Spanish grammar · Upper intermediate (B2)
Discourse markers: sin embargo, por lo tanto, o sea
The connectors and markers that organise Spanish speech and writing: adding, contrasting, explaining, giving causes and results, and signposting.
Adding and contrasting
and (more formal) mean “however” and usually start a new sentence. compares two different people or situations (“on the other hand”, “whereas”). means “even so”.
| Spanish | English | Style |
|---|---|---|
| besides, what's more | all | |
| also, likewise | formal | |
| however | all | |
| however, nevertheless | formal | |
| on the other hand, whereas | all | |
| even so | all | |
| por un lado… por otro… | on the one hand… on the other… | all |
Explaining and rephrasing
(that is, in other words) is neutral and common in writing. does the same job in speech. … sums up informally: “basically…”. gives an example.
- Es un ciclo superior, es decir, de dos años.It's a higher-level course, that is, a two-year one.
- O sea, metí la pata, ¿no?I mean, I put my foot in it, didn't I?
- Vamos, que te preocupas demasiado.Basically, you worry too much.
Cause and result
gives a reason after the main idea, at the start of a sentence (B1). and go before a noun. , , and introduce a result; is the most formal.
| Cause | Result |
|---|---|
| + noun | |
| + noun |
Organising a talk or a text
Signposting tells your audience or reader where you are: (first of all), (next), / (finally), (as I was saying), (in short).
Fillers in conversation
and start an answer or give you time to think. means “let's see”. softens an answer (to men and women). and check that the listener is following. Don't use these in formal writing.