Mastering English: Connectors, Tenses, and Formal Letters
Essential English Connectors and Their Meanings
- Actually: en realidad, exactamente
- All the same: sin embargo
- Also: también
- Although: aunque, a pesar de
- Apparently: al parecer
- As: como, tal como
- As… as…: tan … como
- As a result: así
- Because: porque, a causa de
- Because of: debido a
- Both … and …: tanto … como …
- But: pero
- Consequently: por consiguiente
- Currently: actualmente
- Finally: al fin, finalmente
- For: ya que, pues
- Fortunately: afortunadamente
- Furthermore: además
- However: no obstante, ahora bien
- If: si
- In addition to: además de
- In case of: en caso de
- In order to: con el fin de
- Like: como
- Maybe: quizás, a lo mejor
- Moreover: además
- Not only … but also …: no sólo … sino que también …
- Not long ago: hace poco tiempo
- Now: ahora bien
- On the other hand: por otro lado
- On time: a tiempo
- Only: sólo que
- Or: o, ni
- Otherwise: de otro modo
- Perhaps: quizás
- Really: realmente
- Sadly: desgraciadamente
- Since: ya que, puesto que
- So that: a fin de que
- So then: por tanto
- So: tan, así que
- Surely: seguramente
- Still: no obstante, todavía
- Then: entonces, luego
- Therefore: por lo tanto
- Unfortunately: desafortunadamente
- Unless: a menos que
- Until: hasta que
- While: mientras que, en tanto que
- Yet: sin embargo
Formal Letter Examples
Request to Miss Classes Due to Family Emergency
Dear Mr. Smith,
I am Laura Moreiras, a second-year student in the Primary Education degree program at the University of Barcelona. This semester, I am enrolled in your English class.
I am writing to explain that I will need to miss some classes next week. My mother has been ill for four months, and she requires hospitalization next week. My father is currently working abroad and is unable to return. My younger sister will be staying with my grandmother. The doctors have advised us that someone should be with my mother at all times. Therefore, I need to take care of her since other family members are unavailable.
I am aware that the end-of-semester assignment is due next week. I will send it to you via email.
I would be grateful if you would approve my request.
Yours faithfully,
Laura Moreiras
Request for Time Off During Erasmus Exchange
Dear Ms. Vasseur,
I am Laura Moreiras. In September, I began my Erasmus exchange at Cergy University. Classes will conclude in May, but my first niece is expected to be born on April 11th.
I have not been home or seen my family in many months. Therefore, I would like to spend a few days with them and be present for my niece’s birth. I would like to know if there would be any issue with taking time off from classes from April 8th to April 13th. I am aware that final exams are in two weeks, but I have already organized my studies, so this trip will not hinder my preparation. Regarding the homework due before the trip, I have already completed it. I hope you will consider my proposal.
I would appreciate your approval of my request.
Yours faithfully,
Laura
English Verb Tenses
Present Simple
Structure: Subject + infinitive (add -s for third-person singular), do/does for questions and negatives
- Used for facts that are always true.
- Used for habitual actions, routines, and schedules.
Present Continuous
Structure: Subject + (not) to be + verb-ing
- Used for actions happening now.
- Used for actions happening around now.
- Used for future plans and predictions.
Will
Structure: Subject + will (not) + infinitive
- Used for predictions, promises, spontaneous offers, and decisions.
Going To
Structure: Subject + (not) to be + going to + infinitive
- Used for plans, predictions, and intentions, especially when there is evidence that something will happen.
Past Simple
Structure: Subject + (did not) + infinitive + -ed (for regular verbs)
- Used for completed actions in the past.
Past Continuous
Structure: Subject + was/were + verb-ing
- Used for actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past.