08: Linking (1)

This is Lesson #8 of a unit of 10.

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Teacher Slide

Objective: grammar

To understand how we can link words, phrases, and clauses using coordination.

Objective: writing

To encourage pupils to join words, phrases and sentences in their writing using for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so.

Terminology for pupils:

There is no new terminology for this lesson, although pupils will be required to draw on existing knowledge from previous lessons.

Look at these three sentences:

• We went to the cinema and the zoo.
• Do you prefer reading or writing?
• I like tomatoes but not potatoes.

Why do we use words like and, or and but?

The words and, or, but are used to link words, phrases or whole sentences together. Let's look at each of them.

Can you think of a reason why we would use the word and?

Here are some examples with and:

• They visited London and Manchester. (linking words)
• They went to the park and the cinema. (linking phrases)
• They went to the park and they played on the slide. (linking sentences)

Can you think of a reason why we would use the word or?

We use the word or when we make a choice. It can also be used to link words, phrases or sentences.

• Do you want fruit or cake? (linking words)
• Does she like the yellow bananas or the green bananas? (linking phrases)
• We leave today or we leave on Friday. (linking sentences)

Can you think of some more sentences which use and or or?

Can you think of a reason why we would use the word but?

We use this word when we want to point out things that are different. It can also be used to link words, phrases or sentences.

• It's not bread but cheese. (linking words)
• I didn't want the red apple but the green apple. (linking phrases)
• We were not tired but we really wanted to go. (linking sentences)

Can you create a sentence using but for each one of these images?

For example:

• Jimmy wanted to go swimming but he had hurt his leg.

Activity

Answers

Now let's think about and, or and but in writing. These words can:

• Link ideas and create pace: She rushed out of the room, looked around and breathed a sigh of relief.
• Create a contrast: Some animals sleep at night, but others use the darkness for hunting.

Here are some beginnings of sentences. Can you use or, and or but to link ideas or to create a contrast?

For example: They went out to look for the monster but didn't dare to go very far.

• We saw a big tree in the park ...
• She opened the curtains ...
• Inside the room, it was dark ...
• Worms wriggled in the mud ...

Let's look at a piece of writing.

• Earthworms are small and wriggly creatures that live in the mud, but they are also fascinating and important creatures. They tunnel through the mud, eating grass or leaves as they go, and making sure that plants get enough air to live.

Find each linking word and say how it is used to link bits of language.

Choose your favourite insect or animal and write a short paragraph about it, using the linking words and or or to join words, phrases and clauses, or but to create a contrast.

Share your writing with a partner. What do you think of the way that they have used linking words?

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