Lesson video

Hi there, my name's Mr. Byrne-Smith and today we're going to be doing some English together.

In today's lesson on the anglerfish, we're going to be looking at formal conjunctions.

We're going to have a think about how and when to use them.

We're going to have lots of fun, so let's make a start.

This is the agenda for today's lesson.

First we'll have an introduction.

Then we'll identify types of formal conjunction.

Then we'll get a chance to practise to use formal conjunctions before having a go at today's task.

In this lesson, you will need an exercise book or paper, a pencil, and of course your brain.

If you need to go and get any of these things, pause the video now.

Okay, introduction.

The first question we need to ask ourselves is what is a conjunction? Since we're discussing formal conjunctions today, it's necessary to understand exactly what a conjunction is in the first place.

I'll let you have a careful think.

Pause the video now.

Okay, so what is a conjunction? Well firstly, a conjunction links two words, phrases, or clauses together.

We have coordinating conjunctions.

These join two main clauses together and there are three of them: but, or, and and.

They're the three coordinating conjunctions.

We also have subordinating conjunctions.

These join a main clause with a subordinate clause.

Now there are lots and lots of subordinating conjunctions.

We have as, when, and so as examples here but there are plenty of other examples as well.

For example, while, because.

They're just two of many examples.

What's a formal conjunction? So this is the next obvious question.

Once we've established what a conjunction is, we need to think about what's a formal conjunction is.

I'll let you have a careful think by yourself before we go through some answers.

Pause the video now.

Okay, they're used at the beginning of a sentence and they're followed by a comma.

You only come across formal conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma.

They link sentences together.

We know that conjunctions are used to join words, phrases, and clauses together.

Formal conjunction of course does this at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma.

It joins a sentence to the sentence that came before.

It creates cohesion.

Cohesion is the way in which sentences, words, and phrases mesh together naturally.

Good cohesion allows a piece of writing to flow smoothly and naturally.

It also provides a formal tone.

In formal writing, this is really useful and necessary.

Non-chron report is an example of a formal piece of writing.

Therefore using formal conjunctions is a really good way of maintaining a formal tone.

So when we think about formal conjunctions, we can categorise them into three groups.

We have and conjunctions, but conjunctions, and causal conjunctions.

Let's start by thinking about and conjunctions.

And conjunctions provide additional or complimentary information to the previous sentence.

Here are some examples.

My turn, your turn.

In addition, furthermore, moreover, also.

The reason we call these and conjunctions is because they behave in a similar way to the word and.

They add information which goes with the previous information or which extends the previous information, just like the word and does.

The next set of conjunctions we call but conjunctions.

That's because they behave just like the word but does.

Now, but conjunctions are tricky.

They join sentences containing contrasting information.

That means information which differs from each other.

This might be a positive piece of information and a negative piece of information being joined or perhaps even the other way around, positive and negative being joined.

Or they might just join a piece of information with the opposite piece of information.

But conjunctions can be tricky to use, but the key to these is to practise using them and practise seeing them.

Let's see some now.

However, nevertheless, despite this.

There are three examples of but conjunctions we might use.

Finally, we have causal conjunctions.

Causal conjunctions explain that something has happened because of something else or that something is the way it is because of something else.

Here we have three examples.

As a result, consequently, therefore.

These explain that something has happened or something is the way it is because of the thing that's come previously.

Let's see if we can identify types of formal conjunction in sentences.

Okay, here we have a sentence within which there is a formal conjunction.

I've highlighted it in pink.

We're going to read the sentence and then see if we can figure out what type of formal conjunction it is.

The largest anglerfish weigh up to 50 kilogrammes and measure up to one metre.

Furthermore, they have a variety of fascinating adaptations to help them survive in the deep ocean.

Okay, I'd like you to pause the video and have a careful think.

Is this a formal and conjunction, a formal but conjunction, or a causal conjunction? Pause the video now and have a think.

Okay, this is a formal and conjunction.

In this instance, we're adding additional information.

We're saying here's one interesting thing about the anglerfish and I'm going to add onto that.

Here's another interesting thing about the anglerfish.

The second piece of information compliments and builds on the first piece of information.

That's a really good example of furthermore being put into use.

Okay, let's have a go with this sentence.

The depths of the ocean are pitch-black.

Despite this, the anglerfish is able to locate prey using its highly developed eyesight.

Okay, conjunction is despite this.

You can see it highlighted there in pink.

I'd like you to have a careful think.

And, but, or causal? Pause the video now.

Okay, despite this is a but conjunction.

Okay, and this is a really good example of a but conjunction being used.

I mentioned earlier that they're tricky to use and that's true.

So when we see them in context like this, we need to think very carefully about how they've being used.

So our first sentence says the depths of the ocean are pitch-black.

Okay, so if they're pitch-black, it must be hard to see.

It must be hard for creatures to see.

Despite this, the anglerfish is able to locate prey using its highly developed eyesight.

Aha, so this is contrasting because we've just said that the ocean, the depths of the ocean are pitch-black.

However, the next sentence says that the anglerfish can actually see really well because of it's highly developed eyesight.

So two contrasting pieces of information.

You have the kind of the pitch-black sentence which leads us to believe that you won't be able to see at the bottom of the ocean.

Then we have the highly developed eyesight sentence which suggests that well actually you wouldn't think it, but anglerfish can.

There are contrasting pieces of information, and therefore a formal but conjunction works really well, despite this.

These bizarre creatures have long needle-like teeth.

As a result, they're able to consume prey up to two times their size.

Okay, formal and, formal but, or causal? Pause the video now.

Okay, as a result is a causal conjunction.

When you use the phrase as a result, you are suggesting that one thing is happening because of something else.

In this instance, it's because of their long, sharp teeth that they're able to consume prey up to two times their size.

That's what's being suggested here.

They can consume prey up to two times their size because of, as a result of their long, sharp teeth.

That's why in this instance the conjunction, as a result, works really well.

Okay, let's practise using some formal conjunctions for ourself.

Here we have a sentence which has a missing conjunction.

Well, I should correct myself 'cause we actually have two sentences here.

Remember, formal conjunction comes at the beginning of a sentence and it relates to the previous sentence.

So we're always dealing here with pairs of sentences.

We're going to see if we can figure out what kind of conjunction is needed in the gap.

And then we're just going to pick one of our options.

The depths of the earth's oceans are an incredibly hostile environment.

Mm, anglerfish are able to survive thanks to their many adaptations.

Okay, I'm going to read that one more time.

Have a careful think.

Do we need and, but, or causal? And as soon as you've thought of that, we're going to start thinking about which one to use.

The depths of the earth's oceans are an incredibly hostile environment.

Mm, anglerfish are able to survive thanks to their many adaptations.

So I'd like you to think about which of these three types of conjunctions we need.

And then I'd like you to pick one.

That's what we're going to then put in the gap.

Pause the video now.

Okay, we need a but conjunction.

We have two contrasting bits of information here.

The depths of the earth's oceans are an incredibly hostile environment.

That suggests it must be difficult to live down there.

But then we have another sentence saying that anglerfish are able to survive thanks to their many adaptations.

That's contrasting 'cause that's suggesting that even though it's hostile, actually anglerfish are fine down there.

So we need a formal but conjunction, and I've picked however.

You could pick any of the formal but conjunction options.

Could have gone for despite this, for example, or nevertheless.

Okay, next pair of sentences.

Anglerfish have long, needle-like teeth.

Mm, they're able to pierce the flesh of their kills before consuming them.

Hmm, okay, let's have a think.

What type of conjunction, and then which one? Pause the video now and have a go.

Okay, we need a causal conjunction.

It's because of their needle-like teeth that they're able to pierce the flesh of their kills before consuming them.

One thing has happened or is the way it is because of what comes before.

Therefore we need a causal conjunction, and in this instance we've gone for as a result.

We could have gone for therefore.

That's another really good causal conjunction which is very easy to use.

Okay, the anglerfish's lure protrudes from its head.

Mm, it glows with bioluminescence in the dark depths.

Okay, be careful, think.

Pause the video now.

Okay, and conjunction, in addition.

The anglerfish's lure protrudes from its head.

In addition, it glows with bioluminescence in the dark depths.

In addition is appropriate here because I'm still talking about the lure.

I'm adding more information about it, and therefore I need to make that clear to the reader.

The first sentence was about the lure.

And look at this, I'm still going about the lure.

So in my second sentence, I need to make that clear.

In addition, it glows with bioluminescence in the dark depth.

Other conjunctions that would have worked in this instance are also and moreover.

Okay, time for our task.

Your job is to write three pairs, remember they need to come in pairs, of sentences each joined by a conjunction.

I'd like you to use one of each type, one and, one but, and one causal.

So you'll have three pairs of sentences, a pair of sentences joined by an and conjunction, a pair of sentences joined by a but conjunction, and a pair of sentences joined by a causal conjunction.

Now, if you make use of your notes from the other day, you can really easily make these sentences about the anglerfish which I think would be really, really useful and appropriate.

So that's my top tip.

Here are the examples.

For and we can use in addition, furthermore, moreover, or also.

But, we've got however, nevertheless, and despite this.

Causal, we've got as a result, consequently, and therefore.

Here's an example of a pair of sentences I've created which use a formal and conjunction.

The largest anglerfish weigh up to 50 kilogrammes and measure up to one metre.

Furthermore, they have a variety of fascinating adaptations to help them survive the deep ocean.

Pause the video and have a go.

Okay great, and that's the end of the lesson, so well done.

We have done our introduction.

We've identified types of formal conjunction.

We've practised using formal conjunctions.

And we've had a go at our task which is an awful lot.

So well done for your hard work.

That's the end of the lesson.