Text types: Recounts

Linking clauses to create a recount

Connectives

Connectives are used to link meanings across clauses. Sometimes the meanings are linked when clauses are joined into one sentence; sometimes the meanings are linked across separate sentences. In recounts connectives are especially important because they are used to sequence the events of the recount in the order in which the events happened.

Here are the connectives which link meanings across clauses in the recount My day out at Ocean Park: 

	adding meanings (and, also)
	contrasting meanings (but)
	connecting meanings in time (when, then, whenever)
	connecting meanings to cause or consequence (so, in order to, because, if)

We also use connectives when we join a clause with reported thoughts or speech to a clause with a thinking or a saying verb. Often this connective is left out, but the listener or reader 'understands' that it is there:

I thought [that] this train would be slow and boring ...
We thought [that] the day was great fun and very exciting.
I hope [that] something similar will happen again soon!

To find out more about how connectives are used to sequence the events of the recount, see Text types: Recounts: Sequencing events

To see how connectives are used to link meanings across clauses in the recount My day out at Ocean Park, click here: