You can now conjugate past tenses and build relative clauses. But when you listen to educated Colombians speak, you notice something beyond grammar: they link their ideas with connectors that make arguments flow logically. "The traffic was terrible. Sin embargo, we arrived on time." "I studied a lot. Por lo tanto, I passed." These connectors are the final piece that separates a B1 speaker from a B2 speaker. This lesson gives you the toolkit.
Self-Rating
B1-B2 Language Objectives
Master contrast connectors: sin embargo, no obstante, en cambio, mientras que, a pesar de que
Master cause/consequence connectors: por lo tanto, dado que, ya que, por eso, de manera que
Master addition and sequence connectors: ademas, es mas, por un lado / por otro lado, en primer lugar
Use connectors to build complex arguments and multi-clause sentences
Sound natural by placing connectors correctly in Colombian speech patterns
1. Why Connectors Matter
Compare these two versions:
Without connectors (A2 level):
El trafico estaba terrible. Llegamos a tiempo. Estudiamos mucho. Pasamos el examen. Bogota es grande. Me gusta vivir aqui.
With connectors (B2 level):
A pesar de que el trafico estaba terrible, llegamos a tiempo. Estudiamos mucho; por lo tanto, pasamos el examen. Aunque Bogota es grande, me gusta vivir aqui porque hay mucho que hacer.
The second version sounds like a fluent speaker. Connectors show logical relationships between ideas: contrast, cause, consequence, addition, and concession.
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The A2 → B2 upgrade
Tap to reveal
A2 speakers chain short sentences with y, pero, porque. B2 speakers use sin embargo (however), por lo tanto (therefore), a pesar de que (despite), mientras que (whereas), dado que (given that). These words signal logical thinking and make your Spanish sound sophisticated.
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2. Contrast Connectors
These show that two ideas oppose or differ from each other.
sin embargo (however / nevertheless)
The most versatile contrast connector. It introduces a statement that contrasts with what came before.
Estaba lloviendo. Sin embargo, salimos a caminar. (It was raining. However, we went out walking.)
El examen fue dificil. Sin embargo, todos aprobaron. (The exam was hard. However, everyone passed.)
no obstante (nevertheless / notwithstanding)
More formal than sin embargo, but used the same way. Common in written Spanish and news.
Los precios subieron. No obstante, la gente siguio comprando. (Prices went up. Nevertheless, people kept buying.)
en cambio (on the other hand / instead)
Shows a contrast between two different subjects or choices.
A mi me gusta el cafe. Mi hermana, en cambio, prefiere el te. (I like coffee. My sister, on the other hand, prefers tea.)
Bogota es fria. Cartagena, en cambio, es caliente todo el ano. (Bogota is cold. Cartagena, on the other hand, is hot all year.)
mientras que (whereas / while)
Contrasts two simultaneous truths or differences.
Los bogotanos usan usted, mientras que los costenos prefieren tu. (Bogotanos use usted, whereas costenos prefer tu.)
a pesar de que (despite the fact that / even though)
Introduces a concession -- something that would normally prevent the main clause but does not.
A pesar de que llovia, fuimos al parque. (Despite the fact that it was raining, we went to the park.)
A pesar de que no hable espanol perfecto, me entendieron. (Even though I don't speak perfect Spanish, they understood me.)
Knowledge Check
Complete: 'El restaurante era caro. ___, la comida valía la pena.'
Knowledge Check
'Bogotá es fría. Medellín, ___, tiene un clima perfecto.'
Knowledge Check
'___ no sabía mucho español, logré comunicarme.'
Quick Check-in
3. Cause and Consequence Connectors
These show why something happened or what resulted from it.
por lo tanto (therefore / consequently)
Introduces a logical consequence.
Estudie mucho. Por lo tanto, pase el examen. (I studied a lot. Therefore, I passed the exam.)
El vuelo se cancelo. Por lo tanto, tuvimos que quedarnos una noche mas. (The flight was canceled. Therefore, we had to stay one more night.)
dado que / ya que (given that / since)
Introduces the reason or cause (placed before the cause clause).
Dado que llovia, decidimos quedarnos en casa. (Given that it was raining, we decided to stay home.)
Ya que tienes carro, ¿nos puedes llevar? (Since you have a car, can you take us?)
por eso (that is why / for that reason)
A more conversational way to show consequence. Very common in spoken Colombian Spanish.
No desayune. Por eso tengo hambre. (I didn't eat breakfast. That is why I'm hungry.)
Me encanta la musica colombiana. Por eso estoy aprendiendo a bailar salsa. (I love Colombian music. That is why I'm learning to dance salsa.)
de manera que / de modo que (so that / in such a way that)
Introduces a result or purpose.
Organice todo bien, de manera que no tuvieramos problemas. (I organized everything well, so that we wouldn't have problems.)
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por eso vs por lo tanto
Tap to reveal
Both mean 'therefore,' but POR ESO is conversational and extremely common in everyday Colombian speech. POR LO TANTO is more formal and often found in written Spanish, presentations, and academic contexts. In a casual chat, use 'por eso.' In an essay, use 'por lo tanto.'
Tap to flip back
Knowledge Check
'No dormí bien anoche. ___, estoy cansado hoy.'
Knowledge Check
'___ el vuelo sale temprano, necesitamos estar en el aeropuerto a las cinco.'
4. Addition and Sequence Connectors
These add information or organize ideas in order.
ademas (besides / furthermore / also)
Adds a new point that reinforces the previous one.
El hotel era comodo. Ademas, tenia una vista increible. (The hotel was comfortable. Furthermore, it had an incredible view.)
es mas (moreover / what is more)
Stronger than ademas -- it escalates.
La comida era deliciosa. Es mas, fue la mejor que he probado en mi vida. (The food was delicious. What is more, it was the best I've ever tried.)
por un lado... por otro lado (on one hand... on the other hand)
Presents two sides of an argument.
Por un lado, el trabajo es estresante. Por otro lado, paga muy bien. (On one hand, the job is stressful. On the other hand, it pays very well.)
en primer lugar... en segundo lugar (firstly... secondly)
Organizes points in sequence.
En primer lugar, necesitas aprender los verbos. En segundo lugar, debes practicar la pronunciacion. (Firstly, you need to learn the verbs. Secondly, you should practice pronunciation.)
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A Student's Argument for Studying in Colombia
En primer lugar, Colombia tiene una de las variedades de espanol mas claras del mundo. Ademas, el costo de vida es mas bajo que en muchos paises. Por otro lado, hay algunas ciudades con problemas de seguridad. Sin embargo, las principales ciudades turisticas son muy seguras. Por lo tanto, estudiar espanol en Colombia es una excelente opcion. Es mas, la gente colombiana es conocida por ser la mas amable del continente, lo que hace la experiencia aun mejor.
Notice how each connector signals the logical relationship: addition (además), contrast (sin embargo), consequence (por lo tanto), and escalation (es más).
Knowledge Check
'El hotel era cómodo. ___, tenía una vista increíble del mar.'
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Connector placement in the sentence
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Most connectors work at the START of a new sentence or clause: 'Sin embargo, salimos.' Some can go mid-sentence after the subject: 'Ella, sin embargo, no quiso ir.' 'Además' and 'es más' almost always start the sentence. 'Mientras que' always introduces a subordinate clause.
Tap to flip back
5. Building Complex Sentences
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Combining Multiple Connectors in One Paragraph
Ayer queria ir al Museo del Oro, pero cuando llegue, estaba cerrado. Sin embargo, no me importo mucho porquehabia otros lugares interesantes cerca. Por eso, camine hasta la Plaza de Bolivar, queestaba llena de palomas. Ademas, encontre un cafe dondeme tome un tinto delicioso. A pesar de que mi plan original no funciono, el dia fue increible. Es mas, diria que fue mejor de lo quehabia planeado.
This paragraph uses contrast (sin embargo, a pesar de que), cause (porque, por eso), addition (además, es más), relative pronouns (que, donde, lo que), and all three past tenses (preterite, imperfect, present perfect implied). This is B2-level Spanish.
Knowledge Check
Organize this argument: '(1) Me gusta Bogotá ___ es una ciudad cultural. (2) ___, el tráfico es terrible. (3) ___, prefiero vivir aquí que en otra ciudad.'
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The connector cheat sheet for writing
Tap to reveal
To ADD: además, es más, también. To CONTRAST: sin embargo, no obstante, en cambio, mientras que, a pesar de que. To show CAUSE: porque, dado que, ya que. To show CONSEQUENCE: por lo tanto, por eso, de manera que. To ORGANIZE: en primer lugar, por un lado/otro lado.
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Building a B2-Level Paragraph
State your main point: "Colombia es un pais fascinante."
Add a reason (cause): "...dado que tiene una diversidad cultural increible."
Add supporting evidence (addition): "Ademas, la geografia va desde playas hasta montanas."
Acknowledge an opposing view (contrast): "Sin embargo, algunos turistas se preocupan por la seguridad."
Counter the opposing view (concession): "A pesar de eso, las ciudades principales son muy seguras."
Draw a conclusion (consequence): "Por lo tanto, recomiendo Colombia a cualquier viajero."
Reflection
Key Takeaways
Contrast: sin embargo (however), no obstante (nevertheless), en cambio (on the other hand), mientras que (whereas), a pesar de que (despite)
Cause: dado que (given that), ya que (since), porque (because)
Consequence: por lo tanto (therefore), por eso (that's why), de manera que (so that)
Addition: ademas (furthermore), es mas (what's more)
Organization: en primer lugar (firstly), por un lado / por otro lado (on one hand / on the other)
por eso is conversational; por lo tanto is formal -- use each in the right context
Connectors are the difference between A2-level chains and B2-level arguments
This Week's Practice
Day 1-2: Rewrite 5 simple sentence pairs as connected sentences: "Llovia. Sali." → "A pesar de que llovia, sali."
Day 3-4: Write a 3-paragraph opinion piece about a topic (your city, a food, a hobby) using at least 6 different connectors.
Day 5-6: Listen to a Colombian news segment or podcast. Write down every connector you hear and identify its type (contrast, cause, addition, etc.).
Day 7: Review all 8 lessons in this course. Write a full-page narrative about a Colombian experience (real or imagined) using past tenses, relative clauses, AND advanced connectors.
Daily: Replace "pero" with a more specific connector in your daily Spanish: sin embargo, a pesar de que, en cambio.
Course Complete!
Congratulations! You have completed Course 3: Past Tenses & Advanced Structures. You now have the tools to:
Narrate in the past using preterite, imperfect, and present perfect
Express hypotheticals and make polite requests with the conditional
Build complex sentences with relative clauses
Connect ideas with advanced connectors that signal B2-level fluency
Your next step is to practice constantly. Tell stories, write paragraphs, have conversations -- and pay attention to tense choice and connector use every time.