Transitional Words-how to use them to improve writing skills

UNDERSTANDING
TRANSITIONAL WORDS

WHAT ARE TRANSITIONAL
WORDS?

Transitional words are words or phrases that connect ideas and sentences. They help make writing smoother and easier to follow.

Example: 'First, we went to the park. Then, we had ice cream.'

Supporting Example: 'Next, we played games. Finally, we went
home.'

WHAT ARE TRANSITIONAL
WORDS?

Example: 'First, we went to the park. Then, we had ice cream.'

Supporting Example: 'Next, we played games. Finally, we went
home.'

VERY IMPORTANT FACT

 You need to use the comma after these words

CATEGORIES

 Time

 Place

 Importance

 Cause – effect

 Comparison

 Contrast

 Example

 Adding information

TIME

Words that indicate the order of events or actions.

Common words: first, next, soon, finally, then, later

Example: 'First, we need to gather our materials.'

Supporting Examples: 'Next, we will start the experiment.', 'Finally,
we will analyze the results.'

These words help to sequence events in a logical order.

Multiple Choice

  "____ we need to gather all the materials. ____ we will start the experiment."

• • Similarly, Yet

• • Finally, First

• However, Therefore

• • First, Next

IMPORTANCE TRANSITIONS

Words that indicate the order of importance.

Common words: first, second, more important, most important, last

Example: 'First, we need to finish our homework.'

Supporting Examples: 'Second, we should clean our room.', 'Most
important, we need to be kind to others.'

Explanation: These words help prioritize information.

Drag and Drop

​

Placeholder

, we should bring the best players. ​

Placeholder

, we need to practice every day.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Most importantly

Second

For example

Also

CAUSE/EFFECT TRANSITIONS

Words that show the relationship between actions and their
outcomes.

Common words: therefore, so, as a result

Example: 'It was raining; so, we stayed inside.'

Supporting Examples: 'She was tired; therefore, she went to bed
early.', 'He didn't study; as a result, he failed the test.'

Explanation: These words help explain why something happened.

Multiple Choice

3.      "She was tired, ____, she went to bed early."

• similarly

• in contrast

• so

• because

COMPARISON TRANSITIONS

Words that show similarities between ideas or items.

Common words: also, similarly

Example: 'She likes soccer. Also, she enjoys basketball.'

Supporting Examples: 'The first book was interesting. Similarly, the
second book was engaging.', 'He is tall. Also, he is strong.'

Reorder

Reorder the following sentence to show comparison. Be carefull with the punctuations (final stop or period, and commas)

• She likes soccer

• .

• Similarly

• ,

• she enjoys basketball

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

CONTRAST TRANSITIONS

Words that show differences between ideas or items.

Common words: however, yet, in contrast, different from, on the
other hand

Example: 'I wanted to go out; however, it started to rain.'

Supporting Examples: 'He is very tall; yet, he is very gentle.', 'In
contrast, he is very quiet.'

Explanation: These words help highlight differences.

Multiple Choice

Choose the transitional word that shows CONTRAST:

I wanted to go out; ____, it started to rain.

• as a result

• for example

• however

• first

EXAMPLES TRANSITIONS

Words that introduce examples to support a point.

Common words: for example, for instance

Example: 'For example, apples are healthy.'

Supporting Examples: 'For instance, reading helps improve
vocabulary.', 'Many fruits are nutritious ;for example, bananas and
oranges.'

Explanation: These words help to provide concrete examples.

Drag and Drop

Some animals are very intelligent. ​

Placeholder

, dolphins and elephants show remarkable problem-solving skills.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

In contrast

Most important

For instance

ADDING INFORMATION
TRANSITIONS

Words that add more information to the existing idea.

Common words: also, in addition, and, moreover, next, finally

Example: 'I like pizza. In addition, I love pasta.'

Supporting Examples: 'He is a good student. Also, he is a great
athlete.', 'She enjoys painting. Moreover, she loves music.'

Explanation: These words help to add more details.

Multiple Choice

She speaks three languages. ____, she is learning a fourth one.

• First

• In consequence

• Moreover

• But

2ND GROUP OF TRANSITIONAL
WORDS

 Transitional Word + noun (noun phrase) + comma

Transitional phrases followed by a noun or noun phrase and a comma.

Common phrases: Near the tree, due to the rain, like her brother

Example: 'Near the tree, the cat was hiding.'

Supporting Examples: 'Due to the rain, the game was canceled.',
'Like her brother, she is very tall.'

Explanation: These phrases provide additional context or
information.

Match

Match the following parts of these transitional words that requires noun or noun phrase

• Next to

• the river

• the tall guy

• her

preposition

the noun

noun phrase

object pronoun

• preposition

• the noun

• noun phrase

• object pronoun

Drag and Drop

Because of ​

Placeholder

, he was promoted.

They found the cat ​

Placeholder

the house foundation.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

his dedication

under

his bad attitude

above

3RD GROUP: WORDS THAT CONNECT
TWO IDEAS

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

Words that connect an independent clause with a dependent
clause.

Common words: after, before, since, until, when, while, because,
since, so that, if, unless, although, even though, but, so that, in
order that

Example: 'Because it was raining, we stayed inside.'

Supporting Examples: 'After you left, we had dinner.', 'Although it
was late, we continued to work.'

Explanation: These words help to connect complex ideas.

Match

Match the following two sentences linked by the transitional word

After we finished dinner, we watched a movie

• After

• we finished dinner

• ,

• we watched a movie

transitional word

sentence 1

division between the 2 sentences

sentence 2

• transitional word

• sentence 1

• division between the 2 sentences

• sentence 2

Multiple Choice

choose the transitional word that link both sentences:

She was writing a letter ___ he was reading.

• because

• however

• while

• if

Multiple Choice

___you don´t try it, you won't know if you like it.

• Unless
• Because
• Although
• If

PRACTICE EXERCISES

Look at your TRANSITIONAL WORDS- HAND OUT AND LINK THESE SENTENCES USING THE WORD YOU THINK IT SUITS BETTER.
MORE THAN ONE ANSWER IS POSSIBLE

Open Ended

Rewrite the sentence below with the transitional word you think better suits the situation

• She woke up early. _____, she prepared breakfast.

Open Ended

He didn't complete the assignment. _____, he received a lower grade.

Open Ended

She loves spicy food. _____, her sister prefers mild dishes.

SUMMARY AND Q&A

Recap of key points

Transitional words connect ideas and sentences.

They make writing smoother and easier to follow.

Supporting Examples: 'First we learned about different types of
transitional words.', 'Next we practiced using them in sentences.'

Poll

I undestand how important the transitional words are

• 100%

• 75%

• 50%

• 25%

Poll

I understand that I have to use the comma (,) after the transitional words

I woke up late. In consequence, I lost my bus.

• 100%

• 75%

• 50%

• 25%

Poll

I understand that are some transitional words that need a noun and then, the comma:

My dog ran around the park (around: preposition)- (the park: noun)

• 100%

• 75%

• 50%

• 25%

Poll

I understand that are words that link 2 separate sentences:

Because it was his birthday, we threw a surprise party:

choose the two separate sentences

• it was his birthday

• we threw a surprise party

• Because