Identifying connectives

A KS2 English worksheet created by an experienced primary school teacher to help your child understand and identify connectives.

Read through these paragraphs from ‘The stolen spy kit’. Can you find any sentences with two parts joined by connectives? Could the author have used any of the connectives below in the text instead?

What are connectives in KS2?

In KS2, connectives are words that help link ideas together in a child's writing, making it flow more smoothly and logically. They allow sentences and paragraphs to connect, helping to show relationships between ideas, such as time, cause and effect, or contrast. 

Learning to use connectives properly helps children make their writing clearer and more engaging, which is an important skill as they develop their literacy abilities.

What are some examples of connectives for KS2 children?

Here are some examples of connective words for KS2 children:

• Addition: and, also, furthermore, moreover, besides
• Time: before, after, then, next, later, finally, subsequently
• Cause and effect: because, so, therefore, thus, consequently, as a result
• Contrast: but, however, although, nevertheless, yet, on the other hand
• Comparative: similarly, likewise, in the same way, compared to
• Condition: if, unless, provided that, as long as

How will this KS2 connectives worksheet help your child?

This KS2 English worksheet was created by an experienced educator and will help your child understand how to use connectives by reading through an extract and working out where certain connectives could be used. It is helpful to check out the reading comprehension The stolen spy kit before starting this activity. 

For more help with English, check out our hub page, or try a new challenge such as our (free!) Year 6 worksheets taster pack.