Cohesion within paragraphs
Use cohesive devices within a paragraph, including pronouns, adverbials (then, after that, firstly), and synonyms, to link sentences and build a coherent flow of ideas
What a learner can do afterwards
- Replace repeated nouns with pronouns or synonyms to maintain cohesion without ambiguity, e.g. 'The explorer found a cave. She examined it carefully'
- Use adverbials of sequence (firstly, then, next, finally) and cause (therefore, as a result, consequently) to connect ideas within a paragraph
- Identify where cohesion breaks down in a paragraph and insert appropriate linking devices to improve the flow
1 · Read
You have grouped related ideas into paragraphs. Cohesion makes the links between sentences clear. Pronouns can avoid repeated nouns. Use the person's pronouns: 'she' and 'her', 'he' and 'his', or 'they' and 'their'. 'It' can refer to a thing or animal; 'they' can refer to several. If a pronoun could mean two people or things, repeat the intended name or noun.
Adverbials show how ideas connect. 'Firstly', 'then', 'next', 'after that' and 'finally' show order. 'Therefore', 'as a result' and 'consequently' introduce a result. 'Juice spilled. As a result, the table got wet.' 'However' and 'in contrast' show a difference. 'Meanwhile' means at the same time. Choose the link that matches the meaning.
Synonyms have the same or a similar meaning. Here, 'vessel' means 'ship'. A suitable synonym can avoid repeating a noun. Another noun phrase can also refer back: if Maya is a girl, 'the girl' can mean Maya. It is not a synonym for her name. A fox can be called 'the animal', but those words are not synonyms either. Keep the same reference without adding details.
When you edit, keep the events and their relationships. Clear pronouns can work with order words. Use 'however' for a contrast and 'as a result' for a result. Read: 'A train arrived. Then a dog barked.' This states the order. Changing 'then' to 'therefore' would also claim that the arrival caused the barking. Keep an order link when you mean only order.
Check what each sentence adds and how it connects. Remove an accidental repeated sentence that adds no information. Move an unrelated sentence to a suitable paragraph. A clear pronoun can refer back while adding a new detail. Order words do not remove repeated nouns. Repetition can sometimes help clarity, so you do not need to change every repeated word.
Use clear references and links that match the meaning. Keep the events when you edit, and repeat a name when it helps the reader.
Original lesson, questions and flashcards written for this dataset about clear references and links between sentences.
Four original readings written for this dataset about sentence links, clear references, relevant details and keeping meaning when editing.
More to read
Reading the links
Read: 'I packed my lunch. Then I put it in my bag.' The word 'then' shows the order of the actions. The word 'it' refers to the lunch.
Different links make different claims. 'Then' says what happened next. 'As a result' presents an effect of something already described. Choose a link after deciding how the ideas connect. Changing the link can change the meaning even when the rest of the sentence stays the same.
When a name helps
Read: 'The cousins carried the boxes. They stacked them by the door.' Here, 'they' refers to the cousins and 'them' refers to the boxes. The actions help you follow both references.
Now read: 'Ella spoke to Ruby after she arrived.' If both characters use she and her, the reader cannot be certain who arrived. If Ruby arrived, write 'Ella spoke to Ruby after Ruby arrived.' Repeating a name is useful when it makes the meaning clear.
Does the sentence belong?
Imagine a paragraph explaining how to make a kite. Cutting paper, attaching sticks and tying string all belong to that task. A sentence about a missing library book would need a different place in the writing.
Adding a linking word does not repair every connection. 'Next, my library book was missing' still takes the reader away from making the kite. Check what each sentence contributes to the paragraph's main idea. Move unrelated information to a paragraph where its connection is clear.
Keep the meaning when you edit
Suppose your draft says: 'A jar fell. The jar broke. We swept up the pieces.' You could write: 'A jar fell. As a result, it broke. Then we swept up the pieces.' This version keeps the fall, the break and the cleanup.
Check your changes. Does each pronoun have a clear reference? Does a result link describe the relationship you intended? Do the order words keep the events in order? Leave a repeated noun in place if changing it would make the reference uncertain.
2 · Watch
En anglaisTake it off screen
Where it sits
Optional connections
This opens up
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.