B2 · Upper intermediate

B2-level discourse connectors

Formal connectors to express contrast, consequence, reason and condition in written and spoken discourse.

Contrast and addition: no obstante, asimismo

No obstante (nevertheless, however) is a more formal alternative to 'sin embargo'. It usually starts a sentence, followed by a comma.

Asimismo (likewise, also) adds an extra, equally important element to what has already been said — typical of formal texts and speeches.

Examples

El proyecto es ambicioso. No obstante, contamos con los recursos necesarios.The project is ambitious. Nevertheless, we have the necessary resources.
El curso incluye clases de gramática. Asimismo, ofrece talleres de conversación.The course includes grammar classes. It also offers conversation workshops.

Introducing and closing a topic: en cuanto a, en definitiva

En cuanto a (as for, regarding) introduces a new topic or shifts the focus within a text.

En definitiva (in short, ultimately) closes an argument with a summarizing conclusion.

Examples

En cuanto a los precios, todavía no se han decidido.As for the prices, they haven't been decided yet.
En definitiva, el viaje mereció la pena a pesar de los problemas.In short, the trip was worth it despite the problems.

Consequence: por consiguiente, de ahí que (+ subjunctive)

Por consiguiente (consequently, therefore) expresses a logical consequence, in the same family as 'por lo tanto' and 'así que'.

De ahí que (that is why, hence) also expresses a consequence, but it always requires the subjunctive, because the consequence is presented as a logical inference rather than an objective fact.

Examples

No hubo suficiente presupuesto; por consiguiente, se canceló el proyecto.There wasn't enough budget; consequently, the project was cancelled.
El precio del petróleo subió mucho, de ahí que los billetes de avión sean más caros.Oil prices rose sharply, hence why plane tickets are more expensive.

Reason: puesto que, dado que

Puesto que and dado que (since, given that) introduce a reason that is considered known or self-evident — unlike 'porque', which announces new information. Both take the indicative.

Examples

Puesto que ya conoces el tema, pasaremos directamente a los ejercicios.Since you already know the topic, we'll go straight to the exercises.
Dado que llueve mucho, hemos cancelado la excursión.Given that it's raining a lot, we've cancelled the excursion.

Condition: siempre que, a no ser que

Siempre que has two meanings:
- 'whenever' (repetition in time) + indicative;
- 'provided that' (condition) + subjunctive.

A no ser que (unless) is a synonym of 'a menos que' and always requires the subjunctive.

Examples

Siempre que voy a Madrid, visito el museo del Prado. (cada vez que)Whenever I go to Madrid, I visit the Prado museum. (each time)
Te dejo el coche, siempre que lo devuelvas con gasolina. (con la condición de que)I'll lend you the car, provided that you bring it back with a full tank.
No iremos a la playa, a no ser que haga buen tiempo.We won't go to the beach, unless the weather is nice.

💡 Tips

💡
'No obstante' and 'asimismo' belong in formal, written language; in conversation 'pero' and 'también' sound more natural.
💡
'De ahí que' is the only connector in this lesson that always requires the subjunctive — remember this pair as the exception.
💡
With 'siempre que': look at the context. Is it about repetition in time (indicative) or a condition (subjunctive)?

🎯 Practise this topic with 10 interactive exercises (10)

Related grammar

Conditional sentences (type 1, 2, 3 and mixed)
The three classic 'si' conditional sentence types and how to combine them into mixed conditionals.
The passive voice (voz pasiva)
The difference between ser + participle (action), estar + participle (result) and the pasiva refleja with se.

← Sequence of tenses (correlación de tiempos) with the subjunctiveThe many uses of 'se' →

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