Some key phrases that act as structures and are commonly used in English.
Level 1
| absolutely / totally / completely | need to |
| also | of course… |
| although | should |
| because of this… | so |
| do x (for n.) / do x (to v) | so that |
| generally | such as… |
| had better | the next…/the last… |
| in total | therefore |
| …is best | x is about y |
| mix of x and y | yet |
Level 2
| amongst (group), …. | not only…, but also… |
| apart from/except for | on the other hand |
| as well as… | some(one/where/thing/time/place) else |
| especially | ‘Speaking of…’ |
| for instance | that said |
| in fact,… | the…er the better |
| …, in which… | unless |
| instead of | …, which leads to… |
| it gets (adj.) and (adj.) | whilst |
| no matter whether | x is increasingly y |
Level 3
| all things considered | in particular / particularly |
| as it happens / happened,… | In short,… |
| at best…, at worst… | nonetheless |
| bear in mind | not remotely like… |
| don’t…at all | over the course of… |
| far less…, if …at all | …rather than… |
| if…, maybe x should… | since (x is true), (do y) |
| if you…, x will…in return | so (adj.) x could (v.) |
| in comparison | …the hell… |
| in order to… | whereas |
Level 4
| alternatively | otherwise |
| consequently | regardless of… |
| depending on (whether) | short of… |
| if so / if not | the aforementioned |
| Initially…, but… | thus |
| It goes without saying… | what is more |
| it’s not…, but unless (you want)… | when it comes to x, (y is true) |
| no matter how… | which doesn’t…until… |
| on the whole | …with this in mind… |
| on top of this,… | x is synonymous with y |
Level 5
Level 6
| above all | to illustrate |
| anyway | in essence |
| as can be seen by | in light of |
| conversely | irrespective of |
| correspondingly | it follows that |
| either way | it’s bad enough…, but… |
| granted | may as well |
| hence | not withstanding |
| I would have thought | parallel to this |
| if that is the case | x alone (will not achieve y) |