🧷 Grammar B2-31: Advanced linkers

The final material of the Fleydo CEFR grammar syllabus, and the one that most visibly lifts a learner's writing. It sorts every advanced linker into three groups by the only thing that decides correctness — what the word connects and where it is allowed to stand. Group one, the subordinators (although, even though, whereas, while, since, as), joins two clauses inside one sentence. Group two, the prepositions (despite, in spite of, owing to, due to, because of), joins a noun or an -ing inside one sentence, with despite the fact that as the bridge when the idea will not shrink to a noun. Group three, the adverbial connectors (however, nevertheless, nonetheless, moreover, furthermore, therefore, consequently, on the other hand, by contrast), refuses to share a sentence: it needs a full stop or semicolon in front and a comma behind, and the comma splice it produces when that rule is broken is the single most common error in B2 writing. The flagship compare separates balanced contrast from concession — whereas weighs two facts of equal weight, although makes one yield to the other — and a register ladder places but and end-position though against however, nevertheless and furthermore so the learner chooses a voice rather than a word. Four questions and three worked runs from a regional transport report drive the method; practice runs to thirty-seven explained items across five sets, a twelve-linker joins-or-opens sorter, six repairs from real essays, six reveal cards and five traps designed against despite of, although plus a bare noun, the comma-spliced however, moreover used to contrast and the whereas fragment. A 148-word council report paragraph carries ten tappable linkers in all three positions, including the mid-sentence and post-semicolon placements. Teacher notes give a 45-minute sequence, the three-column board move, the two-question rescue and the Cambridge B2 First relevance across Writing Part 1 and Reading and Use of English Parts 1, 2 and 4.