Linking paragraphs with adverbials
Link ideas across paragraphs using adverbials of time (later, meanwhile, after a while), place (nearby, far away, beyond the wall), and number (secondly, finally, in addition) to guide the reader through a multi-paragraph text
What a learner can do afterwards
- Begin a new paragraph with an adverbial of time to signal a shift in time or sequence, e.g. 'Meanwhile, back at the castle...' or 'Several hours later, the storm finally passed'
- Use adverbials of place to move the reader to a new location between paragraphs, e.g. 'Beyond the forest, the land was flat and dry'
- Use numbering or addition adverbials to structure non-fiction across paragraphs, e.g. 'The first reason... The second reason... In addition...'
The lesson
You already link ideas inside one paragraph. Linking across paragraphs works the same way: start the new paragraph with a word or phrase that tells the reader when, where, or what point comes next.
A story paragraph ends with a knight riding into a dark forest. The next paragraph begins: 'Meanwhile, back at the castle, the queen paced the halls.' 'Meanwhile' tells the reader the scene has jumped somewhere else at the same moment.
Time words like 'later' and 'meanwhile', place words like 'nearby' and 'beyond', and number words like 'secondly' and 'finally' all do the same job. Mix them up instead of starting every paragraph with the same one.
A paragraph often opens with a word that tells the reader when, where, or what point comes next, so the writing flows as one piece instead of separate chunks.
Watch it
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 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.