Sentence Connectors: Rules and Exam Practice
Sentence Connectors (সংযোজক শব্দ)
Introductionভূমিকা
The connectors item is not a memory test. Every blank has a logical relationship hiding in it — addition, contrast, cause, result, time or example — and once you can name that relationship, the list of possible words shrinks from a hundred to about four.
Connectors-এর আইটেমটা মুখস্থের পরীক্ষা নয়। প্রতিটি শূন্যস্থানে একটা যুক্তিসম্পর্ক লুকিয়ে থাকে — যোগ, বৈপরীত্য, কারণ, ফল, সময় বা উদাহরণ। ওই সম্পর্কটার নাম বলতে পারলেই সম্ভাব্য শব্দের তালিকা একশো থেকে নেমে চারে চলে আসে।
Definitionসংজ্ঞা
A connector is a word or phrase that joins ideas and shows how they are related — that one adds to the other, contradicts it, causes it, follows it in time, or gives an example of it.
Connector হলো এমন শব্দ বা শব্দগুচ্ছ, যা ভাবনাগুলোকে যুক্ত করে এবং দেখায় সম্পর্কটা কী — একটি অন্যটির সাথে যোগ হচ্ছে, বিরোধ করছে, কারণ হচ্ছে, সময়ে অনুসরণ করছে, নাকি উদাহরণ দিচ্ছে।
Bangla Explanationবাংলা ব্যাখ্যা
**ক. কাজ অনুযায়ী তালিকা — এভাবেই শিখুন** | সম্পর্ক | Connectors | |---|---| | **যোগ (Addition)** | and, also, moreover, furthermore, in addition, besides, what is more | | **বৈপরীত্য (Contrast)** | but, however, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast, although, though, even though, whereas, while, yet, still | | **কারণ (Cause)** | because, since, as, due to, owing to, on account of, for | | **ফল (Result)** | so, therefore, thus, hence, consequently, as a result, that is why | | **উদাহরণ (Example)** | for example, for instance, such as, namely, like | | **সময় (Time)** | first, then, next, after that, meanwhile, finally, at last, before, after, when, while, as soon as, since | | **শর্ত (Condition)** | if, unless, in case, provided that, otherwise | | **উদ্দেশ্য (Purpose)** | so that, in order to, lest, to | | **সারসংক্ষেপ** | in short, in conclusion, to sum up, in brief, on the whole | | **জোর দেওয়া** | in fact, indeed, above all, especially, particularly | **খ. ব্যাকরণগত তিনটি শ্রেণি — এখানেই বেশিরভাগ ভুল হয়** 1. **Coordinating conjunction** (and, but, or, so, for, yet) — দুটো স্বাধীন বাক্যকে যুক্ত করে, আগে কমা: *He was tired**, but** he continued.* 2. **Subordinating conjunction** (because, although, when, if, since, unless) — একটি নির্ভরশীল clause বানায়: ***Although** he was tired, he continued.* 3. **Conjunctive adverb** (however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless) — দুটো পূর্ণ বাক্যকে জোড়া লাগায় সেমিকোলন বা ফুলস্টপ দিয়ে, নিজে কমা নেয়: *He was tired**; however,** he continued.* ❌ *He was tired, however, he continued.* — এটি run-on বাক্য। **however কখনো দুটো পূর্ণ বাক্য কেবল কমা দিয়ে জুড়তে পারে না।** **গ. জোড়ায় আসা connectors** - **although / though / even though … ,** (কিন্তু **but** নয়): ❌ *Although he is poor, but he is honest.* ✅ *Although he is poor, he is honest.* - **because … ,** (কিন্তু **so** নয়): ❌ *Because he was late, so he missed the bus.* ✅ *Because he was late, he missed the bus.* - **not only … but also**, **either … or**, **neither … nor**, **both … and** - **no sooner … than**, **hardly … when**, **scarcely … before** **ঘ. পরীক্ষায় কৌশল — তিন ধাপ** 1. শূন্যস্থানের **আগের ও পরের বাক্য পড়ুন** এবং নিজেকে জিজ্ঞেস করুন: দ্বিতীয়টি কি প্রথমটির সাথে **যোগ**, **বিরোধ**, **কারণ**, নাকি **ফল**? 2. ওই দলের তালিকা থেকে শব্দ বাছুন। 3. **ব্যাকরণ মিলিয়ে নিন** — শূন্যস্থান কি দুটো clause যুক্ত করছে (conjunction) নাকি নতুন বাক্য শুরু করছে (conjunctive adverb)? বেশিরভাগ শিক্ষার্থী প্রথম ধাপ ঠিক করেও তৃতীয় ধাপে ভুল করেন, আর সেখানেই নম্বর যায়।
Examplesউদাহরণ
- He studied hard. Therefore, he passed. (result)Therefore নতুন বাক্য শুরু করেছে, পরে কমা।
- He studied hard, so he passed. (result, coordinating conjunction)so-এর আগে কমা, দুটো স্বাধীন clause যুক্ত।
- Although he studied hard, he did not pass. (contrast, subordinating)Although দিয়ে শুরু, মাঝে কমা, 'but' নেই।
- He was tired; however, he continued working. (contrast, conjunctive adverb)সেমিকোলন + however + কমা — কেবল কমা দিলে run-on হতো।
- Bangladesh grows many crops, such as rice, jute and tea. (example)'such as' দিয়ে উদাহরণ।
- He is not only intelligent but also hardworking. (paired connector)not only … but also জোড়ায় বসে।
- Hurry up, otherwise you will miss the train. (condition)otherwise মানে 'নইলে'।
Common Mistakesসাধারণ ভুল
Although he is poor, but he is honest.
Although he is poor, he is honest.
'Although' already carries the contrast; adding 'but' repeats it and is the single commonest error in this item.
Because he was ill, so he did not come.
Because he was ill, he did not come.
'Because' shows the cause and 'so' shows the result; using both makes the sentence circular.
He was tired, however, he continued.
He was tired; however, he continued.
'However' is not a conjunction, so it cannot join two full sentences with only a comma.
Inspite of he was ill, he came.
In spite of his illness, he came. / Although he was ill, he came.
'In spite of' is followed by a noun or -ing form, never by a clause with a subject and verb.
Neither he nor his brothers is coming.
Neither he nor his brothers are coming.
With neither…nor the verb agrees with the nearer subject, which here is plural.
Tipsটিপস
- Name the relationship first — addition, contrast, cause, result, time, example — then pick from that group only. — আগে সম্পর্কটার নাম বলুন — যোগ, বৈপরীত্য, কারণ, ফল, সময়, উদাহরণ — তারপর কেবল ওই দল থেকেই বাছুন।
- Never pair although with but, or because with so. One connector per relationship. — although-এর সাথে but, বা because-এর সাথে so কখনো নয়। এক সম্পর্কে একটাই connector।
- 'In spite of' and 'despite' take a noun; 'although' and 'though' take a clause. — 'In spite of' ও 'despite'-এর পরে noun; 'although' ও 'though'-এর পরে clause।
- Vary your connectors in writing — five sentences starting with 'and' or 'but' lowers your band and your marks. — লেখায় connector বদলে বদলে ব্যবহার করুন — পরপর পাঁচটা বাক্য 'and' বা 'but' দিয়ে শুরু হলে নম্বর কমে।
Quizকুইজ
Tap an answer to check yourself — a free preview of the full graded quiz in the app.
1. Choose the correct connector: He worked hard, ___ he failed.
2. Which sentence is correct?
3. Fill in: The road was blocked. ___, we took another route.
4. Choose the correct form: ___ his illness, he attended the meeting.
5. Fill in: He is ___ intelligent ___ hardworking.
Practiceঅনুশীলন
Try each one, then reveal the answer.
1. Join with a connector: It was raining heavily. We went out.
Hint: The second clause is unexpected after the first — that is contrast.
2. Join with a connector: He did not study. He failed the examination.
Hint: The second is the result of the first.
3. Correct: Because the bus was late, so I missed the class.
Hint: One connector per relationship.
4. Fill in: Bangladesh exports many goods, ___ garments, jute and leather.
Hint: You are introducing examples.
Related Lessonsসম্পর্কিত পাঠ
- Conjunctions (And, But, Or, Because)Learn conjunctions in Bangla and English: how and, but, or and because join words and sentences, with clear examples, common mistakes, tips and a free quiz.
- Linking Words and Connectors for WritingA clear list of linking words for writing in English — addition, contrast, cause, result and sequence connectors, with Bangla meaning, examples and a quiz.
- How to Avoid Run-On SentencesLearn what run-on sentences are and how to fix them in English: full stops, commas with 'and', and semicolons, with examples in Bangla, mistakes, tips and a quiz.
AI Practiceএআই অনুশীলন
Practise this topic in a real conversation with your AI teacher — it asks questions, corrects you gently, and adapts to your level, all inside EnglishBD.
Practise with the AI teacher →Frequently Asked Questionsসাধারণ জিজ্ঞাসা
How is this different from 'linking words'?
They are the same idea. Bangladeshi board papers call the item 'connectors'; IELTS and academic writing guides call them linking words or cohesive devices.
Why is 'Although … but' wrong when it sounds right in Bangla?
Bangla uses যদিও … তবুও as a pair, and the habit transfers. English allows only one connector for one relationship, so 'although' alone is enough.
When do I use a semicolon before a connector?
Before conjunctive adverbs such as however, therefore, moreover and nevertheless when they join two complete sentences. A comma alone creates a run-on.
How many marks is this item worth?
Usually five marks in SSC English second paper, and the same skill is assessed in IELTS Writing under coherence and cohesion, so it is worth learning properly once.