Year 5 English · Writing non-fiction, cohesion and layout · Lesson 12.3
Year 5 English: Cohesion: linking paragraphs with adverbials, pronouns and ellipsis
Part of the Year 5 English writing non-fiction, cohesion and layout chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
12.3
Cohesion: linking paragraphs with adverbials, pronouns and ellipsis
Story. Nina's paragraphs about her trip to the beach sound choppy. Each one starts again with the same words. She adds links: Afterwards, it and a shorter sentence where the reader already knows the subject.
Key ideas
- An adverbial at the start of a paragraph links it to the one before: However, Later, Meanwhile.
- A pronoun (he, she, it, they) can replace a noun already named, to avoid repetition.
- Ellipsis means leaving out a word the reader can work out: Tom went home and (he) ate supper.
- Good cohesion helps the reader follow the thread of the text.
Worked example 12.3.1
Choose a linking adverbial for the start of a paragraph that follows on in time: However or Afterwards?
Method. Think about what the link shows.
- Read. The paragraph follows in time.time
- Choose. Afterwards shows time; however shows contrast.Afterwards
- Write the answer. Afterwards
Check. Afterwards. ✓
Worked example 12.3.2
Replace the repeated noun with a pronoun: The bus was late. The bus was full.
Method. Use it to replace the bus.
- Find the noun. Bus is repeated.bus
- Replace it. It refers back to the bus.It was full
- Write the answer. The bus was late. It was full.
Check. It was full. ✓
Worked example 12.3.3
Use ellipsis to shorten: Sam ate an apple, and Sam ate a pear.
Method. Leave out the repeated words.
- Find the repeat. Sam ate is repeated.Sam ate
- Leave it out. Sam ate an apple and a pear.and a pear
- Write the answer. Sam ate an apple and a pear.
Check. Sam ate an apple and a pear. ✓
Exercise 12C Practice: cohesion
1
FChoose the adverbial that links to a contrast: We wanted to swim. ____, the water was too cold. However or Afterwards?
However
Method. Find the contrast.
- Read. The water was too cold, which stops the swim.contrast
- Choose. However.However
- Write the answer. However
Check. However. ✓
2
FReplace the repeated word with a pronoun: Ben found a shell. Ben put the shell in his pocket. Write the second sentence.
He put it in his pocket.
Method. Use he for Ben and it for shell.
- Replace the name. He replaces Ben.He
- Replace the noun. It replaces shell.it
- Write the answer. He put it in his pocket.
Check. He put it in his pocket. ✓
3
FUse ellipsis to shorten: I like cats and I like dogs.
I like cats and dogs.
Method. Leave out the repeated words.
- Find the repeat. I like is repeated.I like
- Shorten. I like cats and dogs.cats and dogs
- Write the answer. I like cats and dogs.
Check. I like cats and dogs. ✓
4
FWhich adverbial starts a paragraph about something that happened at the same time: Meanwhile or Finally?
Meanwhile
Method. Think about time.
- Read. Something at the same time.same time
- Choose. Meanwhile.Meanwhile
- Write the answer. Meanwhile
Check. Meanwhile. ✓
5
FReplace the repeated noun with a pronoun: The children waited. The children were cold. Write the second sentence.
They were cold.
Method. Use they for the children.
- Find the noun. Children is plural.children
- Replace it. They replaces the children.They
- Write the answer. They were cold.
Check. They were cold. ✓
6
PSWhich adverbial suits the end of a list of steps: Finally or Yesterday?
Finally
Method. Think about the order.
- Read. The end of a list comes last.last
- Choose. Finally.Finally
- Write the answer. Finally
Check. Finally. ✓
7
PSUse ellipsis to shorten: Mia likes football, and Mia likes tennis, and Mia likes swimming.
Mia likes football, tennis and swimming.
Method. Leave out the repeated words.
- Find the repeat. Mia likes is repeated.Mia likes
- Shorten. Mia likes football, tennis and swimming.football, tennis
- Write the answer. Mia likes football, tennis and swimming.
Check. Mia likes football, tennis and swimming. ✓
8
PSWhich pronoun could replace the girls in The girls ran. The girls laughed.?
they
Method. Think about plural pronouns.
- Find the noun. Girls is plural.plural
- Choose. They.they
- Write the answer. they
Check. They. ✓
9
PSLink these paragraphs: the first is about the morning, the second about the afternoon. Choose a linking adverbial for the second: Later or Before?
Later
Method. Think about the time order.
- Read. The afternoon comes after the morning.after
- Choose. Later.Later
- Write the answer. Later
Check. Later. ✓
10
PSRewrite with a pronoun and an adverbial: The rain stopped. Then the rain stopped completely. Write a better second sentence.
Accept any sentence with a pronoun and a link, such as Afterwards, it stopped completely.
Method. Use a link and a pronoun.
- Choose the link. Afterwards shows time.Afterwards
- Use the pronoun. It refers to the rain.it
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence with a pronoun and a link, such as Afterwards, it stopped completely.
Check. A link and a pronoun. ✓
11
RWrite two linked sentences about a walk, using a pronoun and an adverbial.
Accept any answer that writes two sentences that use a link (adverbial) and a pronoun to refer back. For example: We set off at eight. Afterwards, we reached the top, where it was windy.
Method. Use a time link and replace a repeated noun.
- Link. Afterwards shows time.Afterwards
- Pronoun. It refers back to the top.it
- Write the answer. We set off at eight. Afterwards, we reached the top, where it was windy.
Check. The sentences are linked. ✓
12
RExplain why a writer uses ellipsis, with an example.
Accept any answer that says ellipsis avoids repetition and makes writing smoother, with an example. For example: to avoid repeating words, so the sentence reads more smoothly
Method. Think about repeated words.
- Explain. The reader can work out the missing words.work out
- Example. Sam ate an apple and a pear.Sam ate
- Write the answer. to avoid repeating words, so the sentence reads more smoothly
Check. Ellipsis avoids repetition. ✓