Building texts

the connector (a word/phrase that links ideas)

furthermore / also (adds an idea)

however (signals a contrast)

although (concedes a contrasting point)

because (gives a cause inside a sentence)

since / as (gives a cause)

so / that's why (gives a consequence)

therefore (gives a consequence)

first… then… finally (orders a sequence)

for example (introduces an illustration)

They show how one idea relates to the next — adding, contrasting, giving a cause, a result, a sequence or an example — which builds cohesion.

Examiners reward cohesion directly; two or three well-chosen connectors per paragraph turn a list of sentences into a connected argument.

«porque» links a cause inside a sentence; to start a new sentence showing a result you need «Por eso…».

Joining everything with «y», or repeating one connector — vary them and match each to the relationship you mean.

register (the level of formality: formal vs informal)

informal you — friends, peers, family

formal you — strangers, elders, authority, business

informal you (plural), used in Spain

formal you (plural) in Spain; all of you everywhere in Latin America

uses the él/ella verb form, e.g. usted habla, usted tiene

tu / tus (your), e.g. tu casa, tus libros

su / sus (your), e.g. su casa, sus libros

te / ti, e.g. te mando los documentos

le, e.g. le mando los documentos

From the audience and text type: friends/peers/family and informal messages → tú; strangers/elders/authority/business and formal letters → usted.

The «él/ella» form (no -s): usted habla, usted tiene, usted puede.

Mixing tú and usted in one text is a marked error; once you choose a register, every verb, possessive and pronoun must match it.

All three together: the verb (puedes → puede), the possessive (tu → su) and the object pronoun (te → le).

I think / believe that… (+ indicative): «creo que es importante»

I think that… (+ indicative): «pienso que tienes razón»

in my opinion…: «en mi opinión, hace falta»

it seems to me that… (+ indicative): «me parece que funciona»

from my point of view…: «desde mi punto de vista, es justo»

I agree (with…) — never «soy de acuerdo»

I disagree

on one hand… on the other hand…

I don't think that… (+ SUBJUNCTIVE): «no creo que sea verdad»

I don't think that… (+ SUBJUNCTIVE): «no pienso que tenga razón»

State the view (creo que / en mi opinión), justify it with «porque / ya que», and add an example (por ejemplo).

When it is negated: «no creo que / no pienso que» + subjunctive (no creo que sea, no pienso que tenga).

A negated opinion can't take the indicative; it needs the subjunctive: «no creo que sea…».

It's an English calque of «I am agree»; the correct phrase is «estoy de acuerdo».