IXL | Use linking words to complete a passage

Use the linking words to complete the passage.

As a result

Even though

she hadn't practiced, Kim decided to dance in the big show. Once the music started, though, she knew she had made a mistake. Kim turned left when she was supposed to turn right.

, she ran into a boy and knocked him over. Later, Kim jumped forward instead of backward and bumped into two girls. By the end, Kim's face was bright red. Next time, she would practice!

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Learn with an example

question

Use the linking words to complete the passage.

Then

While

Cam wanted to surprise her dad with a homemade vase for his birthday. First, she rolled out the clay to make a thin rope.

, she began to wind the rope around and around like a spring. Finally, she smoothed out the clay so the whole rope stuck together. It worked! She had made a beautiful vase that her dad would love.

it dried, Cam went shopping for the perfect color of paint.

key idea

When you write, you can use linking words to show how two ideas go together. Different linking words can be used to connect ideas together in different ways.

Linking Word	Use
first, next, afterward, before, finally, later, while	to show the order of events
because, since, so, therefore, as a result	to show cause and effect
also, for example, in addition	to add a new example or idea
or, but, even though, however	to show that something is different or surprising
if, unless	to show that something might or might not happen

Linking words can make your writing stronger. They make paragraphs easier to read and understand. For example, without linking words, this passage is choppy and hard to understand:

Deb had a terrible morning. She woke up late. She'd forgotten to set her alarm clock. She got dressed quickly. She still missed the school bus. She barely made it to school on time. She got to class. She saw her lunch was missing!

With linking words, the passage is easier to read and understand:

Deb had a terrible morning. She woke up late because she'd forgotten to set her alarm clock. Even though she got dressed quickly, she still missed the school bus. She barely made it to school on time. After she got to class, she saw her lunch was missing!

solution

Look at the passage.

Cam wanted to surprise her dad with a homemade vase for his birthday. First, she rolled out the clay to make a thin rope. Then, she began to wind the rope around and around like a spring. Finally, she smoothed out the clay so the whole rope stuck together. It worked! She had made a beautiful vase that her dad would love. While it dried, Cam went shopping for the perfect color of paint.

Then shows the order of events.

While tells when something happens.

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Teacher tools

Work it out

Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

Z.2Use time-order words

Z.3Use coordinating conjunctions

Z.4Use subordinating conjunctions

Z.5Choose the best transition

GG.5Use linking words to complete a passage

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