Build and defend an argument: discourse markers.

These markers organize a formal argument, guiding the listener or reader through your logic — adding evidence, showing consequences, conceding a point, or summarizing. They're essential for essays, presentations, and professional reports.

Why this matters This lesson connects directly to your progress: it covers addition and result; contrast, concession, and rephrasing; summary, conclusion, and emphasis. Mastering this content lets you move forward confidently, and reinforces patterns you'll use again later. Take time to review every example before moving to the assessment — repetition is what actually locks knowledge in long-term.

What will you be able to do?

The goals of this lesson.

→ Use: addition and result
→ Apply: contrast, concession, and rephrasing
→ Recognize and use: summary, conclusion, and emphasis

Before you start

You already connect ideas with basic linkers. This lesson gives you discourse markers used in formal argumentation: "moreover", "therefore", "nonetheless".

Addition and result

"Moreover" and "furthermore" build on a previous point; "therefore" and "consequently" signal a logical outcome.

Examples

First and foremost, we must address the budget constraints.

Sequencing

Moreover, the data confirms our earlier findings.

Addition

Furthermore, customer feedback supports this direction.

Addition

In addition to cost savings, the plan improves efficiency.

Addition

Consequently, sales figures dropped in the third quarter.

Result

As a result, the company revised its strategy.

Result

Therefore, we recommend postponing the launch.

Result

Thus, the hypothesis was ultimately rejected.

Result

Contrast, concession, and rephrasing

"In contrast" highlights a difference, "that being said" acknowledges a counterpoint without abandoning your position, and "in other words" clarifies your meaning.

Examples

In contrast, the European market showed steady growth.

Contrast

Conversely, smaller companies struggled to adapt.

Contrast

That being said, further research is still needed.

Concession

Having said that, the results remain promising.

Concession

To put it another way, the risk outweighs the benefit.

Rephrasing

In other words, the plan is simply too expensive.

Rephrasing

With this in mind, we propose a phased rollout.

Reference

Summary, conclusion, and emphasis

These markers wrap up an argument or highlight its most important point.

Examples

On the whole, the project achieved its objectives.

Summary

In summary, three key factors drove the outcome.

Summary

To conclude, the evidence strongly supports our approach.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision rests with senior management.

Conclusion

Notably, none of the competitors offer this feature.

Emphasis

Above all, transparency must guide our decision-making.

Emphasis

By the same token, employee satisfaction also improved.

Comparison

Reading

Read the text and answer the questions. You can try as many times as you want.

The proposal to reduce the workweek has generated significant debate. Proponents argue that shorter hours improve employee wellbeing. Moreover, several pilot programs have shown increased productivity. Furthermore, employee retention rates improved substantially in these trials.

In contrast, critics maintain that reduced hours could hurt smaller businesses. That being said, most opposition has softened as more data becomes available. On the whole, the evidence suggests cautious optimism. To conclude, further trials are recommended before nationwide implementation.

💪 You can now construct sophisticated, well-organized arguments in English. Review this lesson, or continue advancing!

Fill in the Blanks

Usa las pistas para completar cada palabra en inglés. Sin calificar — repite las veces que quieras.

Key Points

The essentials of this lesson, summarized.

Addition and result: "Moreover" and "furthermore" build on a previous point; "therefore" and "consequently" signal a logical outcome.
Contrast, concession, and rephrasing: "In contrast" highlights a difference, "that being said" acknowledges a counterpoint without abandoning your position, and "in other words" clarifies your meaning.
Summary, conclusion, and emphasis: These markers wrap up an argument or highlight its most important point.
Reading: Read the text and answer the questions. You can try as many times as you want.

Vocabulary in This Lesson

Key terms to remember.

First: "First and foremost, we must address the budget constraints."
Moreover: "Moreover, the data confirms our earlier findings."
Furthermore: "Furthermore, customer feedback supports this direction."
addition: "In addition to cost savings, the plan improves efficiency."
Consequently: "Consequently, sales figures dropped in the third quarter."
result: "As a result, the company revised its strategy."

Build the Sentence

Tap the words in the correct order to form the sentence. Ungraded — repeat as many times as you like.

Choose the Correct Verb

Tap the correct verb form to complete each sentence. The other options are conjugations from other tenses — on purpose, so you learn to tell them apart.

That said further research is still needed

First foremost we must address the budget constraints

Having that the results remain promising

Above transparency must guide our decision-making

Moreover data confirms our earlier findings

Complete the Dialogue

Listen to the full dialogue with the speaker buttons first, then fill in the missing words from this lesson's real conversation. Ungraded — repeat as many times as you like.

Should we launch the this

The market is ready. our competitors caught up yet.

Assessment

You need at least 80% to unlock the next lesson. You can retake it as many times as you want — your best score is saved.

Summary and next step

You now argue formally with moreover, therefore, nonetheless. Next lesson: nuanced academic synonyms from the Academic Word List.

Games

Practice this lesson's vocabulary with a word search and flashcards. Ungraded — play as many times as you like.

Word Search

Tap the first and last letter of a hidden word to find it. Los términos de varias palabras van sin espacios en el tablero (ej. "give up" aparece como GIVEUP).

Flashcards

Elige la respuesta correcta. Si aciertas, la tarjeta queda lista por hoy; si fallas, vuelve a aparecer pronto para reforzarla. Tu progreso se guarda en este dispositivo.

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