2.1. The impossible.

Conocimiento previo

In The Impossible, directed by Spaniard J.A. Bayona, Maria, Henry and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand, looking forward to a few days in tropical paradise. But on the morning of December 26th, as the family relaxes around the pool after their Christmas festivities the night before, a terrifying roar rises up from the center of the earth. As Maria freezes in fear, a huge wall of black water races across the hotel grounds toward her. Based on a true story, this is the unforgettable account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time. But the true-life terror is tempered by the unexpected displays of compassion, courage and simple kindness that Maria and her family encounter during the darkest hours of their lives. Both epic and intimate, devastating and uplifting, The Impossible is a journey to the core of the human heart.

Video by Summit Screening Roomon youtube

It is essential to understand how linking words, as a part of speech, can be used to combine ideas in writing, and thus ensure that ideas within sentences and paragraphs are elegantly connected for the benefit of the reader. This will help to improve your writing. It is also fundamental to be aware of the sometimes subtle meaning of these words within the English language.

Here we revise some of the more common linking words. We are sure you know them already but, remember to use them!

ADDITION

 

and

I've been studying English and doing Maths exercises.
I am going to try and see if this works

In addition,

In addition to drinking beers, we are also going to eat a paella.

also

I bought a car, I also looked for a bike.

too

I bought a shirt and I bought a pair of shoes too.

besides

In Norway the weather is cold, besides it snows frequently.

What is more,

It's very cloudy. What is more, it's going to rain.

CONTRAST

 

but

He is poor, but his house is very comfortable.

Although

Although she was born in France, she can't speak French.

though

I`ve been to Paris, though I haven't visited the Louvre.

However

He bought a new car. However, he usually goes to work on foot.

yet

It`s not time to do my homework yet.

while

I`ve been studying while you've been just laughing.

in spite of

I'm going out in spite of the lousy weather.

despite

He loves her despite the fact that she doesn't talk to him.

Nevertheless,

He's poor. Nevertheless, everybody likes him.

on the one hand ...on the other hand

On the one hand I work in the morning. On the other hand, I study English in the afternoon.

 

REASON

 

because

I'm tired because I've been working hard.

as

I'm studying French as I want to go to Paris.

since

I've bought a laptop since I have to travel so much.

That/this is why

We have four children. This is why we need a bigger house.

For that/this reason

She broke her leg. For that reason, she went to the hospital.

As a result

She fell down. As a result, she broke her arm.

 

CONSEQUENCE

 

so

I was ill, so I went to visit a doctor.
I'm hungry, so I'm going to have lunch.

As a result

I'm Spanish. As a result, I can speak Spanish.

Therefore

He's rich. Therefore, he can afford to buy an expensive car.

Consequently

It's raining. Consequently, you can hardly see the sun.

 

PURPOSE

 

to

I'm here to see you.

in order that

I bought a book in order that we can read it.

so that

You should take a pill, so that you get better

 

TIME SEQUENCE IN NARRATION

 

First (of all)

I had a hard day. First of all, I got up at 6.00 am.

At first

The medicine wasn't good for me. At first, I felt sick.

To begin with,

They didn't like her. To begin with, she got to work too late.

then

I saw your mother in the street. Then, I remembered that I wanted to phone you.

next

I got up at 7.15 am. Next I took a shower.

Before

Before you arrived here, I opened the door.

After that

I closed the windows. After that, it started to rain.

afterwards

I went to school in the morning. Afterwards I had lunch with my friends.

When

When I looked through the window, it wasn't raining.

While

While it was raining, nobody came to the shop.

Suddenly

They went to the country. Suddenly, it started to rain.

As soon as

As soon as you called me, I phoned the police.

 

EXAMPLES/REPETITION/EMPHASIS

 

in other words

I`ve just had breakfast. In other words I'm not hungry.

for example

I hate a few sports, for example boxing.

for instance

I love many sports, for instance tennis and cycling.

in fact

I like listening to music. In fact I do it every day.

especially

I don't believe in some people, especially if they are politicians.

particularly

She likes red things, particularly clothes.

above all

He wanted to learn languages, above all English.

 

SUMMARY/ CONCLUSION

 

Finally

She had dinner late. Finally, she went to bed.

In the end

He hesitated a lot. In the end, he didn't buy anything.

At the end

He talked a lot. At the end, he was on his own.

At last

The journey was long. At last, we arrived in Paris.

In conclusion

We discussed a lot. In conclusion, we didn't agree with each other.

To sum up

Few people turned up at the party. To sum up, we just watched some TV.