Speaking · Unit 3: Core strategies
S32: Spoken linkers that sound natural
Target band 7
In lesson S18, we stopped using essay words like "Furthermore" and "Moreover" in Speaking. But what should you use instead? Fluent speakers use small words and phrases to connect ideas, show their opinion, and guide the listener. These are called discourse markers. They're a big part of what makes speech sound smooth and natural.
Why this matters
The Fluency and Coherence criterion looks at how well you connect your ideas. At band 7 and above, examiners expect a range of connectives and discourse markers used with some flexibility. Using only "and", "but" and "because" is not enough. Using the same marker again and again isn't enough either.
Your spoken linker toolkit
| Purpose | Natural spoken phrases |
|---|---|
| Adding a point | also, plus, on top of that, not only that, and another thing is... |
| Contrasting | but, then again, having said that, ... though (at the end) |
| Giving an example | like, for example, take... for instance, say... |
| Explaining a reason | the thing is, the reason is, that's because, I mean |
| Clarifying | what I mean is, in other words, basically |
| Giving an opinion | personally, if you ask me, as far as I'm concerned, I'd say |
| Being honest | to be honest, honestly, actually, to be fair |
| Coming back to the point | anyway, so, as I was saying |
| Concluding | so overall, all in all, so yeah, at the end of the day |
The magic of "though" at the end
This is a very natural spoken pattern that most Bangladeshi students never use.
- "It's expensive. I still go there quite often, though."
- "I don't really like cooking. I love eating, though."
It shows contrast in a relaxed, natural way.
"Take... for example"
Another natural pattern that sounds fluent:
- "Take my younger brother, for example. He spends six hours a day on his phone."
- "Take Dhaka, for instance. The traffic is a nightmare."
The same answer, with and without markers
Without: "I like living in Dhaka. It is busy. There are many opportunities. The traffic is bad. I will stay here."
With: "Honestly, I quite like living in Dhaka. It's really busy, but the thing is, there are so many opportunities here. Take my job, for example. I wouldn't find anything similar in my hometown. Having said that, the traffic is awful. So overall, I think I'll stay, at least for now."
Don't overdo it
Some markers become a habit and lose their meaning. Watch out for these:
- "Actually" at the start of every answer
- "Basically" every few sentences
- "You know" after every phrase
- "Like" as a filler, many times in each sentence
Record yourself and count. If one marker appears more than three or four times in a short answer, replace some.
Try it yourself
Add suitable markers to this answer to make it sound more natural.
"I don't watch much TV. I prefer YouTube. I can choose what I want. My parents watch TV every night. They like the news."
Possible answer: "To be honest, I don't watch much TV these days. I prefer YouTube, mainly because I can choose what I want to watch. My parents are different, though. Take my father, for example. He watches the news every single night."
Honest note
Don't try to use all of these at once. Pick four or five new ones and practise them until they feel natural. Then add more.
Your task today
Choose five markers from the table you've never used. Write them on a card. Use each one at least twice in today's speaking practice.