Text · pillar 15 of 16

Linking, emphasis & information structure

connectors · ellipsis · inversion · clefts · hedging

18 lessons from A1 to C2 · 69 grammar points

Mindmap: Linking from A1 to C2

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# 15 Linking, emphasis & information structure ## A1 - and, but, or - because and so (never both together) - also ## A2 - So do I / Neither do I / Nor do I - Me too / Me neither - I think so / I hope not / I'm afraid not - first, then, next, after that, finally - afterwards, eventually ## B1 - both … and - either … or, neither … nor - not only … but also (normal word order) - Addition: moreover, furthermore, in addition, what's more, besides - Contrast: however, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast - Result: therefore, as a result, consequently - Examples and clarification: for example, for instance, such as, in other words, that is - Summary: in conclusion, to sum up, overall - Punctuation with linkers (However, … / ; however,) - not … or / not … nor; and not (She didn't write or call) - as well as + noun / -ing ## B2 - so / not after more verbs (I suppose so, I believe not, I doubt it) - do so / did so - Ellipsis after to (I'd love to) - Ellipsis with auxiliaries (I can't, but she can) - Emphatic do (I do like it!) - What I need is… (first look at clefts) - the very (the very best, at the very end) - at all, whatsoever, on earth, ever (Why ever…?) - Not only … but also with inversion (Not only did she…) - Never before have I… - Here comes… / There goes… - Discourse markers in writing (furthermore, nevertheless, consequently, namely) - Discourse markers in speech (well, anyway, actually, I mean, by the way, you know) - Emphatic imperative with do (Do sit down; Do be careful) ## C1 - Inversion after negative adverbials (Never, Rarely, Seldom, Little, At no time, Under no circumstances, On no account, Nowhere) - No sooner … than / Hardly … when - Only when / Only after / Not until + inversion - Inversion after place adverbials (Down came the rain; In the corner sat a cat) - So + adjective / Such + be + inversion (So tired was she that…) - Inversion after as / than (as did his father) - it-cleft (It was Ali who called) - wh-cleft (What I need is a rest) - all-cleft (All I want is…) - Reversed wh-cleft (A rest is what I need) - The thing is…, What happened was… - Fronting for emphasis or contrast - Extraposition (It is surprising that…) - Preparatory it as object (I find it hard to…) - End-weight and end-focus; given → new - if so / if not - so it is / so it does (surprised agreement) - Ellipsis in comparisons and coordination - British do substitution (I might do) - the former / the latter - such, this + noun for reference - nonetheless, thereby, hence, thus, notwithstanding - in that, given that, seeing that, insofar as - Lexical cohesion (synonyms, word families, repetition) - Hedging (seem, appear, tend, it would appear, arguably, to some extent, presumably) - Boosting (clearly, undoubtedly, certainly) - Hedging with modals (may, might, could) - Questions with is it / was it … that (Where was it that you met?) ## C2 - Try as he might…, Much as I… - Such was … that - Nor / Neither + inversion - Literary inversion in narrative - only in every position, with and without inversion - Theme and rheme - Heavy-NP shift - There remain…, There exists…, There arose…

Lessons in this pillar

A1.33and, but, or, because, soCoreSoonComing soon
A2.3Short responses: So do I, Me neither, I think soMiniSoonComing soon
A2.46Sequencing: first, then, after that, finallyMiniSoonComing soon
B1.41Paired conjunctions: both … and, either … orMiniSoonComing soon
B1.48Linking words for writingCoreSoonComing soon
B2.44Ellipsis & substitution 1CoreSoonComing soon
B2.45Emphasis 1: I do like it; What I need is…CoreSoonComing soon
B2.46Inversion 1: Not only…, So do IMiniSoonComing soon
B2.47Discourse markersCoreSoonComing soon
C1.1Negative inversion: Never have I…CoreSoonComing soon
C1.2Inversion after place adverbials & so/suchCoreSoonComing soon
C1.3Cleft sentencesCoreSoonComing soon
C1.4Fronting, extraposition & end-weightCoreSoonComing soon
C1.5Ellipsis & substitution 2MiniSoonComing soon
C1.34Cohesion: the former, the latter, therebyCoreSoonComing soon
C1.35Hedging & boostingCoreSoonComing soon
C2.2Stylistic inversion: Try as he might…CoreSoonComing soon
C2.12Information structure: expertCoreSoonComing soon

Every grammar point

The complete checklist for this pillar. Nothing is left out.

A1

and, but, or
because and so (never both together)
also

A2

So do I / Neither do I / Nor do I
Me too / Me neither
I think so / I hope not / I'm afraid not
first, then, next, after that, finally
afterwards, eventually

B1

both … and
either … or, neither … nor
not only … but also (normal word order)
Addition: moreover, furthermore, in addition, what's more, besides
Contrast: however, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast
Result: therefore, as a result, consequently
Examples and clarification: for example, for instance, such as, in other words, that is
Summary: in conclusion, to sum up, overall
Punctuation with linkers (However, … / ; however,)
not … or / not … nor; and not (She didn't write or call)
as well as + noun / -ing

B2

so / not after more verbs (I suppose so, I believe not, I doubt it)
do so / did so
Ellipsis after to (I'd love to)
Ellipsis with auxiliaries (I can't, but she can)
Emphatic do (I do like it!)
What I need is… (first look at clefts)
the very (the very best, at the very end)
at all, whatsoever, on earth, ever (Why ever…?)
Not only … but also with inversion (Not only did she…)
Never before have I…
Here comes… / There goes…
Discourse markers in writing (furthermore, nevertheless, consequently, namely)
Discourse markers in speech (well, anyway, actually, I mean, by the way, you know)
Emphatic imperative with do (Do sit down; Do be careful)

C1

Inversion after negative adverbials (Never, Rarely, Seldom, Little, At no time, Under no circumstances, On no account, Nowhere)
No sooner … than / Hardly … when
Only when / Only after / Not until + inversion
Inversion after place adverbials (Down came the rain; In the corner sat a cat)
So + adjective / Such + be + inversion (So tired was she that…)
Inversion after as / than (as did his father)
it-cleft (It was Ali who called)
wh-cleft (What I need is a rest)
all-cleft (All I want is…)
Reversed wh-cleft (A rest is what I need)
The thing is…, What happened was…
Fronting for emphasis or contrast
Extraposition (It is surprising that…)
Preparatory it as object (I find it hard to…)
End-weight and end-focus; given → new
if so / if not
so it is / so it does (surprised agreement)
Ellipsis in comparisons and coordination
British do substitution (I might do)
the former / the latter
such, this + noun for reference
nonetheless, thereby, hence, thus, notwithstanding
in that, given that, seeing that, insofar as
Lexical cohesion (synonyms, word families, repetition)
Hedging (seem, appear, tend, it would appear, arguably, to some extent, presumably)
Boosting (clearly, undoubtedly, certainly)
Hedging with modals (may, might, could)
Questions with is it / was it … that (Where was it that you met?)

C2

Try as he might…, Much as I…
Such was … that
Nor / Neither + inversion
Literary inversion in narrative
only in every position, with and without inversion
Theme and rheme
Heavy-NP shift
There remain…, There exists…, There arose…