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TOEIC Link Grammar — Conjunctions and Connectors: The Discourse-Logic Layer That Decides Part 5 and Part 6 Items

Conjunctions and connectors account for approximately 15 to 20% of TOEIC Link Part 5 items and roughly 40% of Part 6 items, because connectors test discourse logic rather than isolated grammar. This guide separates the four connector functions ETS tests and provides decision rules for each.

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TOEIC Link Grammar — Conjunctions and Connectors: The Discourse-Logic Layer That Decides Part 5 and Part 6 Items

Conjunctions and connectors carry a disproportionate weight on TOEIC Link reading sections. Across our analyzed sample of released forms, conjunctions and connectors are the test target on approximately 15 to 20% of Part 5 items and approximately 40% of Part 6 items. Part 6 in particular is built around discourse logic, and discourse logic is encoded almost entirely through connectors. A candidate who cannot reliably classify connectors by function will lose 6 to 10 raw points across the two parts.

This article maps the four connector functions ETS uses to construct items, the surface markers that signal each function, and decision rules for selecting the correct connector in real time. The decision rules are designed to bypass the trap that most Japanese candidates fall into — selecting a connector that is grammatically valid but discourse-logically wrong.

For broader context on Part 5 and Part 6 question types, refer to the TOEIC Link reading strategies by question type and the TOEIC Link test format overview. This article goes deeper on the connector subset that those two articles introduce at a higher level.

Why connectors carry disproportionate weight on Part 6

Three structural reasons concentrate Part 6 items around connector selection.

Reason 1 — Part 6 is a four-blank passage with one discourse layer. Every Part 6 passage runs 90 to 130 words and is structured as a short business document — an email, a memo, a notice, or a brief article. The four blanks test different surface features, but discourse cohesion across the four blanks is the single feature ETS most reliably tests. Connectors are the most economical way to test discourse cohesion in a four-blank format, because each connector encodes a relationship between two sentences in a single word.

Reason 2 — connectors are unambiguous in their test design. Unlike vocabulary items that can sometimes be argued from multiple angles, connector items have a single defensible answer determined by the discourse relationship between the surrounding sentences. ETS prefers items with high inter-rater agreement, and connectors deliver that.

Reason 3 — Japanese candidates systematically substitute meaning-similar but function-different connectors. The Japanese discourse system marks contrast, cause, and addition with different surface markers than English does. When a Japanese candidate translates the English passage into Japanese mentally, the translation often loses the precise discourse relationship and the candidate selects a connector that fits the Japanese paraphrase but not the English original. The four connector functions described below are designed to bypass this translation step.

The four connector functions ETS tests

ETS organizes connectors around four functions. Every connector item on Part 5 or Part 6 tests one of these four functions, and the correct answer is the connector that matches the discourse relationship between the surrounding sentences.

Function 1 — addition and continuation

Addition connectors signal that the second sentence adds information of the same type or polarity as the first sentence. The discourse relationship is "more of the same."

The surface markers:

  • moreover, furthermore, additionally, in addition, also, besides — formal addition markers
  • what is more, on top of that, not only that — informal addition markers
  • and, as well as, along with — coordinating addition markers within a sentence

Test pattern: ETS presents two sentences where the second extends the first with a same-polarity claim. The four answer choices include one addition connector, one contrast connector, one cause connector, and one sequence connector. The candidate must recognize that the relationship is addition.

Sample item: "Our Q3 revenue grew by 12% year-over-year. ____, our operating margin expanded by 180 basis points over the same period."

The correct answer is Moreover or Furthermore because the second sentence adds another positive financial metric in the same direction as the first.

Decision rule for real time: If both sentences carry the same polarity and the second extends the first, select an addition connector. If you cannot tell the polarity, scan for evaluative words — "grew", "expanded", "improved", "increased" all carry positive polarity; "declined", "contracted", "missed", "fell" carry negative polarity.

Function 2 — contrast and concession

Contrast connectors signal that the second sentence carries a polarity opposite to or qualifying the first. The discourse relationship is "but" or "even though."

The surface markers:

  • however, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, conversely, in contrast — formal contrast markers
  • although, even though, though, while, whereas — subordinating concession markers
  • but, yet, still — coordinating contrast markers
  • despite, in spite of, regardless of — prepositional contrast markers

Test pattern: ETS presents two sentences where the second sentence introduces information that runs counter to what would be expected from the first. The candidate must recognize the polarity flip.

Sample item: "Our Q3 revenue grew by 12% year-over-year. ____, our operating margin contracted by 200 basis points as input costs rose."

The correct answer is However or Nevertheless because the second sentence introduces a negative metric that contrasts with the positive metric in the first.

Decision rule for real time: When the polarities of the two sentences differ — one positive, one negative, or one expected, one unexpected — select a contrast connector. Pay attention to evaluative words that signal the flip ("but", "however", expected-vs-actual). Be careful with while and whereas — they can also signal addition with a temporal frame, and the test design will usually disambiguate from the surrounding context.

Function 3 — cause, consequence, and purpose

Cause and consequence connectors signal that the second sentence describes the result or reason for the first. The discourse relationship is "because" or "therefore."

The surface markers:

  • therefore, consequently, as a result, accordingly, thus, hence — consequence markers
  • because, since, as, given that, on the grounds that — cause markers
  • so that, in order to, so as to — purpose markers
  • due to, owing to, because of — prepositional cause markers

Test pattern: ETS presents two sentences in a cause-and-effect relationship and requires the candidate to identify the direction of the relationship.

Sample item: "Our input costs rose sharply in Q3 due to supply-chain disruptions in Southeast Asia. ____, our operating margin contracted by 200 basis points."

The correct answer is As a result, Consequently, or Therefore because the second sentence describes the consequence of the cause stated in the first.

Decision rule for real time: When one sentence describes a cause and the other describes its effect, select a cause-or-consequence connector. The direction matters — therefore goes from cause to effect, while because goes from effect to cause. Read the two sentences carefully to determine which one is the cause and which is the effect before selecting.

Function 4 — time, sequence, and exemplification

Time and sequence connectors signal the temporal or ordinal relationship between sentences. Exemplification connectors signal that the second sentence provides a specific case of the general claim in the first.

The surface markers:

  • first, second, then, next, finally, meanwhile, subsequently — sequence markers
  • after, before, when, while, as, once — temporal subordinating markers
  • for example, for instance, in particular, specifically, such as — exemplification markers
  • in fact, indeed, as a matter of fact — emphasis-by-example markers

Test pattern: ETS presents a passage with a clear temporal progression or a generalization followed by a specific example, and the candidate must recognize the relationship.

Sample item: "Our Q3 revenue growth was driven by several product lines. ____, the enterprise segment grew by 28%, while the mid-market segment grew by 15%."

The correct answer is For example or In particular because the second sentence provides specific examples of the general claim about product-line growth.

Decision rule for real time: Identify whether the two sentences are in a temporal sequence, a logical ordering, or a generalization-and-example relationship. The surface markers are usually unambiguous, but Japanese candidates sometimes mis-select on the other hand for an exemplification item because the Japanese discourse system marks examples differently.

The high-frequency traps Japanese candidates fall into

Five connector confusion patterns account for the majority of Japanese candidate errors. Drill each pattern explicitly.

Trap 1 — however versus therefore. Both are formal connectors and both can start a sentence with a comma. Japanese candidates often select whichever feels right without checking the polarity relationship. The fix is the polarity-check decision rule above — if polarities differ, however; if cause-and-effect, therefore.

Trap 2 — although versus despite. Both express concession, but although takes a clause and despite takes a noun phrase or gerund. ETS tests this distinction directly. The fix is to check the grammatical environment — clause means although, noun phrase or gerund means despite.

Trap 3 — because versus because of. Same distinction as although versus despite. Because takes a clause; because of takes a noun phrase. Drill the pair together with the although-despite pair.

Trap 4 — in addition versus in addition to. In addition is a sentence-level adverbial; in addition to is a preposition. ETS tests both in the same items. The fix is to check what follows — if a clause follows, in addition; if a noun phrase follows, in addition to.

Trap 5 — moreover versus furthermore versus additionally. All three are addition markers and are essentially interchangeable in most contexts. ETS rarely tests the distinction directly, but Japanese candidates often waste time choosing between them. The fix is to accept that any of the three will work in pure addition contexts and move on.

How to drill connectors for Part 5 and Part 6

The four functions above will cover approximately 95% of the connector items you will see on TOEIC Link Part 5 and Part 6. Drill them in the order presented — addition and contrast first because they are the highest-frequency, then cause and sequence.

Drill format. Use a two-sentence drill where each pair shows a clear discourse relationship and you have to select the connector function in under three seconds. After 100 single-pair drills, move to Part 6-format drills where the passage has four blanks and you have to track discourse cohesion across the entire passage.

Speed target. Native readers process connector cues in under one second. Japanese learners typically start at five to ten seconds. The drill goal is to reach two to three seconds per connector — fast enough to leave time for the other Part 5 and Part 6 items.

Test-day discipline. If you cannot decide on a connector within five seconds, mark a guess based on the function that seems most likely and move on. Spending 20 seconds on a single connector item is the most common time-management failure on Part 5 and Part 6.

Integration with the rest of the EnglishBlitz TOEIC Link grammar prep

Connectors intersect with several other Part 5 and Part 6 grammar targets. The strongest cross-references are:

Drill the four connector functions in this article together with the three related articles above, and connector items will move from a high-loss category to a reliable-points category on your TOEIC Link Part 5 and Part 6 sections.