Conectores

Formas y usos

• although / even though + oración

  Contraste. Llevan sujeto y verbo detrás. Even though es más fuerte; though, más informal.

  • Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
  • She went to work even though she felt ill.
• despite / in spite of + sustantivo o -ing

  El mismo contraste, pero sin oración detrás. Para poner una oración: despite the fact that.

  • Despite the rain, we went for a walk.
  • In spite of feeling tired, she finished the race.
• however / nevertheless

  Contraste con la frase anterior. Suelen ir al principio, con coma detrás.

  • The hotel was cheap; however, it was very noisy.
• whereas / while

  Comparan dos hechos opuestos.

  • My brother loves football, whereas I find it boring.
• because / as / since + oración

  Causa, con sujeto y verbo.

  • As it was late, we took a taxi.
• because of / due to + sustantivo

  Causa, sin oración detrás.

  • The flight was cancelled because of the fog.
  • The delay was due to a technical problem.
• so / therefore / as a result

  Consecuencia. So une dos oraciones; therefore y as a result suelen ir al principio o entre comas.

  • The roads were icy, so we stayed at home.
  • Sales fell sharply and, as a result, the shop closed.
• to / in order to / so that

  Finalidad. To e in order to van con infinitivo; so that, con oración, a menudo con can, could o would. Negativo: so as not to, in order not to.

  • She saved money in order to travel.
  • I left early so that I wouldn't miss the train.
• unless / as long as / in case

  Condición. Unless = a menos que (en la práctica, if… not en muchas frases). As long as = siempre que. In case = por si.

  • You won't pass unless you study.
  • Take an umbrella in case it rains.
• as well as / in addition to + sustantivo o -ing

  Adición. In addition y moreover, solos, empiezan frase.

  • As well as teaching, she writes novels.
  • In addition to the price, there is a booking fee.
• as soon as / once / by the time

  Tiempo. Con sentido de futuro, detrás va presente.

  • Call me as soon as you get home.

Dónde aparece en el examen

En la parte 1 eliges entre conectores que significan algo parecido, y decide la estructura: despite no puede ir con oración. En la parte 2 el hueco es a menudo un conector (although, unless, whereas) o la palabra que le falta a uno largo: of en in spite of, though en even though. En la parte 4 son clásicos although → despite + -ing e if… not → unless. En la parte 6, el conector del principio de la frase quitada te dice qué relación tiene con la anterior.

Trampas típicas

• Despite of no existe: o despite, o in spite of.
• Although une dos oraciones en la misma frase; however empieza una frase nueva o va entre comas.
• Unless ya es negativo: unless you hurry = if you don't hurry. No añadas not.
• In case significa «por si acaso», no «si»: take a coat in case it gets cold quiere decir que lo llevas antes, por si pasa.
• So that va con oración; in order to, con infinitivo.
• Due to y because of van con sustantivo: due to the strike, no due to there was a strike.

Errores típicos

• despite, sin of

  Despite va solo.

  • ✗ Mal: Despite of the traffic, we arrived on time.
  • ✓ Bien: Despite the traffic, we arrived on time.
• despite + -ing

  Detrás de despite no va oración.

  • ✗ Mal: Despite he was tired, he kept working.
  • ✓ Bien: Despite being tired, he kept working.
• in case + presente

  Sin will detrás de in case.

  • ✗ Mal: Take some water in case you will get thirsty.
  • ✓ Bien: Take some water in case you get thirsty.