Conectores do discurso: mas, porém, no entanto, portanto, além disso, ou seja

Conectores do discurso: mas, porém, no entanto, portanto, além disso, ou seja means “Linking words that connect ideas — "but, however, therefore, that is" — for smooth, cohesive speech and writing”. Discourse connectors are the glue of cohesive Portuguese: they signal how one idea relates to the next. Formation: adversativos: mas (abre a oração) · porém / no entanto / contudo / todavia (entre vírgulas, mais formais) — conclusivos: portanto / logo / por isso / assim — aditivo: além disso — reformulativo: ou seja / isto é — aliás (a propósito / na verdade)

Linking words that connect ideas — "but, however, therefore, that is" — for smooth, cohesive speech and writing

B2

Formation

adversativos: mas (abre a oração) · porém / no entanto / contudo / todavia (entre vírgulas, mais formais) — conclusivos: portanto / logo / por isso / assim — aditivo: além disso — reformulativo: ou seja / isto é — aliás (a propósito / na verdade)

Explanation

Discourse connectors are the glue of cohesive Portuguese: they signal how one idea relates to the next. The adversatives (contrast) are the trickiest: mas is the everyday spoken "but" and always opens the clause (Estava cansado, mas terminei); porém, no entanto, contudo and todavia mean the same but are set off by commas and sound more formal or written — and they can float to the middle of the clause (Eu, no entanto, discordo). The conclusives (result) are portanto, logo, por isso and assim ("therefore, so"): Estava chovendo; portanto, ficamos em casa. Additive além disso ("besides, moreover") piles on a second point; reformulative ou seja and isto é ("that is, in other words") restate what you just said; and aliás adds an afterthought or a correction ("by the way / in fact"). For Spanish speakers the map is clean: pero=mas, sin embargo=no entanto, por lo tanto=portanto, o sea=ou seja. Match register: mas and por isso are neutral and everyday, while contudo, todavia and outrossim belong to formal writing — don't scatter them in casual speech.

Examples

Eu estava muito cansado; no entanto, terminei o trabalho.
I was very tired; however, I finished the work.
Estava chovendo muito; portanto, ficamos em casa.
It was raining hard; therefore, we stayed home.

Note

Position rule: mas always starts the clause and takes no floating; porém and no entanto set off by commas and can sit mid-clause (Eu, no entanto, discordo). Register: mas / por isso / além disso are neutral and spoken; contudo / todavia / outrossim are formal-written — reserve them for essays, not chat.

FAQ

Conectores do discurso: mas, porém, no entanto, portanto, além disso, ou seja — what does it mean and how is it used?

Linking words that connect ideas — "but, however, therefore, that is" — for smooth, cohesive speech and writing. Discourse connectors are the glue of cohesive Portuguese: they signal how one idea relates to the next. The adversatives (contrast) are the trickiest: mas is the everyday spoken "but" and always opens the clause (Estava cansado, mas terminei); porém, no entanto, contudo and todavia mean the same but are set off by commas and sound more formal or written — and they can float to the middle of the clause (Eu, no entanto, discordo). The conclusives (result) are portanto, logo, por isso and assim ("therefore, so"): Estava chovendo; portanto, ficamos em casa. Additive além disso ("besides, moreover") piles on a second point; reformulative ou seja and isto é ("that is, in other words") restate what you just said; and aliás adds an afterthought or a correction ("by the way / in fact"). For Spanish speakers the map is clean: pero=mas, sin embargo=no entanto, por lo tanto=portanto, o sea=ou seja. Match register: mas and por isso are neutral and everyday, while contudo, todavia and outrossim belong to formal writing — don't scatter them in casual speech.

Conectores do discurso: mas, porém, no entanto, portanto, além disso, ou seja — how do you form it?

adversativos: mas (abre a oração) · porém / no entanto / contudo / todavia (entre vírgulas, mais formais) — conclusivos: portanto / logo / por isso / assim — aditivo: além disso — reformulativo: ou seja / isto é — aliás (a propósito / na verdade)

Conectores do discurso: mas, porém, no entanto, portanto, além disso, ou seja — any usage notes?

Position rule: mas always starts the clause and takes no floating; porém and no entanto set off by commas and can sit mid-clause (Eu, no entanto, discordo). Register: mas / por isso / além disso are neutral and spoken; contudo / todavia / outrossim are formal-written — reserve them for essays, not chat.

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