In this video, you're going to add 50
plus transition words to your advanced English vocabulary. Of course, I'm Jennifer from
JForrestEnglish.com And this channel is dedicated to helping you feel confident speaking English in
public so you can take your career and your life to the next level. Now, before we go any further,
make sure you subscribe and hit that bell icon so you're notified every time I post a new
lesson. Now, let's get started with this lesson. So what exactly are transition words? Well,
transition words are individual words or groups of words, phrases, that you can use to organize your
ideas and to show connection between your ideas. They are commonly used in academic or formal
writing, but you shouldn't limit their use to just that because you can absolutely use them in
your spoken English. And you should use them in your spoken English to sound very advanced and
professional. And if you watch to the end of this video, I'm going to share how you can
use transition words to expand your ideas. And to take a really simple idea and be able to
talk on that idea for longer using transition words. So stay right to the end. So let's get
started. You're going to learn over 50 transition words in this lesson. Don't feel overwhelmed, just
add them to your vocabulary as you go. Our first group of transition words are used to show cause
and effect, causation. So here I have two separate ideas. I spilled my coffee. I changed my shirt.
Now this is where we can use a transition word to combine these ideas together and to show the
relationship between them. I spilled my coffee. As a result, I changed my shirt. Cause and effect.
Here are the transition words in this category, and they're listed from most formal to least
formal. So you can take a screenshot of this. Consequently, hence, accordingly, thus, for that
reason, as a result, therefore, and so, since, because, due to. Now the example I gave you,
I spilled my coffee. As a result, I changed my shirt. This is a casual statement. It might sound
a little odd perhaps, out of place, to use a very formal transition word, such as consequently,
in such a common everyday speech. I spilled my coffee. Consequently, I changed my shirt. You
could absolutely say it. It's grammatically correct. But the choice of transition word is
just a little too formal. So do not think that formal is the best, and you absolutely should use
formal. You should use formal when your ideas are more formal. They're more academic. They're more
professional, in a business context. Let's look at a business context. The project is over budget.
We have to cut costs. So again, we'll show our cause and effect. We'll use a transition word
to combine these ideas. And because it's a more formal context, I can use a more formal transition
word. The project is over budget, hence, consequently, thus, we have to cut costs. Our next
group of transition words is chronology. This is how events are related based on when they occur.
So think of time. Here are three events. I went to the store. I worked out. I made dinner. Now of
course, we can add first, second, third, first, next finally. That's chronology. And it instantly
sounds more organized, and more advanced, when you add the transition words. So let's review the
transition words in this category. First, firstly, to start, to begin, at the beginning, at the
start. Second, secondly, after, afterwards, next, then, subsequently, later. Third, thirdly, after,
afterwards, next, then, subsequently, later, finally, lastly, last but not least. Now
notice that for the second and third events, many of the transition words are the same. You can
use after, after for the second and third event. Or you can use the next, next for the
second and third and fourth and fifth event. But you might want to avoid that so you don't
sound repetitive using the same transition word again and again. So you can use next
then. Then subsequently. Subsequently finally. So you can use the different transition
words just to show off your advanced vocabulary. Our next category of transition words is to
show contrast, when you have two opposing ideas. Let me give you two ideas. I love ice cream. I'm
lactose intolerant. So can you see how these two ideas are in opposition? I love ice cream is
great. It's a really positive thing. But I'm lactose intolerant, that's negative and it also
means that I can't eat ice cream. So those ideas are in opposition. So we can use our contrasting
transition words. However, although, though, but. I love ice cream, but I'm lactose intolerant. Same
thing, the transition words are listed from most formal to least formal. Again, you could say, I
love ice cream. However, I'm lactose intolerant. But again, these ideas are quite simple. So you
probably want a more simple transition work. Our next category of transition words is addition
on similar ideas, I love ice cream. I love cake. It's adding a similar idea because they're both
in the same category, which is desserts or sweets. The most common transition words, from most formal
to least formal, in this category are Furthermore, moreover, further, additionally, in addition,
also, and. I love ice cream, and I love cake. Obviously you know that one, so why not try to
advance your vocabulary by using, in addition. I love ice cream. In addition, I love cake.
Now let's talk about generality. This is when things are true most of the time. The most common
transition words in this category are, in general, generally, generally speaking, by and large, for
the most part, most of the time, more often than not, usually, typically, mostly. So let's take
an example. Our meetings are very productive. Now of course I'm sure there's one or two meetings
that aren't very productive. But most of the time, in general, generally speaking, our meetings are
very productive. Now let's look at the category of examples. There are really only three main
transition words. For example, as an example, for instance. This software has really helped us.
Now it can make your points a lot stronger or help you expand on your idea by adding an example.
This software has really helped us. For example, as an example, for instance, it reduced our
error rate by 40%. Our next category is emphasis. This category is used to make a point stronger by
adding more supporting information. Let's take a simple example. I love pie. Now what if I wanted
to make this point stronger? I can say, it's my favorite dessert. I love pie. In fact, it's my
favorite dessert. I love pie. As a matter of fact, it's my favorite dessert. These are the only two
transition words that are commonly used to add emphasis. And finally, conclusion transition
words. Notice I just use a transition word, and finally. That is a conclusion transition
word. Now of course, in this category, we use transition words when we want to end what we're
saying. End our speech, end our presentation. Here are the most common transition words listed
from most formal to least formal. In conclusion, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, all things
considered, finally, overall, ultimately, in the end, to wrap up, to sum up, all in all.
So let's say I'm ending my presentation at work and I want my colleagues to remember one very
important fact. And that fact is, if we want to remain competitive, we have to invest in
automation. Now to let my colleagues know that this is the last point I'm going to make,
my final point, I'm going to add a conclusion transition word. Ultimately, if we want to remain
competitive, we have to invest in automation. So now you have 50 plus transition words to help you
communicate your ideas in a very professional and organized way. Before you go, let me share a bonus
tip with you. You can use transition words to help you expand on your ideas. So let's take one idea.
In general, our meetings are very productive. Now I can pick any category of transition words
to expand on this idea. I could add a contrast. However, they usually run over time. So this is
an opposing idea. Now, let me give an example of my last point to add emphasis and to expand even
more. For example, today our meeting was scheduled to end at 11 and it went until 11:17. So let's
expand on this even more. What was the effect of the meeting running over by 17 minutes? As a
result, I was late for a meeting with a client. Were there any other effects? If there were, I
could use an addition of a similar idea transition word. Additionally, I had to work through lunch to
catch up. As you can see, transition words are an excellent way to expand on your ideas. So
now it's your turn. In the comments below, why don't you take three or more transition
words and start with one idea and then just pick any other category and expand on that idea
with three or more transition words. So you can do that in the comments below. And if you found
this lesson helpful, please hit the like button, share it with your friends and of course
subscribe. And before you go, make sure you head on over to my website JForrestEnglish.com
and download your free speaking guide. In this guide I share six tips on how to speak English
fluently and confidently. And until next time, which is my conclusion transition word,
and until next time, happy studying!