Transition Words Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: W.4.1.C

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When authors are trying to make a connection between two ideas or concepts, they will often use a transitional word or phrase to help the reader progress between the two. There are generally thought to be several different forms of transition. When an author shows a similarity between ideas they use additive transitions such as using “further, or moreover,”. If an author is pointing towards a conflict between ideas, they would use a adversative transition. Readers must quietly rely on these different terms to help them make shifts in presence of mind. These worksheets will help students see those pivots between different word types.

Transition Words Worksheets:

Sentence Practice - What words or phrases fit into the gaps? : Read each sentence carefully and choose the most appropriate transition to fill in the blanks in the sentences. Use each term only once. Capitalize when necessary.

Transition Exercise - Talk about free response questions! Create an original sentence or pair of sentences using the words that are indicated.

Make a Paper Airplane - Here is a pretty cool theme for you to work with. Below, in order, are the steps to making a paper airplane. Read the steps. Then rewrite them as a paragraph, choosing appropriate transitions from the list above. Write your paragraph on the back of this page, or on a separate sheet of paper. Don't forget to give you paragraph a title and a good topic sentence.

Transitions: Definition - Transitions help us organize details in our writing. Read each sentence below. Choose from the words above to fill in the blanks. Use each word only once.

Transitions: Listing and Addition - We show you how to write and use words to pattern your writing.

Compare | Contrast - Comparison means to show how two or more items are the same. Contrast means to show how they are different. The focus can be on just similarities, just differences, or both

Signal Patterns - Write two sentences using the words given for each type of transition.

Put Them to Work - You can have a lot of fun without spending a lot of money. At the end of the paragraph, circle the pattern of organization that is used in the paragraph.

Putting Them to Work - Read each sentence carefully and choose the most appropriate transition to fill in the blanks in the sentences. You can only use each term once.

Creating Sentences Using Transitions - Create an original sentence or pair of sentences using the terms that are indicated.

Patterns of Organization - Choose one of the patterns of organization from the box that best describes the pattern you think the author will follow in the paragraph.

Different Forms - Read each sentence. Underline the transition word or words. Then select what kind of transition it is and write its letter on the line.

Who Does It Right? - Read each set of sentences. Select the one that uses transition words correctly.

The Effects of Alcoholism - A heavy topic to work in with reading in the content area. Drop the words in that make this passage work.

Cause and Effect - One kind of transition word indicates a cause and effect relationship between two things in a sentence, or between things in multiple sentences.

What are Transition Words?

A transition word is a part of speech that is commonly used in writing. They are known to create a link or connection between different phrases, sentences, or paragraphs. The main purpose of using these terms is to let the reader's progress from one idea to another in a smooth way.


The presence of transition words in a text is pertinent to its understanding by the readers and their absence makes it difficult for the readers to make any sense out of the text. They can be categorized into various types depending on the precise function they are performing in a given text.


Here are some types and examples of their use:


For Cause and Effect

Sentences with cause and effect transition words describe an action or cause at the beginning of the sentence. The second part of the sentence is followed by describing the effect of it. Therefore, so, as a result, and consequently, are all examples of cause and effect in use.


For example:

I got tired, so I left office.
She went home. Therefore, I had to do the work myself.
She was caught cheating on the exam. As a result, the teacher cancelled her exam.


They Add Clarification

These are special transition words that are used to clarify a specific topic or thing in a sentence or paragraph. Common clarification transitions words are "in other words", "to clarify", and "this is to say". Here are some examples of how to use these words in a sentence.


The company let him go. In other words, he was fired.


She is no longer allowed to sit in the class. To clarify, she has been suspended.


They Can Provide Contrast

There are times when you have to explain a connection between two different things while writing them down. The use of these terms is used for contrast and can be very helpful in this situation. They help you build a link between two different things and make better sense of the text. Some transition words that are used for contrast are "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Here are some examples of how to use these words in sentences.


Josh is tall, but Adam is taller.


Your point of view was correct. However, it did have some loopholes.


They Can Emphasize and Summarize

Transition words are used to emphasize important parts of the sentences and clauses in a text. They highlight the importance of a sentence and include words like above all, most importantly, chiefly, and a few others. Other than emphasizing, these words also help in summarizing and condensing the main point and even conclude the text. Examples of such terms are shortly, conclusively, and consequently.


They Can Enumerate and Exemplify

Transition words are used to list ideas one by one. Firstly, secondly, additionally, furthermore, etc. are a few common examples for such expressions. Moreover, these terms are also used to give examples for something. The most common form of use for these words include chiefly, surely, certainly, especially, and indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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