Do you find that you end up producing very short simple French sentences? I like movies. I go often. I like action movies.” It’s right, but it just sounds stiff. The problem is: Linking Words!
A fluent speaker of French does not simply hold many words in vocabulary; useable linking operators are the boutaire which makes good French. Getting good at them will make you sound much more natural and will help you in putting your thoughts together while speaking and writing. Alright, here are 7 French linking words that will help you grow by tying your speech together fast.
1. Donc (So / Therefore)
Use this word to show a result or outcome. It is something that people use very frequently in speech or writing.
How to use it: Use it when the second idea is drawn from the first.
Example: Il pleuvait fort, donc nous sommes restés à la maison. (It was raining hard, so we stayed home.)*
2. En fait (Actually / In fact)
This word can be used when clarifying, correcting an earlier statement, or strengthening your argument. Typically, it means that you are going to furnish more specific information.
How to use it: Start the phrase with it when you want to clarify a statement or provide a contrasting consideration.
Example: Je pensais que c’était difficile. En fait, c’était très simple. (I thought it was hard. Actually, it was easy.)
3. Par contre (But / On the other hand)
If you want to show a big difference or the bad side, use *par contre*. You’ll hear it somewhat more often than the more formal *cependant*.
How to use it: Use it to introduce a contrasting point or highlight a negative side to something good that you have just mentioned.
Example: J’adore cette robe. Par contre, elle est très chère. (I love this dress. But, this dress is very expensive.)
4. Puis (Then / Next)
“Puis” lists things in sequential order or adds one more thing to the list. It helps you to relate the narratives and explain how things go simply.
How to use it: Put it at the beginning of a sentence to express what happened next.
Example: J’ai fait mes devoirs, puis j’ai regardé la télévision. (I did my homework, then I watched television.)
5. Ainsi (Thus / In this way)
To sound classy, use “ainsi”. It points to how something is done or its result. This is good in more proper or written situations.
How to use it: Use it to explain how to do something or to bring up an idea that follows.
Example: Elle a beaucoup pratiqué, ainsi elle a réussi son examen. (She practiced a lot, thus she passed her exam.)
6. C’est-à-dire (That is to say / i.e.)
It is a word you use to explain or make a complex idea easier, implying that you are going to express it in a simpler sense.
How to use it: When you want to give a definition or an example to clarify something.
Example: J’ai besoin d’un dictionnaire, c’est-à-dire un livre qui donne les définitions des mots. (I need a dictionary, that is, a book that gives the definitions of words.)
7. D’ailleurs (Besides / By the way)
This word helps you bring up another point that’s often related. It can mean adding more to your point or just bringing up a new, but related, thought.
How to use it: Use it to add info that backs up what you’re saying or to smoothly change the subject.
Example: Ce restaurant est excellent. D’ailleurs, j’y ai réservé une table pour demain. (This restaurant is great. By the way, I reserved a table there for tomorrow.)
How to Practice with These Linking Words
- Don’t just keep these words in memory! Make the effort to integrate them into your speeches until you just use them without thinking.
- Combine Sentences: Take two simple sentences and try to link them with each of these words. Notice the slight change in meaning with each word.
- Speak: Talk about your day for one minute, using as many linking words as you can. It might be sloppy, but it’s practice using them freely.
- Listen a Lot: Next time you have a French show or podcast on, listen carefully. You’ll be immersed with talking with linking words all the time!
Introduce just these 7 linking words in your French, and you will indeed sound smoother and more confident. They transform a simple list into a tale and turn easy statements into powerful arguments. Working with one or two is already enough to see your sentences grow ever better with loads of practice. Or, you can always book a session with Albert-Learning trainers and practice these in real-life situations.
