COHESIVE DEVICES

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages & Literature

Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students must have:
• constructed grammatically-correct sentences
demonstrating the proper use of cohesive devices.
What is cohesion?
COHESION is how well parts of your text (words,
sentences, paragraphs) fit together. It is
important to be able to get your point across
clearly.

Paragraph coherence is achieved when sentences

are arranged logically and when clear transitions
link sentences.
What is cohesive devices?
COHESIVE DEVICES are
words or phrases used to
connect ideas between
different parts of text.
Proper use of it will help
guide the readers put
together information
between sentences in a
text so that clearer
understanding will be
achieved.
Types of Cohesive Devices

conjunctio pronoun prepositio

adverbs ellipsis
ns s ns
Types of Cohesive Devices
1. CONJUNCTIONS
• are words or groups of words that are used to
connect other words or phrases in a sentence
• are key to good cohesion
• "and," "but," and "or"
• "on the one hand" and "on the other hand" are
helpful for connecting information that is similar,
yet with an important difference, so that you can
make a point about it
Types of Cohesive Devices
1. CONJUNCTIONS

Example:
I'd like to eat out, but on the other hand, I should
be trying to save my allowance.
Types of Conjunctions
1. CoordinatingConjunctions
• the most common type
• join words, phrases, and clauses together, which
are usually grammatically equal
• is placed in between the words or groups of
words that it links together, and not at the
beginning or at the end

F=for A=and N=nor B=but O=or Y=yet S=so

Types of Conjunctions
2. Subordinating Conjunctions
• used in linking two clauses together
• they introduce a dependent clause
• also describe the relationship between the
dependent clause and the independent clause in
the sentence

Examples:
Let us talk about the plan when I see you.
List of Common Subordinating
Conjunctions
while
even if

wherever
as if

in that
unless
as
as soon as
because
Types of Conjunctions
3. Correlative Conjunctions
•  pairs of conjunctions which are used to join
equal sentence elements together.
either... or
neither... nor
not only... but also
both... and
whether….. or
so... as
Types of Cohesive Devices
2. PRONOUNS
• are used to replace nouns in sentences
• are easy to use, just stick to the simple rule - it
should be very clear what your pronoun refers to
• Avoid using too many pronouns in one sentence
- it can easily confuse your reader or your listener.
• If you have to refer to several subject within one
sentence, substitute the pronoun for something
else.
Types of Cohesive Devices
2. PRONOUNS
Examples:
Original sentence: She said she doesn't know him
Corrected sentence: Jane said she doesn't know
him / She denied knowing him.
Original sentence: They refused to cooperate with
him.
Corrected sentence: The politicians refused to
cooperate with him / They refused to cooperate
with the President.
Types of Cohesive Devices
3. PREPOSITIONS
• indicate relationships between other words in a
sentence.

Those relationships are:

✔ Direction
✔ Time
✔ Location
✔ spatial relationships
✔ abstract types of relationships
Types of Cohesive Devices
2. PREPOSITIONS

Examples:
Direction: Look to the left and you'll see our
destination.
Time: We've been working since this morning.
Location: We saw a movie at the theater.
Space: The dog hid under the table.
Types of Cohesive Devices
2. PREPOSITIONS
⚠ Put a
"The Williams got home from preposition in front
vacation on Monday.“ of a noun or
pronoun
"Many vacation here because of ✔ Time
the good fishing." ✔ Direction
✔ Place
"My favorite show comes on at ✔ method
6 pm."
Types of Cohesive Devices
4. ADVERBS
• are words that can be used to show order,
contrast and such. When used at the front of a
sentence with a comma, they call attention to
what is to follow
• Adverbs as conjunctions are called Adverbial
Conjunctions
Adverbial Conjunctions
Purpose of Adverbial Conjunctions

Adding something Also, besides, finally, furthermore, in

addition, moreover, still, therewith,
too, on top of that
Comparing Also, as well, alike, similarly
Contrasting Although, (and) yet, (and) at the
same time, despite that, even
though, however, in contrast,
instead, in spite of, nevertheless, on
the other hand, though
Emphasizing Certainly, definitely, indeed, in fact
Adverbial Conjunctions
Purpose of Adverbial Conjunctions

Giving example For/as an example, for instance, to

illustrate, in other words, it is true
that, namely, specifically, case in
point
Showing equality as ... as, both ... and, either ... or,
neither ... nor, not only ... but also
Summarizing, concluding As it was/has been said, in conclusion,
finally, in short, in other words, to
put it simply, on the whole,
summarizing
Types of Cohesive Devices
4. ADVERBS

Examples:

1. Part-time English classes are offered. In

addition, students can take classes in Computer
and Home Economics.

2. He didn't want to attend the online class today,

however he had a very important presentation
Types of Cohesive Devices
5. ELLIPSIS …
• is also known to some as dot-dot-dot because it
consists of three periods, or dots, in a row in
writing
• is the deletion or omission of linguistic item that
the reader or listener already knows.
• can be interpreted as that form of substitution
in which an item is replaced by nothing
• an occasion when words are deliberately left out
of a sentence, though the meaning can still be
understood
Types of Cohesive Devices
4. ADVERBS
Examples:
"After school I went to her house, which was a few
blocks away, and then came home.“
"After school I went to her house... and then came
home.“
⚠ The meaning of the quote should not change.
Cohesive devices are very essential in
speech and in writing because they
improve the cohesion between the
different parts of the text and enable
you to connect sentences or ideas
without sounding awkward.
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