English Grammar and Composition chapter 8: Linking Words

Unit Eight

Linking Words

A. Ask and answer the questions in pair:

Figure

Description: Six chain segments radiate outward from a central point in a symmetrical star-like arrangement, one chain going up, one down, and four diagonally.

What is the function of a ‘chain’?

What does the word ‘link’ mean?

A chain links things together.

You have certainly learnt that ‘to link’ means to connect two or more things or ideas together.

B. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follow:

Somen Chanda was born in a village named Baliya in Narsingdi on 24 May, 1920. He was an avid reader from his boyhood and he passed the Entrance Examination in 1936 from Pogose School, Dhaka. Then, he was admitted to Dhaka Mitford Medical School, but he had to discontinue his studies because of ill health. Yet, his pen did not stop. His writings reflect struggles of the general people. Thus his writings survive him even today.

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The words in italics are linking words.

What are the functions of these linking words?

Note :

• Linking words work as conjunctions to join two or more words, clauses or sentences.

• Linking words help some independent sentences to make a coherent paragraph.

• Linking words are used in English to express some ideas like-

  i) examples

  ii) listing and adding

  iii) causes and effects

  iv) time

  v) similarity

  vi) reinforcement

  vii) contrasts

  viii) conditions

  ix) positions and directions

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C. Activity:

1. Identify the linking words in the following passage:

Bangladesh was in a good team spirit in the world cup cricket tournament 1999. Besides, all the players were in good form. In fact, they proved it in the field. Anyway, they defeated a big team like Pakistan.

2. Read the following paragraph and make it meaningful by using the linking words given in the box. The first one is done for you:

A student needs to have lots of qualities. Firstly, he should be very studious......................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................

3. Fill up the blanks picking up linkers from the box below. The first one is done for you:

firstly, secondly, thirdly, fourthly, to begin with, moreover, to conclude, next

Several reasons were given for the language movement of the students of this country in 1952. Firstly, they were motivated to establish Bangla as their mother tongue. .................... they were committed to the ideology of Bengali Nationalism. ............................. they wanted to raise

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awareness among the common folks of Bangladesh. ..........................they gave ultimatum to the Pakistani rulers. .......................... they felt frustrated and guilty in living a carefree life in the eastern part of Pakistan.

4. Rewrite the following paragraph using linking words:

Dipak is twelve years old. He does not go to school. His father does not send him to school. He does not believe in education. He considers education to be a wastage of time and energy. Dipak helps his father in the poultry farm. His mother also does not find any interest in sending her son to school for some hours. Dipak is being deprived of primary education.

5. Join the following sentences with linking words:

a. Purnava is a student of Jahangirnagar University. Purnava takes part in debate competitions.

b. Ukhin Mong is a good teacher. He does not take classes every day.

c. It is raining. Rajib is going to market.

d. Bangladesh is a third world country. The Government of Bangladesh distributes books among all the students of primary and secondary schools.

e. Kamal was sick. He did not go to school.