Study the rules, look at the examples, then do the exercises.
At A2 you joined ideas with a few basic words: and, but, so, because. That is enough for short sentences, but real B1 writing and speaking need more. To sound natural, you must show contrast (two ideas that clash), give a reason, and describe a result — all inside longer, connected sentences.
This unit gives you the tools for that. The most important skill is knowing what comes after each linking word: some need a full clause (subject + verb), while others need only a noun or an -ing form. Choosing the wrong one is the most common B1 mistake, so we will focus on it carefully.
Use although, even though or though to connect two ideas that are surprising together. The key rule: each of these is followed by a full clause (a subject and a verb). Even though is a stronger, more emphatic version of although; though is more informal and can also go at the end of a sentence.
| Linker | What follows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| although | subject + verb (a clause) | Although he was tired, he kept doing his homework. |
| even though | subject + verb (stronger contrast) | Even though it was late, she finished her drawing. |
| though | subject + verb (informal; also end position) | It was a good cartoon. I did not like the ending, though. |
Despite and in spite of mean exactly the same as although, but the grammar is different: they are followed by a noun, a pronoun, or an -ing form — never a full clause. This is the single most important table in the unit.
| Structure | Correct form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| despite / in spite of + noun | a noun phrase | Despite the noise, I slept well. |
| despite / in spite of + -ing | verb + -ing | In spite of feeling ill, she came to school. |
| despite / in spite of + the fact that + clause | the only way to use a clause | Despite the fact that it was late, we kept playing. |
Both give a reason, and again the difference is only in the grammar. Because is followed by a clause; because of is followed by a noun.
| Linker | What follows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| because | subject + verb (a clause) | We stayed in because it was raining. |
| because of | a noun / noun phrase | We stayed in because of the rain. |
To show that something is so extreme that it causes a result, English uses two patterns. The choice depends on whether an adjective stands alone or comes with a noun.
| Pattern | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| so ... that | so + adjective + that | The soup was so hot that I burned my mouth. |
| such ... that | such + (a/an) + adjective + noun + that | It was such a hot day that we stayed inside. |
However is a connecting adverb. Unlike but, it usually joins two separate sentences and shows a contrast between them. Punctuation matters: put a full stop (or a semicolon) before it, and a comma after it.
| Word | Position & punctuation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| but | joins two clauses inside one sentence | The book was short, but it was very good. |
| however | starts a new sentence + comma | The book was short. However, it was very good. |
These are the errors B1 students make most often with linking words. Almost all of them come from putting the wrong thing (a clause or a noun) after the linker.
| Wrong ✗ | Right ✓ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Although the bad weather, we went out. | Despite the bad weather, we went out. | a noun follows → use despite / in spite of. |
| Despite it was raining, we went out. | Although it was raining, we went out. | a clause follows → use although / even though. |
| The match stopped because of it rained. | The match stopped because it rained. | a clause follows → use because, not because of. |
| It was so nice weather that we walked. | It was such nice weather that we walked. | an adjective + noun follows → use such. |
| It was cheap, however it was good. | It was cheap. However, it was good. | however needs a full stop before it and a comma after. |
Two friends talk about a school sports-day race. Read it twice and notice how each linking word is followed by the right structure — a clause after although / because, a noun after despite / because of, and the so/such ... that pattern for results.
Choose the correct answer. — 10 questions, each one is marked instantly. Questions get harder as you go.
Learn the words, then use them — with linking words — to talk about a real challenge.
Write 8 sentences about a challenge you have faced and how you dealt with it. Use at least 8 of the words above.
Sentence starters (you can begin with these):
Değerlendirme öğretmenin tarafından yapılacak. (Your teacher will review your task.)
Read the text, then answer the questions.
Good readers prepare before they start. Before you read, think about these three questions (you do not need to write the answers):
Words to spot (from the Speaking section): challenge · overcome · effort · patience · determined · succeed · difficulty · improve
Lila runs the most popular club at her school, but it did not start easily. Although she always loved growing plants, she never had a big garden, because her family lived in a small flat. Despite this difficult start, she never gave up on her dream.
Lila grew up in a small flat near the edge of her town. Her parents worked very long hours, so she often spent her afternoons on the balcony with her grandmother. Together they grew tomatoes, beans and bright flowers in old pots and empty cans. Her grandmother used to say that good plants do not need expensive things; they only need care and time. Lila listened carefully and remembered every word. Even as a little girl, she loved the smell of wet soil after rain and the sight of a new green leaf opening in the sun. She dreamed of a real garden full of vegetables, butterflies and busy bees, where all her friends could come and help. She did not know yet how she would make it, but the dream stayed with her for many years.
When she was ten, Lila joined the school garden helpers. The work was so hard that she often wanted to quit. However, she stayed because she wanted to learn everything about plants. In spite of the long afternoons, she grew new seeds at home every evening, while her friends were out playing.
During those first weeks, Lila did almost every job. She dug the soil, pulled out weeds and carried heavy bags of earth. At first, the old school gardener, Mr Kaya, did not notice her, but he slowly saw that she was always the first to arrive and the last to leave. "You work harder than anyone here," he said one day. "If you keep learning, one day you will have your own garden." Lila never forgot those words, and she wrote everything he taught her in a small notebook.
After two years, Lila decided to start her own garden club. It was such a big risk that her friends were worried. The first month was very difficult. Because of a slow start, almost no one joined, and she nearly gave up. Even though the club was nearly empty for weeks, Lila kept improving her little garden with patience and effort.
Those first weeks were the hardest of all. Some afternoons nobody came at all, so Lila gave away small pots of flowers to children who walked past and asked them what she could do better. Slowly, a few children began to come back, and each new face gave her a little more hope.
Then things changed. The school newspaper wrote about her fresh vegetables and bright flowers, and more children arrived. Although she was still tired every day, she felt proud, because she had overcome so many difficulties. Her club became so well known that children from other schools now come to visit.
Today, Lila still works hard in the garden, but she is very happy. She often tells younger children that talent is important; however, hard work and patience matter even more. Despite all the challenges, she believes that anyone can succeed if they stay determined and never stop trying.
Choose the correct answer.
Are these sentences true or false, according to the text?
Complete each sentence with ONE linking word from the text. Mind the grammar (a clause or a noun follows).
Write your answer in your own words. These questions are not marked automatically.
1. Why did Lila stay with the school garden helpers even though the work was very hard?
2. How did Lila behave during the difficult first month of her own club?
3. What is Lila's main message to younger children about success?
Find these connectors in the text — each one appears at least once: although, even though, despite, in spite of, because, because of, so ... that, such ... that, however. (You will use these same connectors in the Writing section.) Note them down, then check.
Sarah and Todd talk about all the computers and phones they own.
You will hear two friends, Sarah and Todd, talking about the many computers and phones they own and why they keep so many. You will listen TWICE. First listen: answer questions 1-5. Second listen: answer questions 6-10. (Kaydı İKİ kez dinleyeceksin: ilk dinlemede 1-5, ikinci dinlemede 6-10.)
Write and submit your paragraph; your teacher will review it.
A list of short, separate sentences is not strong B1 writing. What makes writing mature is the connections between ideas. This unit gives you a full set of linkers for contrast, reason and result. Use them — and remember the golden rule: put the right structure after each one.
| Connector | Use it to... | Example |
|---|---|---|
| although / even though | show contrast (+ clause) | Although it was hard, I finished. |
| despite / in spite of | show contrast (+ noun / -ing) | Despite the difficulty, I finished. |
| because | give a reason (+ clause) | I stayed because I wanted to learn. |
| because of | give a reason (+ noun) | We stopped because of the rain. |
| so ... that | show a result (+ adjective) | It was so hard that I nearly quit. |
| such ... that | show a result (+ noun phrase) | It was such a challenge that I grew stronger. |
| however | contrast between two sentences | I failed once. However, I tried again. |
See the difference — the same facts, written two ways:
| Separate sentences ✗ | Connected, fluent writing ✓ |
|---|---|
| I wanted to learn to ride a bike. I was nervous. I fell on my first try. I did not give up. I rode well later. | Although I wanted to learn to ride a bike, I was very nervous. Because of my nerves, I fell on my first try. However, I did not give up, and I rode well later. |
A "challenge" paragraph has three parts. The skeleton stays the same every time — you change the content, not the structure:
| Part | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Opening | Name the challenge in one general sentence | Learning to ride a bike was one of the biggest challenges of my life. |
| 2. Body | The difficulties and how you dealt with them. Use contrast (although / despite), reason (because / because of) and result (so / such ... that). | Although I was nervous, I practised every weekend. Because of my effort, I slowly improved. |
| 3. Closing | What you learned, or how you feel now | However, I never gave up, and today I feel proud. |
Write about a challenge you have faced and how you dealt with it. Show contrast, give reasons and describe results with linking words.
Değerlendirme öğretmenin tarafından yapılacak. (Your teacher will evaluate your writing.)
Mixed questions from the whole unit, then check what you can do.
14 questions: grammar + vocabulary + reading + listening. Each question is marked instantly.
Tick what you can do now. Honest answers help your teacher.
İşaretlemediğin madde varsa ilgili bölüme dönüp tekrar çalış — soldaki menüden her bölüme geri dönebilirsin.
Oturum kontrol ediliyor...