What advanced connectors buy you
Connectors join two statements and show how they relate: contrast, consequence, addition, cause or purpose. You already know y, pero, porque and aunque. Here are the words that make an argument sound more ordered and more polished. Most have a close English counterpart.
Contrast — contraste
Sin embargo and the more formal no obstante mean "however" and "nevertheless"; they usually open the sentence, followed by a comma. En cambio sets two things against each other ("on the other hand"). You already know aunque.
Estaba muy cansado. Sin embargo, terminó el trabajo.
He was very tired. He finished the job all the same.
El plan es arriesgado. No obstante, lo intentaremos.
The plan is risky. Nevertheless, we will try it.
Yo prefiero el mar. En cambio, mi hermana prefiere la montaña.
I prefer the sea. My sister, on the other hand, prefers the mountains.
Consequence — consecuencia
Por lo tanto and the more formal por consiguiente draw a conclusion ("therefore", "consequently"). Por eso is neutral ("that is why"), así que is very common in speech ("so").
No estudié nada. Por lo tanto, suspendí el examen.
I did not study at all. Therefore I failed the exam.
Estaba cansado. Por eso me fui a casa temprano.
I was tired. That is why I went home early.
Ya es tarde, así que nos vamos.
It is late already, so we are off.
Addition — adición
Además adds another point ("what is more"). Incluso highlights a surprising case ("even"), es más raises the stakes on what you just said ("in fact").
Es inteligente. Además, es muy trabajador.
He is intelligent. What is more, he is a very hard worker.
Todos vinieron, incluso mi jefe.
Everyone came, even my boss.
No me gustó la película. Es más, me quedé dormido.
I did not like the film. In fact, I fell asleep.
Cause — causa
Ya que and puesto que give a reason both speakers already know ("since", "given that") and often open the sentence. Debido a que is more formal ("owing to the fact that").
Ya que estás aquí, ayúdame a cocinar.
Since you are here, help me cook.
Puesto que ya es tarde, me voy a casa.
Given that it is already late, I am going home.
El tren llegó tarde debido a que había una avería.
The train arrived late because there was a breakdown.
Purpose — finalidad
Here the subject decides. Same subject: para + infinitive. Different subject: para que + subjuntivo. Formal and mostly written: con el fin de + infinitive. English uses to and so that for the same split, but the verb after so that stays an ordinary present; in Spanish it does not.
Estudio mucho para aprobar el examen.
I study a lot to pass the exam.
Same subject – I study, I pass.
Hablo despacio para que todos me entiendan.
I speak slowly so that everyone understands me.
Different subject – I speak, everyone understands.
Firmamos el acuerdo con el fin de evitar conflictos.
We signed the agreement with the aim of avoiding conflict.
