents are typically single words: 'therefore,' 'nevertheless,' 'however.' Chinese connectors are also often bi-syllabic or multi-syllabic compounds: <ruby>因<rt>yīn</rt></ruby><ruby>此<rt>cǐ</rt></ruby> (because-this = therefore), <ruby>然<rt>rán</rt></ruby><ruby>而<rt>ér</rt></ruby> (however). Spanish speakers learning English must learn to compress multi-word connectors into single words, and English speakers learning Spanish must expand single words into phrases.

How does Chinese implicit discourse cohesion differ from explicit connectors in Spanish and English?

Chinese allows zero connectors when topic continuity is clear: <ruby>他<rt>tā</rt></ruby><ruby>很<rt>hěn</rt></ruby><ruby>聪<rt>cōng</rt></ruby><ruby>明<rt>míng</rt></ruby>。<ruby>学<rt>xué</rt></ruby><ruby>习<rt>xí</rt></ruby><ruby>很<rt>hěn</rt></ruby><ruby>好<rt>hǎo</rt></ruby> (He is smart. Studies very well — no 'therefore'). Spanish and English generally require explicit connectors in formal writing: *Es inteligente. Por lo tanto, estudia bien.* 'He is smart. Therefore, he studies well.' Chinese speakers learning English will omit connectors, producing choppy prose, and English speakers learning Chinese will overuse explicit connectors, sounding unnatural.

Why is 'however' placement in English so restrictive compared to Spanish and Chinese?

English 'however' has strict positional rules: sentence-initial with a comma ('However, I disagree'), after the subject ('I, however, disagree'), or at the end ('I disagree, however'). Spanish *sin embargo* is more flexible: *Sin embargo, no estoy de acuerdo* OR *No estoy de acuerdo, sin embargo.* Chinese <ruby>但<rt>dàn</rt></ruby><ruby>是<rt>shì</rt></ruby> almost always begins the second clause: <ruby>虽<rt>suī</rt></ruby><ruby>然<rt>rán</rt></ruby>...<ruby>但<rt>dàn</rt></ruby><ruby>是<rt>shì</rt></ruby>. Spanish and Chinese speakers learning English must master the comma and position rules for 'however,' which are more rigid than in their native languages.

References

Nueva gramática de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, 2010
The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language — Huddleston & Pullum, Cambridge University Press, 2002
A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Chinese Language — Li & Thompson, 1981

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conjunctions

Last updated: June 4, 2026

Overview

Spanish

Addition

Contrast

Cause / result

Exemplification

Reformulation

Conclusion

Emphasis / clarification

English

Addition

Contrast

Cause / result

Exemplification

Reformulation

Conclusion

Emphasis / clarification

Sequencing

Chinese

Addition

Contrast

Cause / result

Exemplification

Reformulation

Conclusion

Emphasis / clarification

Implicit cohesion

Comparison at a glance

Examples

In Context

Common mistakes

Related topics

Examples

Examples

Examples

Comparison at a glance

Side-by-side comparison

Examples in context

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions

References