Defining ADD connectors

In order to join different sentences, premises or statements in Spanish we use the connectors. These are words that function as a link between them and facilitate the understanding of the text or speech as well as ordering and structuring it for the receiver of the same. In this lesson from a PROFESSOR we are going to show you one of the most used connectors in Spanish: the addition connectors. Here we tell you what they are, what they are and some examples of them so that you can easily identify them and learn to use them.

The connectors, whatever nature they are They have the mission of joining different statements, premises and sentences in order to provide the text with continuity and facilitate understanding and communication between sender and receiver.

Depending on its nature, its function will be different, in the present case, we are going to show what the addition connectors. This type of link works as a union between different premises with the aim of adding additional information and also reinforcing the main idea. They are usually used with the aim of joining different sentences within the same paragraph or different ideas between the paragraphs that make up a text.

In other words, the addition connectors seek to demonstrate the relationship of the sentences to each other, whether inclusion, addition or intensification of the main information. That is, these connectors add information, include new data, or intensify information.

Add-on connector types

Within the addition or additive connectors, we can find different types that have different functionalities. Thus, when we refer to the types we can see the following:

• Argumentative
• Non-argumentative

Next, we are going to define what each of them are and what words make them up so that you can be clear when you should use them:

Argumentative addition connectorsThese are used when the information displayed is new and of greater importance than the information that has previously been presented. These argumentative type connectors are words like even, more, more even... etc.

Non-argumentative connectors: these do not establish any type of difference between the information that has appeared in the sentence and that which is added as new. It is an informative aspect more, but without more relevance than the original. These can be connectors as well as… etc.

Next, and now that we know what addition connectors are, we are going to show a series of examples to better understand them. As you will see below, within the connectors we find nuances depending on the information they provide. So we can see different nuances:

Maximum grade

These are, taking into account the previous classification, they could be included in the argumentative ones since they offer a nuance of superiority to information to be added to the sentence. Let's see an example to understand it better:

• When it started to snow in the city we were at home, to top, the heating had broken down and we had to use blankets and coats to be able to withstand the low temperatures until it was fixed.
• They did nothing to prevent the accident, they were going at full speed, without a seat belt and under the influence of alcohol. Even, the driver had a criminal record for reckless driving.

With nuance of sum

These are considered as non-argumentative, that is, they are added to the main information without presenting any difference in importance. Let's see a few examples to assimilate it:

• We were thinking about how we could organize the lessons ahead. All the teachers made their proposals, as that students interested in it did.
• In order to understand how living things are related to each other, it is necessary to make a detailed observation of their behaviors. Equally, it is important to know the data related to your socioeconomic situation.

Used to intensify information

These add-on connectors with hue intensification They will provide additional information, but with more importance than the main one. We are going to show you some examples in the following sentences:

• The boy was in school when he got sick and we were working when they called us on the phone. OnThat same day, his grandparents had a medical consultation that they could not miss in order to take care of the child.
• They didn't tell us they were going on a trip to Mexico next summer. It's moreWe were talking about our vacation with them last week and they didn't tell us about it.

Montolío, E. (2014). Cohesion mechanisms (II). The connectors. Jan. Montolío (director), Manual of academic and professional writing: Discursive strategies. Barcelona: Grupo Planeta.

Gutiérrez Arau, M. L. et al. (2005). Introduction to the Spanish language. Madrid: Editorial Ramón Areces University.