How to read the levels
A teaching map, not four sealed word lists
The level shown is where this selected use appears in the cited Instituto Cervantes inventory. It does not mean a connector is forbidden before that level, mastered by every learner at that level, or limited to only one function.
Simple connectors remain valuable as texts become more advanced: a B2 writer still uses y, pero, and porque. Progress means choosing a relationship clearly and managing more information, not replacing every short word with a formal expression.
Join clear facts
A1
Learner task: Connect two concrete actions, add one familiar fact, contrast a simple expectation, or give a direct reason.
Inventory orientation: The selected A1 inventory entries emphasize additive y and también, contrastive pero, and justificatory porque.
The same dinner delay at A1
36 Spanish words
Eva prepara una cena y pone la mesa. Su amiga Ana llega tarde porque pierde el autobús. Eva espera, pero la comida está fría. Ana también trae flores. Las dos calientan la comida y cenan juntas.
Check the English translation
Eva prepares dinner and sets the table. Her friend Ana arrives late because she misses the bus. Eva waits, but the food is cold. Ana also brings flowers. The two warm the food and eat dinner together.
What the connectors do: Each connector makes one local relationship explicit. The reader follows a clear chain without managing a long argument or several competing viewpoints.
Addition · featured at A1
y
and
Eva prepara la cena y pone la mesa.
Eva prepares dinner and sets the table.
Use in this example: Joins two related words, phrases, or clauses. It is the most direct way to add one event to another here.
Addition · featured at A1
también
also / too
Ana también trae flores.
Ana also brings flowers.
Use in this example: Adds Ana or her action to information already in view. Its position helps show what receives the added emphasis.
Contrast · featured at A1
pero
but
Eva espera, pero la comida está fría.
Eva waits, but the food is cold.
Use in this example: Places a contrasting fact after the first statement. The second idea changes or limits the expectation created by the first.
Reason · featured at A1
porque
because
Ana llega tarde porque pierde el autobús.
Ana arrives late because she misses the bus.
Use in this example: Introduces the reason for the first situation. Written porque is one word and has no accent in this use.
Order events and state results
A2
Learner task: Organize a short linear account with opening, continuation, result, response, and closing signals.
Inventory orientation: The selected A2 inventory entries add ordering expressions such as primero, después, and por último plus consecutive por eso and entonces.
The same dinner delay at A2
45 Spanish words
Primero, Eva prepara una cena y pone la mesa. Ana pierde el autobús. Por eso, llega tarde. Entonces llama a Eva y explica el problema. Después, Ana compra pan y flores cerca de la parada. Por último, las amigas calientan la comida y cenan juntas.
Check the English translation
First, Eva prepares dinner and sets the table. Ana misses the bus. That is why she arrives late. Then she calls Eva and explains the problem. Afterward, Ana buys bread and flowers near the stop. Finally, the friends warm the food and eat dinner together.
What the connectors do: The same event now has a visible beginning, causal link, response, continuation, and close. Connectors help the reader retain the whole sequence.
Sequence · featured at A2
primero
first
Primero, Eva prepara la cena.
First, Eva prepares dinner.
Use in this example: Opens an ordered sequence. It helps the reader predict that later steps or events will follow.
Sequence · featured at A2
después
afterward / then
Después, Ana compra pan.
Afterward, Ana buys bread.
Use in this example: Continues an ordered sequence. The accent distinguishes después as the standard written form.
Sequence · featured at A2
por último
finally / lastly
Por último, las amigas cenan juntas.
Finally, the friends eat dinner together.
Use in this example: Closes an explicit sequence. In this use, último keeps its written accent.
Result · featured at A2
por eso
that is why / so
Ana pierde el autobús. Por eso, llega tarde.
Ana misses the bus. That is why she arrives late.
Use in this example: Points back to a stated situation and introduces its consequence. The reader does not have to infer the causal link alone.
Result · featured at A2
entonces
then / so
Entonces llama a Eva y explica el problema.
Then she calls Eva and explains the problem.
Use in this example: Here it links the missed bus to the next response. Entonces can express time or consequence, so its exact job comes from context.
Connect reasons, concessions, and reformulations
B1
Learner task: Relate a fuller account across sentences by adding support, acknowledging a complication, stating a consequence, and restating a point.
Inventory orientation: The selected B1 inventory entries broaden addition, consequence, concession, counterargument, and explanation with además, así que, aunque, sin embargo, and es decir.
The same dinner delay at B1
52 Spanish words
Eva había preparado la cena. Sin embargo, Ana no llegó a la hora acordada. Perdió el autobús, así que llamó para explicar el problema. Aunque la comida se enfrió, Eva decidió esperarla. Además, Ana compró pan y flores durante el camino. La cena se retrasó. Es decir, comenzaron a comer más tarde.
Check the English translation
Eva had prepared dinner. However, Ana did not arrive at the agreed time. She missed the bus, so she called to explain the problem. Although the food became cold, Eva decided to wait for her. In addition, Ana bought bread and flowers on the way. Dinner was delayed. That is, they began eating later.
What the connectors do: The account can now hold an expectation, a counterpoint, a consequence, a concession, supporting information, and a reformulation without losing its line.
Addition · featured at B1
además
in addition / also
Además, Ana trae flores.
In addition, Ana brings flowers.
Use in this example: Adds a new supporting point at the discourse level, rather than simply joining two neighboring items with y.
Result · featured at B1
así que
so
Perdió el autobús, así que llamó a Eva.
She missed the bus, so she called Eva.
Use in this example: Connects a situation directly to its consequence in the same sentence. The written accent belongs on así.
Concession · featured at B1
aunque
although / even though
Aunque la comida estaba fría, Eva decidió esperar.
Although the food was cold, Eva decided to wait.
Use in this example: Introduces a fact that might have led to a different result. Mood choice with aunque depends on meaning and context beyond this example.
Contrast · featured at B1
sin embargo
however
Eva había preparado la cena. Sin embargo, Ana no llegó a tiempo.
Eva had prepared dinner. However, Ana did not arrive on time.
Use in this example: Introduces a counterpoint across sentences here. It is typically set off as a discourse connector in this position.
Reformulation · featured at B1
es decir
that is / in other words
La cena se retrasó. Es decir, comenzaron a comer más tarde.
Dinner was delayed. That is, they began eating later.
Use in this example: Restates the preceding idea in a clearer or more explicit way. It does not introduce a separate cause.
Manage denser relationships and viewpoint
B2
Learner task: Coordinate several related claims, contrast simultaneous perspectives, mark a consequence, and preserve a conclusion after qualification.
Inventory orientation: The selected B2 inventory entries add correlative addition, consequence, formal counterargument, explicit contrast, and distanced qualification.
The same dinner delay at B2
67 Spanish words
Eva había planeado una cena tranquila. No obstante, la demora de Ana cambió el ritmo de la noche. Mientras que Eva mantenía caliente la sopa, Ana buscaba otra ruta. El siguiente autobús también se retrasó. En consecuencia, Eva sirvió primero el pan. La espera no solo enfrió la comida, sino que también les dio tiempo para hablar. De todos modos, Ana prometió salir antes la próxima vez.
Check the English translation
Eva had planned a quiet dinner. Nevertheless, Ana's delay changed the rhythm of the evening. While Eva kept the soup warm, Ana looked for another route. The next bus was also delayed. Consequently, Eva served the bread first. The wait not only cooled the food but also gave them time to talk. In any case, Ana promised to leave earlier next time.
What the connectors do: The scene now balances concurrent viewpoints and several discourse relationships. The connectors guide how each claim supports, contrasts with, or qualifies another.
Addition · featured at B2
no solo … sino también
not only … but also
La espera no solo enfrió la comida, sino que también les dio tiempo para hablar.
The wait not only cooled the food but also gave them time to talk.
Use in this example: Adds a second point while presenting it as an expansion beyond the first. Que appears here because full clauses are coordinated.
Result · featured at B2
en consecuencia
consequently / as a result
El segundo autobús se retrasó. En consecuencia, Eva sirvió primero el pan.
The second bus was delayed. Consequently, Eva served the bread first.
Use in this example: Presents a consequence in a more explicit discourse frame. Register and genre affect whether this choice sounds natural.
Contrast · featured at B2
no obstante
nevertheless / however
La demora cambió la noche. No obstante, Eva mantuvo la cena preparada.
The delay changed the evening. Nevertheless, Eva kept dinner ready.
Use in this example: Introduces a counterargument or unexpected continuation. It can sound more formal than pero in many contexts.
Contrast · featured at B2
mientras que
whereas / while
Eva esperaba en casa, mientras que Ana buscaba otra ruta.
Eva waited at home, whereas Ana looked for another route.
Use in this example: Contrasts two participants or situations here. Mientras que can also carry a temporal reading, so context controls the relation.
Qualification · featured at B2
de todos modos
in any case / anyway
De todos modos, Ana prometió salir antes la próxima vez.
In any case, Ana promised to leave earlier next time.
Use in this example: Returns to a conclusion that still holds after acknowledging the preceding complication or counterpoint.
Follow one relationship
How the options expand from A1 to B2
Read down a column to compare what changes. These paths show increasing options; they do not rank one connector as inherently better than another.
| Level | addition | result | contrast |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | y · también Join nearby facts or add one familiar item. | porque Give a direct reason for one clear situation. | pero Place one contrasting fact after another. |
| A2 | también Keep adding information while organizing a longer event sequence. | por eso · entonces State a visible consequence or next response. | pero Maintain a simple contrast inside a longer ordered narrative. |
| B1 | además Add a supporting point across clauses or sentences. | así que Connect cause and consequence directly within a fuller account. | aunque · sin embargo Acknowledge a complication or introduce a counterpoint. |
| B2 | no solo … sino también Coordinate two additions while presenting the second as an expansion. | en consecuencia Frame a consequence explicitly at the discourse level. | no obstante · mientras que Manage a counterargument or contrast two perspectives explicitly. |
A practical reading routine
Name the relationship before memorizing the expression
1
Cover the connector
Predict whether the next idea adds, explains, results from, contrasts with, or restates the first.
2
Check the whole sentence
Use punctuation, position, genre, and the surrounding ideas to identify the expression's job here.
3
Try the simpler form
Notice what changes in emphasis or organization. Keep the simpler form when it communicates the relationship naturally.
Official sources and interpretation limits
- Instituto Cervantes · A1–A2 pragmatic strategiesLists selected A1 and A2 discourse connectors and ordering expressions. This guide treats placement as curriculum orientation, not an exclusive word boundary.
- Instituto Cervantes · B1–B2 pragmatic strategiesLists selected B1 and B2 connectors, information organizers, and reformulators used to build progressively denser discourse relationships.
- RAE–ASALE · Glosario de términos gramaticales: locución conjuntivaExplains multiword conjunctive expressions and the causal, consecutive, and concessive relations they can establish; examples include así que and ya que.
The sources orient the selected functions, forms, and teaching levels. The examples, English translations, micro-stories, progression wording, and learner routine are original Read Spanish Daily materials and still require qualified review.