What's the linker?


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Complete the following sentences with one word. They all contain a linker of some kind.

  1. He answers enquiries from the public as ___ as being in charge of the accounts department.
  2. They were close friends ___ the difference in their ages.
  3. She decided to change job because ___ her new boss' attitude.
  4. ___ joggers, swimmers don't get injured.
  5. I'm going to do the exam ___ though I reckon I'll fail.
  6. He's into sport ___ his brother is more academic.
  7. She's efficient, but ___ the other hand, she lacks empathy.
  8. In ___ of not getting the pay rise they deserved, the workers voted against strike action.
  9. He writes novels ___ working as a journalist.
  10. We went on a helicopter ride. We ___ had a go at parasailing.
  11. They got divorced on ___ of his extra-marital affair.
  12. That's the reason ___ I decided to go to live in London.
  13. ___ only does he have a huge villa on the seafront, he also has an attic flat in the city centre.
  14. Employees were paid a small allowance in ___ to their regular salary.
  15. I know a lot about the subject already but her talk was interesting ___.
  16. I went to the party ___ I knew it would be a bore. 
  17. The pop group added another 10 concerts to their tour ___ to the demand for tickets.
  18. Scientists say that a cure will be found within the next ten years. ___, they claim that the average person will live until 120.
  19. I think he is an outstanding actor. ___, his latest film was a disappointment.
  20. She doesn't have a driving license. ___ more she doesn't have all the necessary qualifications.



xxxxxxx

xxxxxxx

Comments

Montse said…
Hi, Graham. Here is my try.
- He answers enquiries from the public as long as being in charge of the accounts department.
- They were close friends despite the difference in their ages.
- She decided to change job because of her new boss' attitude.
- Unlike joggers, swimmers don't get injured.
- I'm going to do the exam even though I reckon I'll fail.
- He's into sport but his brother is more academic.
- She's efficient, but on the other hand, she lacks empathy.
- In spite of not getting the pay rise they deserved, the workers voted against strike action.
- He writes novels despite working as a journalist.
- We went on a helicopter ride. We also had a go at parasailing.
- They got divorced on the basis of his extra-marital affair.
- That's the reason why I decided to go to live in London.
- Not only does he have a huge villa on the seafront, he also has an attic flat in the city centre.
- Employees were paid a small allowance in addition to their regular salary.
- I know a lot about the subject already but her talk was interesting though.
- I went to the party although I knew it would be a bore.
- The pop group added another 10 concerts to their tour due to the demand for tickets.
- Scientists say that a cure will be found within the next ten years.
Even, they claim that the average person will live until 120.
- I think he is an outstanding actor. Nevertheless, his latest film was a disappointment.
- She doesn't have a driving license. What's more she doesn't have all the necessary qualifications.

Regards
Anonymous said…
Hello Graham, I am Patricia here are the answers that I think are correct:

1.He answers enquiries from the public as much as being in charge of the accounts department.
2.They were close friends since the difference in their ages.
3.She decided to change job because of her new boss' attitude.
4._Unlike__ joggers, swimmers don't get injured.
5.I'm going to do the exam _until__ though I reckon I'll fail.
6.He's into sport _while__ his brother is more academic.
7.She's efficient, but __on_ the other hand, she lacks empathy.
8.In _deciding__ of not getting the pay rise they deserved, the workers voted against strike action.
9.He writes novels _as__ working as a journalist.
10.We went on a helicopter ride. We _have__ had a go at parasailing.
11.They got divorced on the case of his extra-marital affair.
12.That's the reason _about__ I decided to go to live in London.
13._Not__ only does he have a huge villa on the seafront, he also has an attic flat in the city centre.
14.Employees were paid a small allowance in _order__ to their regular salary.
15.I know a lot about the subject already but her talk was interesting _too__.
16.I went to the party _but__ I knew it would be a bore.
17.The pop group added another 10 concerts to their tour _because__ to the demand for tickets.
18.Scientists say that a cure will be found within the next ten years. _Although__, they claim that the average person will live until 120.
19.I think he is an outstanding actor. __However_, his latest film was a disappointment.
20.She doesn't have a driving license. _What,s__ more she doesn't have all the necessary qualifications.
Cristina said…
Hi Graham! Here are my answers. Some linkers are easy but in others I need a bit of imagination :P
1.He answers enquiries from the public as WELL as being in charge of the accounts department.
2.They were close friends DESPITE the difference in their ages.
3.She decided to change job because OF her new boss' attitude.
4.UNLIKE joggers, swimmers don't get injured.
5.I'm going to do the exam EVEN though I reckon I'll fail.
6.He's into sport WHEREAS his brother is more academic.
7.She's efficient, but ON the other hand, she lacks empathy.
8.In SPITE of not getting the pay rise they deserved, the workers voted against strike action.
9.He writes novels WHILE working as a journalist.
10.We went on a helicopter ride. We ALSO had a go at parasailing.
11.They got divorced on BECAUSE of his extra-marital affair.
12.That's the reason WHY I decided to go to live in London.
13.NOT only does he have a huge villa on the seafront, he also has an attic flat in the city centre.
14.Employees were paid a small allowance in ADDITION to their regular salary.
15.I know a lot about the subject already but her talk was interesting TOO.
16.I went to the party ALTHOUGH I knew it would be a bore.
17.The pop group added another 10 concerts to their tour DUE to the demand for tickets.
18.Scientists say that a cure will be found within the next ten years. THEREFORE, they claim that the average person will live until 120.
19.I think he is an outstanding actor. HOWEVER, his latest film was a disappointment.
20. She doesn't have a driving license. EVEN more she doesn't have all the necessary qualifications.
Anonymous said…
Hi Graham, im Leticia and here are my answers!

1.He answers enquiries from the public as WELL as being in charge of the accounts department.
2.They were close friends DESPITE the difference in their ages.
3.She decided to change job because OF her new boss' attitude.
4.UNLIKE joggers, swimmers don't get injured.
5.I'm going to do the exam EVEN though I reckon I'll fail.
6.He's into sport HOWEVER his brother is more academic.
7. She's efficient, but ON the other hand, she lacks empathy.
8.In DESPITE of not getting the pay rise they deserved, the workers voted against strike action.
9.He writes novels WHILE working as a journalist.
10.We went on a helicopter ride. We ALSO had a go at parasailing.
11.They got divorced on DUE of his extra-marital affair.
12.That's the reason WHY I decided to go to live in London.
13.NOT only does he have a huge villa on the seafront, he also has an attic flat in the city centre.
14.Employees were paid a small allowance in ADITTION to their regular salary.
15.I know a lot about the subject already but her talk was interesting TOO.
16.I went to the party DESPITE I knew it would be a bore.
17.The pop group added another 10 concerts to their tour DUE to the demand for tickets.
18.Scientists say that a cure will be found within the next ten years. ___, they claim that the average person will live until 120.
19.I think he is an outstanding actor. BUT/HOWEVER, his latest film was a disappointment.
20.She doesn't have a driving license. EVEN more she doesn't have all the necessary qualifications.
Graham said…
Hi Montse, Patricia, Cristina and Leticia!

I'm going to try to answer you all in one go.

Remember that when you say who you are, say "it's + name". We say "I'm + name" when we meet someone new.


Here are the results of the Scottish Jury:

1. He answers enquiries from the public as well as being in charge of the accounts department. (adding extra info)

as long as = only if
eg. We'll go to the country as long as it doesn't rain.

as much as = the maximum
eg Try to speak English as much as possible


2. They were close friends despite the difference in their ages. (contradicition)

despite / in spite of + nouns


since + when the action started
eg I haven't seen her since last August.



3. She decided to change job because of her new boss' attitude. (reason)

because of + nouns



4. Unlike joggers, swimmers don't get injured. (contrast)

unlike + nouns



5. I'm going to do the exam even though I reckon I'll fail. (contradiction)

even though + subject + verb



6. He's into sport whereas/while his brother is more academic. (comparing two different things)



7. She's efficient, but on the other hand, she lacks empathy. (contrasting same thing)

On the one hand... but on the other (hand)...



8. In spite of not getting the pay rise they deserved, the workers voted against strike action. (contrast)

In spite of / despite + verbing



9. He writes novels besides working as a journalist. (adding extra info)

besides + noun / verbing


while = at the same time



10. We went on a helicopter ride. We also had a go at parasailing. (extra info)

also + verb

= too (but this is at the end of the sentence)


11. They got divorced on account of his extra-marital affair. (reason)

on account of + nouns



12. That's the reason why I decided to go to live in London. (reason)



13. Not only does he have a huge villa on the seafront, he also has an attic flat in the city centre. (extra info)

Not only + aux + subject ...., subject + also + verb
eg Not only did he finish the marathon, he also ran faster than his brother.



14. Employees were paid a small allowance in addition to their regular salary. (extra info)

in addition to + nouns


in order to (reason)
eg. He went to London in order to improve his English



15. I know a lot about the subject already but her talk was interesting nevertheless. (contradiction)



16. I went to the party although I knew it would be a bore. (contradiction)



17. The pop group added another 10 concerts to their tour due to the demand for tickets.(reason)



18. Scientists say that a cure will be found within the next ten years. Furthermore, they claim that the average person will live until 120. (extra info)

furthermore + , + phrase (it's formal)



19. I think he is an outstanding actor. However, his latest film was a disappointment. (contrast)



20 She doesn't have a driving license. What's more she doesn't have all the necessary qualifications.



If you have any doubts about the answers, just let me know.
Anonymous said…
Hi Graham, its Inigo Medina.

My terrible journey story begins below

I was going from my house in Marbella to Galicia with my girlfriend.
Our plan was going by car from Málaga to Madrid in one day, sleep in my
house that night and in the morning go by car from Madrid to Galicia.
The trip was great until , in less of 10 kilometers to Santiago, began to rain very hard
that impossible to continue on the road so we slept in a motel in the area.
The rain didn´t stop until 12 o´clock that we decide to take advantage
and return to the road as soon as possible

That was a trip of three days from Málaga to Santiago
Graham said…
Hi Iñigo,

It's good to see you in the blog. I hope that you continue to make us of it.

Try to write your comment under the corresponding post.


Our plan was to go by car from Málaga to Madrid in one day, sleep in my
house that night and in the morning go by car from Madrid to Galicia.
The trip was great until just under 10 kilometers from Santiago, it began to rain very hard.
It made it impossible
to continue on the road so we slept in a motel in the area.
The rain didn´t stop until 12 o´clock when we decided to take advantage of the break in the weather
and return to the road as soon as possible.


Remember that English sentences aren't nearly as long as Spanish ones.
Ángel said…
Hi Graham, these are my answers:

He answers enquiries from the public as well as being in charge of the accounts department.
They were close friends despite the difference in their ages.
She decided to change job because of her new boss' attitude.
Unlike joggers, swimmers don't get injured.
I'm going to do the exam even though I reckon I'll fail.
He's into sport whilst his brother is more academic.
She's efficient, but on the other hand, she lacks empathy.
In spite of not getting the pay rise they deserved, the workers voted against strike action.
He writes novels besides working as a journalist.
We went on a helicopter ride. We also had a go at parasailing.
They got divorced on account of his extra-marital affair.
That's the reason why I decided to go to live in London.
Not only does he have a huge villa on the seafront, he also has an attic flat in the city centre.
Employees were paid a small allowance in addition to their regular salary.
I know a lot about the subject already but her talk was interesting indeed.
I went to the party though I knew it would be a bore.
The pop group added another 10 concerts to their tour due to the demand for tickets.
Scientists say that a cure will be found within the next ten years. Furthermore, they claim that the average person will live until 120.
I think he is an outstanding actor. Nevertheless, his latest film was a disappointment.
She doesn't have a driving license. What's more she doesn't have all the necessary qualifications.
Graham said…
Hi Ángel,

At CAE level, you should be able to use a wide range of linkers with confidence. They are especially useful for the Speaking, Writing and UOE tasks.

He's into sport whilst his brother is more academic. (I'd use "whereas" or simply "while"; "whilst" is much more formal and much less common).

I know a lot about the subject already but her talk was interesting indeed. ("indeed" isn't a linker - it's used for emphasis; I'd use " "nevertheless" here).

Other than that, perfect! Well done!


Try to get using Twitter too.

Anonymous said…
He answers enquiries from the public as well as being in charge of the accounts department.
They were close friends despite the difference in their ages.
She decided to change job because of her new boss' attitude.
Unlike joggers, swimmers don't get injured.
I'm going to do the exam even though I reckon I'll fail.
He's into sport but his brother is more academic.
She's efficient, but on the other hand, she lacks empathy.
In addittion of not getting the pay rise they deserved, the workers voted against strike action.
He writes novels besides working as a journalist.
We went on a helicopter ride. We also had a go at parasailing.
They got divorced on because of his extra-marital affair.
That's the reason why I decided to go to live in London.
Not only does he have a huge villa on the seafront, he also has an attic flat in the city centre.
Employees were paid a small allowance in addittion to their regular salary.
I know a lot about the subject already but her talk was interesting too.
I went to the party though I knew it would be a bore.
The pop group added another 10 concerts to their tour due to the demand for tickets.
Scientists say that a cure will be found within the next ten years. Furthermore, they claim that the average person will live until 120.
I think he is an outstanding actor. However, his latest film was a disappointment.
She doesn't have a driving license. What's more she doesn't have all the necessary qualifications.
Graham said…
Hi Miguel,

Make sure you read the other posts about "linkers".


He's into sport but /whereas his brother is more academic. (comparison)

In spite of not getting the pay rise they deserved, the workers voted against strike action. (contradiction)

They got divorced because of / on account of his extra-marital affair. (reason)

Employees were paid a small allowance in addition to their regular salary.

I know a lot about the subject already but her talk was interesting nevertheless. (contradiction)


Other than that, all correct. Well done!