Linking ideas
Que, lo que, donde and cuando to join ideas, and el que and el cual at Higher.
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Linking ideas, explained point by point
Everything the GCSE specification expects you to be able to do, and how to actually do it - the same lesson a signed-in student studies from.
Join and contrast ideas with y, o, pero, además, sin embargo and aunque
Y (and), o (or) and pero (but) join two ideas: Es caro, pero es bonito. Before an i sound y becomes e, and before an o sound o becomes u: español e inglés, siete u ocho. Además adds a point, while sin embargo (however) and aunque (although) set up a contrast: Aunque es difícil, me gusta.
Give reasons and results with porque and por eso
Porque gives a reason: Me gusta el inglés porque el profesor es divertido. Por eso gives a result, so or that's why: Llueve mucho; por eso me quedo en casa. A reason after every opinion is the quickest way to develop a point.
Link times and conditions with cuando, mientras and si
Cuando means when: Cuando hace calor, vamos a la playa. Mientras means while: Escucho música mientras estudio. Si, with no accent, means if: Si tengo tiempo, voy al gimnasio.
Use que for who, which or that
Que joins a description to a noun, for people and things alike: Tengo una amiga que vive en Valencia, I've got a friend who lives in Valencia; Es un juego que me encanta, It's a game that I love. It has no accent, because it isn't asking a question.
Use que, donde and cuando to add detail about a thing, a place or a timeHigher only
Que also links a noun to a verb with its own subject: la película que vi ayer, the film I saw yesterday. It is never left out, even where English drops that. Donde adds a place and cuando a time: el pueblo donde vive mi abuela; en verano, cuando hace calor.
Use lo que for what, meaning the thing thatHigher only
Lo que means what in the sense of the thing that: Lo que más me gusta es el deporte, What I like most is sport; Me interesa lo que pasa en el mundo, I'm interested in what happens in the world. It makes a strong opening for an opinion.
Use el que and el cual for who and whichHigher only
El que and el cual agree with the noun they refer back to: la que, los que, las cuales. After a comma they can replace que in a more formal sentence: Mi hermana, la cual vive en Londres, es médica. El que also means the one who: Mi primo es el que juega al baloncesto.
Use sino for but rather, after a negativeHigher only
When the second idea corrects a negative first one, but is sino, not pero: No es español, sino mexicano, He isn't Spanish but Mexican. Keep pero for adding to the first idea: No es caro, pero es bueno, It isn't expensive, but it's good.
Linking ideas key terms
The words the specification and the mark schemes use, each defined the way an examiner wants it.
- Connective
- A word that links ideas, such as y, pero, porque, además or sin embargo. Connectives build longer sentences, which the writing mark schemes reward.
- Relative clause
- Part of a sentence that describes a noun, opened by a word such as que: el chico que juega al fútbol, the boy who plays football.
- que
- Who, which or that, joining a description to a noun: una película que dura dos horas, a film that lasts two hours.
- porque and por eso
- Because, and so or that's why: Estoy cansado porque no duermo bien, I'm tired because I don't sleep well; por eso bebo café, so I drink coffee.
- sin embargo
- However, to set up a contrast: Es caro. Sin embargo, me gusta, It's expensive. However, I like it.
- aunque
- Although or even though: Aunque llueve, salgo, Although it's raining, I'm going out.
- donde and cuandoHigher only
- Where and when, adding a place or a time to a noun: el pueblo donde vivo, the village where I live; en invierno, cuando hace frío, in winter, when it's cold.
- lo queHigher only
- What, meaning the thing that: Lo que me gusta es nadar, What I like is swimming.
- el que and el cualHigher only
- Who or which, agreeing with the noun: el que, la que, los que, las que; el cual, la cual, los cuales, las cuales. El que can also mean the one who.
- sinoHigher only
- But rather, after a negative: No voy en tren, sino en autobús, I'm not going by train but by bus.
Common mistakes in Linking ideas
The slips that cost marks year after year, and what to do instead.
Translating who as quién when it joins a description to a person: Tengo un amigo quién vive en Madrid.
In a description, who is que: Tengo un amigo que vive en Madrid. Quién, with its accent, is for asking a question.
Putting an accent on linking que: el libro qué me gusta.
Only a question word takes the accent. Linking que has none: el libro que me gusta, the book that I like.
Writing a string of short sentences that never join up: Me gusta el colegio. Es bueno. Los profesores son simpáticos.
Join ideas with a connective and give a reason: Me gusta el colegio porque es bueno y además los profesores son simpáticos. Linked sentences show range, which the writing marks reward.
Using pero after a negative where sino is needed: No es alto, pero bajo.Higher only
When the second part corrects the first (not this, but that), use sino: No es alto, sino bajo.
Writing que or qué alone for what in a statement: Que me gusta es la música.Higher only
What, meaning the thing that, is lo que: Lo que me gusta es la música, What I like is music.
Practice
Try a Linking ideas question
A GCSE-style original question from this topic. Have a go before you open the working - deciding on an answer first is what makes the working stick.
Which sentence uses the word for 'and' correctly?
- Mi madre e mi padre trabajan mucho.
- Me gusta leer e escribir.
- El libro es largo e interesante.
- En el instituto estudio historia y inglés.
Show the answer and the working
Answer: El libro es largo e interesante.
Interesante starts with an i sound, so and becomes e: largo e interesante, long and interesting.
- E replaces y only before a word that starts with an i sound.
- Mi padre and escribir do not start with an i sound, so they need y.
- Inglés does start with one, so y inglés should be e inglés.
- Only largo e interesante gets it right.