Linking words - part 5 (with audio)

22 Mar 2010
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Linking words - part 5 (with audio)

Linking words help you connect ideas and sentences, make smooth transitions. In French, they are called "connecteurs" and are often "conjonctions, prépostions, adverbes ou locutions (conjonctives, prépositionnelles ou adverbiales)". They often make THE difference in language fluency, and convey meanings that can nuance the whole sentence. Here is a list of 10 common linking words with examples and audio recordings.

Make sure you check the other blog posts featuring the first 40 linking words.

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40 - au sujet de (about, concerning)

Je dois vous parlez au sujet d'Anne. (I have to tell you about Anne).

41 - d'après / suivant / selon (according to).

D'après lui, elle n'est pas française. (according to him, she's not French).
Selon moi, la vie est magnifique. (according to me, life is beautiful).

42 - presque (almost)

Il est presque minuit. (it's almost midnight).

43 - parce que (because - as an answer to pourquoi).

- pourquoi est-ce que vous étudiez l'espagnol ? (why are you studying Spanish ?)
- parce que je veux habiter en Espagne. (Because I want to live in Spain.)

44 - car (because - inside a sentence - volunteering some additional info)

J'étudie l'espagnol car je veux habiter en Espagne. (I study Spanish because I want to live in Spain).

45 - puisque (since).

Puisque tu ne parles pas espagnol, tu ne peux pas travailler en Espagne. (since you don't speak Spanish, you cannot work in Spain).

46 - alors (then).

Alors, je suis partie. (then, I left).

47- donc (therefore, so).

Je pense, donc je suis. (I think, therefore I am).

48 - si ? sinon (if ? if not).

Si Pierre gagne, c'est formidable, sinon, ce n'est pas la fin du monde. (if Pierre wins, it's great, if not, it is not the end of the world).

49 - enfin (anyway / at last).

Enfin, tu comprends ? (anyway, you understand ?)
J'ai enfin teminé cette liste. (At last, I finished that list).


There are many French conjuctions or linking words, which will help you make a transition from one idea to the next. I had to cover these French connecting words in several posts: please follow the links :-)

Part 1 - à, chez, en, sur/sous, au dessus/en dessous, dessus/dessous, dans, dedans/dehors, devant/derrière.
http://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/linking-words

Part 2 - à côté de/près de, loin de, entre, parmi, au milieu de, autour de, en dehors de/hors de, par. http://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/linking-words-2

Part 3 - vers, depuis, pendant/durant, après avant, jusqu'à, d'abord - et puis, quand, lorsque, Il y a, environ.
http://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/linking-words-3

Part 4 - avec, sans, pour, mais, contre, au contraire, en fait, en plus, quant à, en effet.
http://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/linking-words-4

Part 5 -au sujet de, d'après/suivant / selon, presque, parce que, car, puisque, alors, dnc, si/sinon, enfin
http://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/linking-words-5

Part 6 - more advanced French linking words: ainsi, c'est ainsi que, alors, alors que, aussitôt que, d'autant plus que, bien que, si bien que, cependant, dès que, en tant que, lorsque, malgé, même si, à moins que, néanmoins, pendant que, pour que, pourtant, puisque, quand même, quant à, quoique, quoi que, sinon, tandis que.
http://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/linking-words-6


Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 19 years in the US, France, and to people around the world over the phone and by Skype . My method is proven and unique, and, based on my students' goals and needs, I've developed  high quality audiobooks and audio lessons for all levels.
Good luck with your studies and remember, repetition is the key!

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