A connective is a word that joins one part of a text to another.

Connectives can be categorised into conjunctions, prepositions or adverbs.

As part of the new primary curriculum (revised in 2014) children will be encouraged to refer to connectives using the correct grammatical terms: conjunction, preposition and adverb.

Co-ordinating connectives: but; and; so; link words, phrases or clauses which are equally important.

Subordinating connectives: if; when; however; because; while, link a main clause with a subordinate clause.

 Click on the image below to download a powerpoint with various kinds of connectives.

 

When do children learn to use connectives?

Children in Key Stage 1 will often produce a piece of writing made up of many simple sentences, for example:

Teachers will encourage children to use the connective ‘and’ to join simple sentences together, for example:

 

Teachers will then encourage children to use connectives such as ‘but’ and ‘so’ to add layers of meaning to their simple sentences.

For example: I would love to buy an elephant.                 

This sentence could be improved, by adding more detail, using either of these connectives and another clause.

For example:

As children move through Key Stage 2, they are expected to use other connectives to join a main and subordinate clause.

For example:

• I would have approached the witch if I had been braver. 
• It’s hard to knock on a witch’s door when you are really scared.
• I was terrified of the witch because she was looking at me intently.
• I would have run from the witch however the door was bolted shut.

 

Children in Key Stage 2 are also expected to use connectives at the start of sentences or paragraphs in order to signal the passing of time.

For example:

Children are also encouraged to use connectives in non-fiction texts.

By Year 6 children will need to have a good knowledge of what connectives are, why they are used and how they are used in preparation for high school. By the end of KS2 children will be expected to be able to separate connectives into conjunctions, prepositions and adverbs.

This information has been taken from theschoolrun.com. A fantastic site to visit! 

Visit www.theschoolrun.com for downloadable worksheets, explanations and support in all subject areas. 

Till next time…