Choose the connective
Sentences with a gap and three connectives: only one fits the meaning.
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Teaching Guide: Connectives and Text Cohesion
A good reader does not only understand sentences: they see how sentences link up. Connectives and references are the stitching of a text, and spotting them is part of the PISA “understand” process and of every reading curriculum. This free generator makes connectives and cohesion worksheets with sentences and texts written for each language and an answer key.
- For
- Elementary 5th, 6th · Middle & High 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th (ages 10-15)
- Subject
- Language & Literacy › Reading Comprehension
- Includes
- Student sheet and answer key
- Format
- A4, to print or save as PDF; new exercises every time
- Price
- Free, no sign-up
- Available in
- Catalan, Spanish, English
Student worksheet 
Answer key Sort them
Addition, contrast, cause, result, sequence, example and conclusion.
Order paragraphs
Jumbled instructions, information texts and discussions to rebuild from their markers.
Reference
Pronouns, synonyms, possessives and demonstratives that point back to a word or an idea.
Written in English
The sentences and texts are written for each language, not translated.
Answer key
The circled connective, each connective in its column, the order and the referent.
Frequently asked questions about the connectives worksheets
Which grades are they for?
Level 1 (and, but, because, so…) is for Grades 5-6; level 2 (however, therefore, for example, to sum up…) for Grades 7-8; level 3 (nevertheless, given that, consequently, all in all…) for Grades 9-10.
Why is there only one right answer?
Every sentence is written so that the wrong connectives change its meaning: a contrast where there is a cause, or a result read backwards. Connectives that could both fit are never offered together.
Which kinds of connectives are there?
Addition (in addition), contrast (however, whereas), cause (because, given that), result (therefore), sequence (firstly), example or explanation (for example, in other words) and conclusion (to sum up, all in all).
What is reference?
Words that point back to something else in the text: a pronoun (he, it), a synonym (the river), a possessive (their) or a demonstrative that sums up an idea (this, this measure). Finding them is key to understanding what each sentence is about.
Which other worksheets go well with these?
Reading comprehension for whole texts, sentence analysis and punctuation. You will find every resource in language worksheets.
How do I print only the answer key?
Click Print and choose “Answer key”, or “Worksheet and answer key” for both. You can also save it as a PDF from your browser’s print dialog.
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