Cohesive Devices in English | A Short Guide For Students
What are cohesive devices?
Cohesive devices are words that connect ideas together. These devices help us understand the relationships between the parts of sentences. They may be nouns, verbs, prepositions, conjunctions, adverbs, or adjectives. Cohesive devices help you build sentences smoothly and correctly.
Cohesion can be described as a way to connect and hold together two or more different sentences into a single and whole sentence. It is something that allows us to understand sentences better. Cohesion is one of the three major parts of the English language. The other two parts are grammar and vocabulary.
The conjunctions, connectives, and pronouns used to connect the sections of a piece of writing are referred to as “cohesive devices.” These words or phrases show the relationship between paragraphs or sections of a text or speech.
Cohesive devices are words like ‘For example’, ‘In conclusion‘, ‘however‘, ‘moreover‘, ‘In conclusion‘, ‘and‘, ‘but‘, ‘they‘, and ‘this‘ etc.
Cohesive devices have two defining characteristics:
- The first characteristic is that they connect words into an understandable structure. If they are not connected into an understandable structure, they are non-cohesive devices.
- The second characteristic is that they provide a cohesive meaning with the other words around it. If they do not, then they are non-cohesive devices.
Types of Cohesive Devices
Cohesive devices are divided into three categories:
1. Pronouns
Cohesive devices include pronouns that refer back to a previously specified noun. This, that, these, those, he, she, it, they, and we are pronouns that can refer back to anything that has already been addressed. Make certain, though, that you are referring to something specific.
Example: Sandra went out to the playground. She played with her friends.
2. Synonyms
Synonyms are words that have nearly identical meanings. They add variety to your word selections, allowing the reader to focus on the topic.
Example: There was a lot of food in the pantry, but she only ate the apple for breakfast.
3. Transitional Words
Many words in English serve as cues to our readers about the relationships between phrases and how to join sentences together. Transition words and inter-clausal connectors are essential as cohesive devices.
Example: I like autumn, and yet autumn is a sad time of the year, too.
There are several types of transitional words used for different situations.
A. Comparison and Contrast
Also | Likewise | Equally |
Similarly | by Compared with | Meanwhile |
In contrast | on the other hand | however |
But | Nevertheless | Whereas |
Although | Yet | Instead |
B. Addition
And | Again | Also |
Then | Too | Next |
Moreover | Farther(more) | Besides |
C. Exemplification
For example | Such as | For instance |
To illustrate | Specifically | To demonstrate |
In this case | In this situation | As an illustration |
D. Time and Sequence
First, second, third | Firstly, Secondly | After, afterwards |
Then | Next | At first, at last |
Finally | Before | Previously |
Soon | Subsequently | Consequently |
Simultaneously | In the end | So forth |
E. Conclusion and Result
Therefore | In conclusion | In brief |
Hence | To sum up | In all |
Thus | Accordingly | On the whole |
F. Emphasize
Extremely | Definitely | Especially |
Particularly | Indeed | Absolutely |
Certainly | Unquestionably | Mainly |
G. Transition
Turning to | With regard to | As fas as |
With reference to | Concerned | Identically |
H. Reformulation
In other words | Rather | Briefly |
In simple terms | Basically | To put it more simply |
Conclusion
In conclusion, cohesive devices are important for English grammar because they help to connect ideas and thoughts together. They are used to link words, phrases, and clauses together, which helps to create a smooth, cohesive text. There are several different types of cohesive devices, and each one has its own unique purpose. By understanding how to use these devices correctly, you can improve the clarity and coherence of your writing.