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) |