Language/English/Grammar/Linking-with-And-But-So

During speech we often use linking words to keep the conversation going. These serve the purpose of continuing the conversation on a specific topic or sometimes going back to information stated before.

Read the following conversation. What does Stan think about "unfriending" someone?

• Stan: I ran into Sammy today. She´s really upset.

• Paty: Oh, yeah? And why´s that?

• Stan:Because I "unfriended" her.

• Paty: Oh, that´s awkward. How did she find out?

• Stan: I´m not sure, actually.

• Paty: Huh. So why did you "unfriend" her?

• Stan: Well, it was nothing personal. It´s just that every once in a while, you know, when i´m updating my profile, I´ll remove people - if we haven´t been in touch for some time.

• Paty: But you emailed her, right? I mean, you let her know?

• Stan: No. I didn´t think she´d be offended.

• Paty: So you just delete people you´re not in touch with?

• Stan: Yeah. It´s no big deal.

Notice how Paty asks some questions to find out new information. "And why is that?"

She asks other questions int he form of statements to check information or her understanding of what was said or done. "But you emailed her, right?"

You can start question with And, But or So to link back to things the previous speaker said. It makes the conversation "flow".

• A: She´s really upset.

• B: And why is that?

Taking that in consideration you have to be very careful with the intonation of these, or you could confuse your partner.