Quand on parle ou qu’on écrit, il est très utile de se servir de mots qui connectent une idée à une autre pour aider le lecteur ou l’auditeur à suivre. Il existe plusieurs catégories de mots de liaison qui ont des rôles différents. Il est donc important de comprendre l’utilisation du mot (contraster, apporter une nouvelle information, exprimer une cause ou un effet, etc.) et si un mot convient ou non à la structure de la phrase. Le tableau suivant est une liste de nombreux mots de liaisons avec des exemples d’utilisation.
| Séquencer | First(ly), second(ly), third(ly), before, previously, earlier, then, next, finally, lastly, the former/the latter | Firstly, I’d like to present the current production method at our factory.
Secondly, I will show how this new method can increase productivity. Of the two types of production methods mentioned, only the latter gives operators greater decision-making powers. |
| Exprimer des alternatives | Both…and
Either… or Neither… nor Not only… but also Whether… or… Between… and… Instead (of) |
Both Sarah and Sam are available.
Either the manager or the sales reps are available. Neither the sales reps nor their manager is available. We can’t be sure whether the sales manager is available or not. Instead of calling, why don’t you send an email? |
| Ajouter un autre point | Also, too, as well, in addition (to), additionally, furthermore, moreover | Besides telephones, the company produces transmitters, as well.
The company produces transmitters in addition totelephones. Furthermore, we have recently added a transmitter production facility to our site. |
| Contraster des idées | Even though, (al)though, despite, in spite of, however, nevertheless, whereas, on the one hand…on the other hand | Even though Amanda had signed the contract, she wanted them to change some of the terms.
Despite Amanda’s signing of the contract, she wanted them to change some of the terms. The company thought everything was clear, whereasAmanda didn’t. |
| Exprimer les conséquences ou les causes et les effets | Because (of), since, so, so that, therefore, consequently, thus, as a result | Since you didn’t call back, I had to make the decision on my own.
You didn’t call back; therefore, I made the decision on my own. You didn’t call back so I made the decision on my own. |
| Exprimer la situation réelle | In fact, as a matter of fact, actually, in reality | In fact, we don’t really offer 1000 free tablets to first-time customers. |
OFFERT !Mots de liaison : quelques éléments auxquels prêter attention pour le Bright
Construction parallèle en exprimant des alternatives (de même que dans d’autres structures de phrases) :
- The research project will need both time and money. (‘both’ + nom…‘and’ + nom)
- For some people, learning English is either too difficult or too time-consuming. (‘either’ + adjectif…’or’ + adjectif)
‘also’ est généralement au début ou au milieu d’une phrase, tandis que ‘too’ et ‘as well’ sont généralement à la fin :
- Customers are also provided with free parking.
- Customers are provided with free parking, too.
‘in addition’ peut fonctionner seul (suivi par une virgule) ou être suivi par ‘to’ s’il y a un nom après :
- We have already requested a full refund. In addition, we will ask the company for an apology.
- In addition to the refund we requested, we will also ask the company for an apology.
‘even though’, ‘although’ et ‘though’ sont suivis par un sujet et un verbe :
- Even though he had negotiated a good deal, he still wasn’t satisfied.
‘despite’ et ‘in spite of’ sont suivis par des noms :
- Despite his well-negotiated deal, he still wasn’t satisfied.
‘because’ est suivi par un sujet et un verbe alors que ‘because of’ est suivi par un nom :
- He missed his connection because of the train strike.
- Because the trains were on strike, he missed his connection.
‘actually’ est un faux-ami qui veut dire ‘in fact’. Il n’a pas le sens de ‘presently’ ou de ‘now’ :
- Contrary to what some people say, we are actually one of the highest paying employers in this sector and don’t have any trouble finding new recruits.
