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Signal Words
Signal
Words
"Signal words" give hints about what is about to
happen in what you're reading. Understanding them is a key
to comprehension. Reading and making up examples which use
them is a good way to understand them at whatever level of
abstraction astudent is prepared to comprehend.
Following the links to exercises with signal words, there
is a list of common signal words.
Sample Exercises:
Sample Exercise 1: But/Because
Sample Exercise 2: Despite
(Harry Potter names & ideas used, but can be done without
reading the book)
Sample Exercise 1
Sample Exercise 2
Sample Exercise 3
| Cause-Effect |
Comparson/Contrast |
Time/Sequence |
| therefore |
but |
on (Tuesday...) |
| because |
however |
not long after |
| thus |
on the other hand |
now |
| if ... then |
yet |
before |
| iit follows |
either...or... |
after |
| hence |
while |
afterwards |
| for this reason |
unless |
later |
| Since |
even if |
formerly |
| furthermore |
in comparison |
meanwhile |
|
although |
previously |
|
still,... |
to begin with |
| |
despite |
first |
| |
on the contrary |
secondly |
| |
likewise |
next |
| |
notwithstanding |
then |
| |
nevertheless |
finally |
| |
regardless |
in addition |
| |
|
ultimately |
| |
|
shortly |
| |
|
eventually |
| |
|
at last |
| |
|
initially |
| |
|
in quick succesion |
| |
|
ever since |
|
