Linking Words and Phrases in English (List with Bengali Meaning)

Good writing is not just a row of correct sentences; it is sentences that flow smoothly into one another. Look at these two: “He was very tired. He kept working.” Now add one word: “He was very tired. However, he kept working.” Suddenly the two ideas connect, and the sentence breathes.

That little bridge is a linking word, and using such words well is exactly what turns ordinary writing into good writing. In paragraph, composition, and report writing, examiners reward this flow, so this lesson gives you a full, organised list of linking words, each with its Bengali meaning, its use, and fresh examples.

ভালো লেখা মানে শুধু কতগুলো সঠিক বাক্যের সারি নয়; এমন বাক্য যা একটির মধ্যে আরেকটি মসৃণভাবে গড়িয়ে যায়। এই দুটি দেখো: “He was very tired. He kept working।” এবার একটি শব্দ যোগ করো: “He was very tired. However, he kept working।” হঠাৎ দুটি ভাব যুক্ত হয়ে গেল, আর বাক্যটি যেন শ্বাস নিল। ওই ছোট্ট সেতুটিই একটি linking word। তাহলে চলো, শুরু করা যাক।

What are Linking Words and Phrases?

Linking words (also called connectors or transition words) are words and phrases that join ideas and sentences and show the relationship between them. This lesson pairs closely with our Sentence Connectors and Linkers

Linking words (যাদের connector বা transition word ও বলা হয়) হলো এমন শব্দ ও phrase যা ভাব ও বাক্যকে জোড়ে এবং তাদের মধ্যে সম্পর্ক দেখায়। এরা conjunction এর মতোই কাজ করে, কারণ দুটোরই কাজ যুক্ত করা। এই পাঠটি আমাদের Sentence Connectors and Linkers বিষয়ক তালিকার সঙ্গে ঘনিষ্ঠভাবে সম্পর্কিত।

They matter most in writing that flows: paragraph writing, composition, report, and free-hand writing.

1. Adding Information

Use these to add another idea or point (আরও একটি ভাব বা তথ্য যোগ করতে)।

Linking Word / Phrase	Meaning (অর্থ)
Also	এছাড়াও, ও
Moreover	অধিকন্তু
Furthermore	তদুপরি, আরও
In addition	এছাড়াও
Besides	তাছাড়া
As well as	এর পাশাপাশি
Not only … but also	শুধু … নয়, … ও

Examples:

• He is a good student. Moreover, he is a kind friend.
• In addition to English, she can speak Arabic.
• The plan is cheap. Besides, it saves time.

2. Contrast

Use these to show a difference or an opposite idea (পার্থক্য বা বিপরীত ভাব দেখাতে)।

Linking Word / Phrase	Meaning (অর্থ)
But	কিন্তু
However	যাইহোক, তবে
On the other hand	অন্যদিকে
In contrast	বিপরীতে
On the contrary	বরং, পক্ষান্তরে
Whereas	যেখানে, অথচ
While	যেখানে

Examples:

• The task was hard. However, we finished it on time.
• Rima loves the city, whereas her sister prefers the village.
• He is not lazy. On the contrary, he works day and night.

3. Concession (Although / Despite)

Use these to admit one fact and then say something that goes against it (একটি সত্য মেনে নিয়ে তার বিপরীত কিছু বলতে)।

Linking Word / Phrase	Meaning (অর্থ)
Although	যদিও
Though	যদিও
Even though	যদিও, এমনকি যদিও
Despite	সত্ত্বেও
In spite of	সত্ত্বেও
Nevertheless	তা সত্ত্বেও
Yet	তবুও

Examples:

• Although he is poor, he is honest.
• Despite his illness, he attended the exam.
• She studied hard. Nevertheless, she could not get an A.

4. Giving Examples

Use these to introduce an example or explain in other words (উদাহরণ দিতে বা অন্যভাবে বোঝাতে)।

Linking Word / Phrase	Meaning (অর্থ)
For example	উদাহরণস্বরূপ
For instance	উদাহরণস্বরূপ
Such as	যেমন
Namely	অর্থাৎ, যথা
That is	অর্থাৎ
In other words	অন্য কথায়
Like	যেমন

Examples:

• Some fruits, such as mango and jackfruit, grow in summer.
• Read more books. For example, biographies teach us a lot.
• He failed the test. In other words, he did not study.

5. Cause, Reason and Result

Use these to show why something happens and what follows (কারণ ও ফল দেখাতে)।

Linking Word / Phrase	Meaning (অর্থ)
Because	কারণ
Since	যেহেতু
As	যেহেতু
Due to	কারণে
Owing to	কারণে
So	সুতরাং, তাই
Therefore	অতএব, তাই
Thus	এভাবে, ফলে
Hence	সুতরাং
Consequently	ফলস্বরূপ
As a result	ফলে, ফলস্বরূপ

Examples:

• He was absent because he was ill.
• The road was blocked. Therefore, we took another route.
• She practised daily. As a result, her English improved.

6. Purpose

Use these to show the aim or reason for doing something (উদ্দেশ্য বা কারণ দেখাতে)।

Linking Word / Phrase	Meaning (অর্থ)
So that	যাতে
In order to	করার জন্য
So as to	করার জন্য
Lest	পাছে, যাতে না

Examples:

• He studies hard so that he can pass.
• She left early in order to catch the train.
• Walk carefully lest you should fall.

7. Condition

Use these to show that one thing depends on another (একটি জিনিস আরেকটির উপর নির্ভর করছে দেখাতে)।

Linking Word / Phrase	Meaning (অর্থ)
If	যদি
Unless	যদি না
Provided that	এই শর্তে যে
In case	এমন ক্ষেত্রে, যদি
As long as	যতক্ষণ, যদি

Examples:

• You will pass if you work hard.
• You will fail unless you study.
• Take an umbrella in case it rains.

8. Sequence and Time

Use these to arrange points or events in order (ভাব বা ঘটনাকে ক্রম অনুযায়ী সাজাতে)।

Linking Word / Phrase	Meaning (অর্থ)
First / Firstly	প্রথমত
To begin with	শুরুতে
Then	তারপর
Next	এরপর
After that	তারপর
Meanwhile	ইতিমধ্যে
Finally / Lastly	অবশেষে, সবশেষে
At last	অবশেষে

Examples:

• First, boil the water. Then, add the rice.
• We waited for hours. Finally, the train arrived.
• Meanwhile, the guests were getting hungry.

9. Emphasis and Comparison

Use these to stress a point or to show a similarity (কোনো ভাবের উপর জোর দিতে বা মিল দেখাতে)।

Linking Word / Phrase	Meaning (অর্থ)
Indeed	প্রকৃতপক্ষে
In fact	আসলে
Certainly	নিশ্চিতভাবে
Above all	সর্বোপরি
Undoubtedly	নিঃসন্দেহে
Similarly	অনুরূপভাবে
Likewise	একইভাবে
In the same way	একইভাবে

Examples:

• He is honest. Indeed, everyone trusts him.
• Above all, we must respect our parents.
• Ali reads every night. Similarly, his sister studies late.

10. Summary and Conclusion

Use these to close your writing or sum up your points (লেখা শেষ করতে বা সারসংক্ষেপ করতে)।

Linking Word / Phrase	Meaning (অর্থ)
In short	সংক্ষেপে
In brief	সংক্ষেপে
In conclusion	পরিশেষে, উপসংহারে
To conclude	উপসংহারে
To sum up	সারসংক্ষেপে
Overall	সামগ্রিকভাবে
On the whole	মোটের উপর

Examples:

• In short, hard work is the key to success.
• To sum up, the plan is cheap, quick, and useful.
• On the whole, it was a successful year.

Important Usage Rules

Knowing the words is only half the job. Using them correctly is what earns marks. Learn these three rules well, because exams test them directly.

শুধু শব্দ জানা অর্ধেক কাজ। সঠিকভাবে ব্যবহার করাই নম্বর এনে দেয়। এই তিনটি নিয়ম ভালোভাবে শেখো, কারণ পরীক্ষায় এগুলো সরাসরি আসে।

Rule 1: ‘Although’ takes a clause; ‘Despite’ takes a noun. After although, though, and even though, use a full clause (subject + verb). After despite and in spite of, use a noun or a verb-ing form, never a clause.

although এর পরে একটি পূর্ণ clause (subject + verb) বসে, আর despite/in spite of এর পরে একটি noun বা verb-ing বসে, কখনো clause নয়।

Examples:

• Correct: Although he was poor, he was happy.
• Correct: Despite his poverty, he was happy. (not “Despite he was poor”)

Rule 2: ‘Such as’ takes nouns; ‘For example’ introduces a sentence. Use ‘such as’ and ‘like’ before a noun or list of nouns. Use ‘for example’ or ‘for instance’ to start a whole sentence.

such as/like এর পরে noun বা noun এর তালিকা বসে। আর for example/for instance দিয়ে একটি পূর্ণ বাক্য শুরু হয়।

Examples:

• Correct: I like sports such as cricket and football.
• Correct: Exercise is good. For example, walking keeps you fit.

Rule 3: Put a comma after a linking word that starts a sentence. Words like However, Therefore, Moreover, and In fact take a comma when they open a sentence.

বাক্যের শুরুতে বসা linking word এর পরে একটি কমা বসে। However, Therefore, Moreover, In fact এর মতো শব্দ বাক্য শুরু করলে তাদের পরে কমা বসে।

Examples:

• However, he did not give up.
• Therefore, we changed the plan.

Practice Exercise with Answers

Fill in each gap with a suitable linking word from the brackets.

বন্ধনীর মধ্য থেকে উপযুক্ত linking word দিয়ে প্রতিটি gap পূরণ করো। নিজে চেষ্টা করার পরে উত্তর মিলিয়ে নাও।

1. He is rich, ______ (but / so) he is not happy.
2. ______ (Although / Despite) it was raining, they played on.
3. ______ (Despite / Although) his hard work, he failed.
4. She was tired. ______ (However / Because), she kept walking.
5. Study hard ______ (so that / because) you can succeed.
6. You will be late ______ (unless / if) you hurry.
7. I like fruits ______ (such as / for example) mango and litchi.
8. He was ill. ______ (Therefore / Although), he could not come.
9. ______ (First / Finally), wash the rice. ______ (Then / However), boil it.
10. He is honest. ______ (Moreover / But), he is hard-working.
11. It was cold. ______ (In contrast / Nevertheless), we went out.
12. She reads a lot. ______ (Similarly / However), her brother rarely reads.
13. Take a map ______ (in case / unless) you get lost.
14. He ran fast ______ (so as to / because) catch the bus.
15. ______ (In short / For example), the trip was a success.
16. He could not attend ______ (due to / because) illness.
17. ______ (Because / Because of) the storm, the flight was delayed.
18. The plan is cheap. ______ (In addition / However), it is quick.
19. ______ (To sum up / For instance), we must save water.
20. He failed once. ______ (Nevertheless / Therefore), he tried again.

Answers

1. but (contrast)
2. Although (a clause follows)
3. Despite (a noun follows)
4. However (contrast)
5. so that (purpose)
6. unless (condition)
7. such as (nouns follow)
8. Therefore (result)
9. First; Then (sequence)
10. Moreover (addition)
11. Nevertheless (concession)
12. However (contrast)
13. in case (condition)
14. so as to (purpose)
15. In short (summary)
16. due to (followed by a noun)
17. Because of (followed by a noun)
18. In addition (adding a point)
19. To sum up (conclusion)
20. Nevertheless (concession)

A Tip for the Exam

Do not sprinkle linking words everywhere; use the right one in the right place. First, decide the relationship between your two ideas, are you adding, contrasting, giving a reason, or concluding? Then pick a word from that group. And remember the grammar traps: ‘although’ needs a full clause but ‘despite’ needs a noun, ‘such as’ needs nouns but ‘for example’ needs a sentence, and a linking word at the start of a sentence needs a comma. Use them with care, and your paragraphs and compositions will read smoothly and score well.

যেখানে-সেখানে linking word ছড়িয়ে দিও না; সঠিক জায়গায় সঠিকটি ব্যবহার করো। প্রথমে তোমার দুটি ভাবের সম্পর্ক ঠিক করো, তুমি কি যোগ করছ, বিপরীত দেখাচ্ছ, কারণ দিচ্ছ, নাকি উপসংহার টানছ? তারপর সেই দল থেকে একটি শব্দ বাছো। আর grammar ফাঁদগুলো মনে রেখো: ‘although’ এর পরে পূর্ণ clause, কিন্তু ‘despite’ এর পরে noun; ‘such as’ এর পরে noun, কিন্তু ‘for example’ এর পরে বাক্য; আর বাক্যের শুরুতে linking word এর পরে কমা। যত্ন নিয়ে ব্যবহার করলে তোমার paragraph ও composition মসৃণভাবে পড়া যাবে এবং ভালো নম্বর পাবে।

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Related Lessons

Keep improving your writing with these lessons:

• Sentence Connectors and Linkers: Full List, Rules & Examples
• Conjunction: Types, Rules, and Examples
• The 8 Parts of Speech: Rules, Examples & Chart
• Paragraph Writing: The Shortcut Method for Board Exams
• The Ways of Sentence Making: Free-Hand Writing
• Most Confusing Words in English with Explanation & Usages
• 100 Words to Describe a Person’s Character (with Examples)
• 100 Important Synonyms and Antonyms for Exams (with Bengali)
• 30 Commonly Confused Words in English (with Bengali Meaning)
• 100 Important Prepositional Phrases for Exams (with Bengali Meaning)
• Linking Words and Phrases in English (List with Bengali Meaning)
• 100 Common Idioms and Phrases with Meanings and Examples

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Frequently Asked Questions