Mastering transitional words

Are you French and finding transitional words confusing?

If so, you’re in the right place!

Below, you’ll find simple explanations for tricky words like eventually, afterwards, after, obviously, actually, and basically — plus effective exercises to help you practice and use them confidently when speaking.

Mastering Transitional Words: How to Create Clear, Logical,

and Professional Writing

Transitional words—also called linking words or connectors—help readers follow

your ideas smoothly. Whether you are writing essays, emails, presentations, or

business reports, using the right transitions makes your message clearer,

more professional, and easier to understand.

This guide explains the major types of transitional words also with

french equivalents so that you can start using them immediately.

⭐ Why Transitional Words Matter

Transitional words act as bridges between your ideas. They help to:

connect sentences and paragraphs
show the relationship between ideas
improve the flow and clarity of your writing
make arguments more persuasive
guide the reader step by step

Good writers don’t rely only on vocabulary — they use transitions to structure

thoughts logically.

1. Adding Information

(ajouter une idée / information supplémentaire)

and – et
also – aussi
too – aussi
as well – également
besides – en plus / d’ailleurs
moreover – de plus
furthermore – en outre
in addition – en plus

2. Sequencing / Order / Time

(mettre les idées dans l’ordre / organiser un récit)

first / firstly – d’abord
then – ensuite
next – ensuite / après
after – après
afterwards – ensuite / plus tard
later – plus tard
previously – auparavant
before – avant
eventually – finalement (⚠️ not “éventuellement”)
finally – finalement
in the end – au final
at last – enfin
meanwhile – pendant ce temps
at the same time – en même temps
suddenly – soudain

👉Difference between after vs afterwards

AFTER = preposition or conjunction

It is followed by:

a noun
a pronoun
a verb in -ing

Examples:

After lunch, we went back to work.
After finishing my homework, I watched TV.

AFTERWARDS = adverb

It is NOT followed by a noun or verb.
It stands alone and means later / ensuite / après cela.

Examples:

We had lunch. Afterwards, we went back to work.
I finished my homework. Afterwards, I watched TV.

3. Cause & Effect

(montrer la cause, la conséquence, la raison)

because – parce que
since – puisque
as – étant donné que
therefore – donc
so – alors / donc
thus – ainsi / donc
consequently – par conséquent
as a result – en conséquence
hence – d’où / donc

4. Contrast & Opposition

(montrer une différence, un contraste)

but – mais
however – cependant / pourtant
yet – pourtant
nevertheless – néanmoins
nonetheless – pourtant / néanmoins
even though – même si
although – bien que
on the other hand – d’un autre côté
whereas – tandis que
while – alors que
in contrast – en contraste
still – quand même / pourtant

👉Let's Practice

Human resources Incident

Last week, an important Human Resources incident occurred, and at first, it seemed like a simple misunderstanding.

However, an employee reported feeling uncomfortable after a colleague made inappropriate comments during a meeting.

As a result, HR immediately scheduled interviews with everyone involved. Meanwhile, the team was reminded to review the company’s code of conduct.

Afterwards, HR discovered that similar complaints had been made in the past.

Therefore, the colleague received formal disciplinary action and mandatory training.

In the end, the situation highlighted the need for clearer communication and, above all, a respectful workplace environment.

However, as a result, afterwards, eventually, therefore, above all, meanwhile

The company failed to submit the required documents on time. ________, the court postponed the hearing.
The lawyer explained the contract clearly. ________, I understood the obligations.
I tried to negotiate with the other party. ________, they filed a formal complaint.
________, the mediation session helped resolve most issues.
The case lasted several months, but ________, we reached an agreement.
The documents were confusing. ________, I asked my lawyer for clarification.
________, it is important to keep all legal records carefully.

Answers

As a result
Afterwards
However
Eventually
Eventually
Therefore
Above all

Practice Excercise

1. The team finished the report. They submitted it immediately.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. The software is powerful. It’s difficult for new users.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Sales have dropped this quarter. We will adjust our strategy.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………......

4. The presentation was well prepared. The audience remained uninterested.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..........

5. The deadline was extended. The team had more time to complete the project.

………………………………………………………………………………………..

Answers:
1. The team finished the report; afterward, they submitted it immediately.

2. The software is powerful; however, it’s difficult for new users.

3. Sales have dropped this quarter; therefore, we will adjust our strategy.

4.The presentation was well prepared; however, the audience remained uninterested.

5. The deadline was extended; as a result, the team had more time to complete the project.

Below you have more words for giving examples,clarifying ideas, expressing probability.

5. Giving Examples

(expliquer, illustrer une idée)

for example – par exemple
for instance – par exemple
such as – comme
like – comme
to illustrate – pour illustrer

6. Clarifying / Explaining

(clarifier une idée / expliquer davantage)

actually – en fait (⚠️ not “actuellement”)
in fact – en fait
indeed – en effet
that is to say – c’est-à-dire
in other words – en d’autres termes
I mean – je veux dire
basically – en gros / pour faire simple

7. Emphasis

(mettre en valeur, insister)

above all – surtout / avant tout
especially – particulièrement
particularly – particulièrement
indeed – en effet
definitely – certainement / absolument
clearly – clairement
obviously – évidemment

8. Expressing Uncertainty / Probability

(exprimer le doute, la possibilité)

apparently – apparemment
maybe – peut-être
perhaps – peut-être
probably – probablement
possibly – possiblement
seemingly – semble-t-il

9. Concluding / Summarizing

(terminer un texte, résumer une idée)

in conclusion – en conclusion
to sum up – pour résumer
in summary – en résumé
overall – globalement
in short – en bref
finally – finalement
to conclude – pour conclure

👉General questions for speaking & writing practice

1. What do you usually do in the morning, and what do you do afterwards?

...................................................................................

2. Can you describe a day when your plans changed suddenly? However, how did you adapt?

.................................................................................

3. Tell me about a time when something went wrong at home. Therefore, what did you do to fix it?

................................................................................

4. Describe a situation in which someone misunderstood you. Actually, what were you trying to say?

....................................................................................

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