TRANSITIONS:

EXERCISES

 

Always ask yourself what the exact relationship is between the sentences or parts of sentences. Are you leading to the result of something? Are you making a deduction? Are you introducing some contradictory evidence or ideas? Your choice of word or phrase obviously depends on this. And always check in a good dictionary if you're not quite sure about a word's use or its position in a sentence. Remember that punctuation will affect what you use.
 

Insert the best alternative.

LINK to TRANSITIONS page.

1 Polls show that Tony Blair is the most popular Prime Minister this century. ________________ ,
there are even members of his own party who are uneasy with his approach.
In particular                     However                 For instance
 

2 There are some slight variations in temperature, but ________________ 26 to 27ºC should be expected.
consequently                     otherwise                 as a rule
 

3 The two main Channel Islands, ________________ Jersey and Guernsey, are much closer to France than to England.
for example                     namely                         in particular
 

4 It was announced that nurses' working hours would be increased by 25%. ______________ , even fewer trainee nurses are expected to join the profession.
As a result                     So that                         Likewise
 

5 Sales of CDs have experienced a small but steady fall over the past 12 months. _____________ , vinyl records have seen an increase in their share of the market, up to 1.7%.
Above all                     Correspondingly         In contrast
 

6 The Vice Chancellor explained that in light of the current financial climate and because of unexpected bad debts, it would be necessary to peg salary levels at their current level for all grades of staff. ______________ , no-one was getting a pay rise.
Nevertheless                 In other words             Similarly
 

7 It is clear, therefore, that the situation in Brazil will improve only slowly. ______________ the economic problems being experienced in Japan, the outlook is slightly more optimistic.
Furthermore             In comparison             With reference to
 

8 In order to try to reduce car use in the inner cities, the government has announced new restrictions on company parking spaces and ______________ , a new tax on individual car use.
as well as                 in addition                     in the same way
 

9 Essays must be handed in by the deadline, ______________ they will not be marked.
obviously                 otherwise                         as a result
 

10 ______________ it has been shown that fractures can occur at even relatively low pressures, the use of the material should not be completely discounted.
Nevertheless             Because                           Even though


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ANSWERS:


1 Polls show that Tony Blair is the most popular Prime Minister this century. However ,
there are even members of his own party who are uneasy with his approach.
However indicates that what follows is something of a contradiction or an exception.
 

2 There are some slight variations in temperature, but as a rule 26 to 27ºC should be expected.
As a rule shows you are about to make a generalization.
 

3 The two main Channel Islands, namely Jersey and Guernsey, are much closer to France than to England.
You are actually naming the two islands mentioned, so namely is used.
 

4 It was announced that nurses' working hours would be increased by 25%. As a result , even fewer trainee nurses are expected to join the profession.
The second sentence is a result or consequence of the first. So that must be followed by a verb.
 

5 Sales of CDs have experienced a small but steady fall over the past 12 months.  In contrast, vinyl records have seen an increase in their share of the market, up to 1.7%.
The second sentence contrasts vinyl with CDs.
 

6 The Vice Chancellor explained that in light of the current financial climate and because of unexpected bad debts, it would be necessary to peg salary levels at their current level for all grades of staff. In other words , no-one was getting a pay rise.
The second sentence says the same as the first, but in a much simpler way (reformulation).
 

7 It is clear, therefore, that the situation in Brazil will improve only slowly. With reference to the economic problems being experienced in Japan, the outlook is slightly more optimistic.
The second sentence deals with a new aspect/point.
 

8 In order to try to reduce car use in the inner cities, the government has announced new restrictions on company parking spaces and in addition , a new tax on individual car use.
Reinforcement of the idea; an extra point. As well as must be immediately followed by a noun or verb.
 

9 Essays must be handed in by the deadline, otherwise they will not be marked.
The second part is a consequence of the first.
 

10 Even though it has been shown that fractures can occur at even relatively low pressures, the use of the material should not be completely discounted.
The idea of concession again; the second part is somewhat unexpected.
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Steve Gould
Last updated: 20 December 2005
steve.gould@uce.ac.uk Tel: (331) 5707 Edge 219, Perry Barr

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