Linking words/connectors - ESL worksheet by Cartuxa - Free Printable

Let's solve this exercise on linking words (also known as conjunctions or connective words). The goal is to fill in the blanks with the correct linking word from the list provided.

List of Linking Words:

- When, Before, After, Since
- Although, Though, While
- As, Like
- If, Unless
- Because, Since, As
- Where, Wherever
- While, As
- Until
- In order to, So that

We will go through each sentence and choose the most appropriate linking word based on meaning and grammar.

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1. I was at home ____________ my father arrived.

✔ When
→ "When" indicates a point in time when something happened.
✔️ *I was at home when my father arrived.*

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2. Don’t shout, ____________ you want to wake up everybody.

✔ because
→ Explains the reason for not shouting.
✔️ *Don’t shout, because you want to wake up everybody.*
(Alternatively: since or as, but "because" is more direct.)

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3. Call me later ____________ we can talk about it.

✔ so that
→ Purpose: "in order to be able to talk."
✔️ *Call me later so that we can talk about it.*
(Also acceptable: in order to, but “so that” fits better here.)

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4. He didn’t eat anything ____________ his mother came.

✔ until
→ Indicates a time limit: he didn't eat until she came.
✔️ *He didn’t eat anything until his mother came.*

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5. ____________ I like her, I can’t stand her ideas.

✔ Although / Though
→ Contradiction: liking her but disliking her ideas.
✔️ *Although I like her, I can’t stand her ideas.*

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6. I don’t go ____________ I don’t feel like going.

✔ because
→ Gives a reason.
✔️ *I don’t go because I don’t feel like going.*

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7. ____________ you aren’t going, can you look after my cat for me?

✔ Since / As
→ Reason: because you're not going, you can help.
✔️ *Since you aren’t going, can you look after my cat for me?*

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8. She is going to find her dog ____________ it may be.

✔ wherever
→ Indicates any place: no matter where it is.
✔️ *She is going to find her dog wherever it may be.*

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9. You can tell me the news ____________ we’re waiting for the bus.

✔ while
→ During the time we are waiting.
✔️ *You can tell me the news while we’re waiting for the bus.*

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10. ____________ you aren’t coming, I’m not going to tell you what to do.

✔ Since / As / Because
→ Reason for not telling.
✔️ *Since you aren’t coming, I’m not going to tell you what to do.*

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11. He seems nice. I don’t trust him, ____________.

✔ though
→ Contrast at the end of the sentence.
✔️ *He seems nice. I don’t trust him, though.*

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12. Sheila isn’t allowed to go out ____________ she tells her father the truth.

✔ unless
→ Conditional: only if she tells the truth.
✔️ *Sheila isn’t allowed to go out unless she tells her father the truth.*

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13. You must be honest ____________ your friends can trust you.

✔ so that
→ Purpose: being honest allows trust.
✔️ *You must be honest so that your friends can trust you.*

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14. You should study harder ____________ show your teachers that you really deserve good marks.

✔ in order to
→ Purpose: studying hard leads to showing worthiness.
✔️ *You should study harder in order to show your teachers...*

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15. I only noticed his mobile phone on the table ____________ he left.

✔ after
→ Time sequence: notice happened after he left.
✔️ *I only noticed his mobile phone on the table after he left.*

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16. Call me up ____________ you leave, we must talk.

✔ before
→ Need to talk before leaving.
✔️ *Call me up before you leave, we must talk.*

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17. ____________ you don’t know me by now, you will never, never know me.

✔ If
→ Conditional: if you don't know me now, you'll never know me.
✔️ *If you don’t know me by now, you will never know me.*

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18. ____________ you can see from this report, this road needs to be repaired.

✔ As
→ "As you can see..." is a common phrase introducing evidence.
✔️ *As you can see from this report, this road needs to be repaired.*

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19. I cleaned the bathroom ____________ she was cleaning the kitchen.

✔ while
→ Simultaneous actions.
✔️ *I cleaned the bathroom while she was cleaning the kitchen.*

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20. Peter didn’t tell his mother anything ____________ she wouldn’t get angry.

✔ so that
→ Purpose: to avoid anger.
✔️ *Peter didn’t tell his mother anything so that she wouldn’t get angry.*

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21. Sarah is going to bed early at night ____________ rest for tomorrow’s test.

✔ in order to / so that
→ Purpose: to get rest.
✔️ *Sarah is going to bed early at night in order to rest for tomorrow’s test.*
(“So that” would require a clause: *so that she can rest* – but here it's simpler with in order to.)

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22. ____________ Ana has studied a lot, she still feels afraid of the test.

✔ Although / Though
→ Contradiction: studied a lot, yet still afraid.
✔️ *Although Ana has studied a lot, she still feels afraid of the test.*

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23. The angry teacher told him to leave the room ____________ he could finish the test.

✔ so that
→ Purpose: to allow finishing the test.
✔️ *The angry teacher told him to leave the room so that he could finish the test.*

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✔ Final Answers:

1. when
2. because
3. so that
4. until
5. although (or though)
6. because
7. since (or as)
8. wherever
9. while
10. since (or as or because)
11. though
12. unless
13. so that
14. in order to
15. after
16. before
17. if
18. as
19. while
20. so that
21. in order to
22. although (or though)
23. so that

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Summary Tips:

- Use because, since, as for reasons.
- Use although, though for contrasts.
- Use while, as for simultaneous actions.
- Use until, before, after for time sequences.
- Use so that, in order to for purpose.
- Use unless for conditions with negative meaning.
- Use wherever for locations anywhere.

Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable answer sheet!