DELE B2 Spanish Connectors: Practice Test & Review
Connectors are the connective tissue of B2 writing and reading. They signal how ideas relate to each other — addition, contrast, cause, consequence, reformulation, and conclusion. Without them, a text is a list of disconnected statements. With them, it becomes an argument.
This page gives you a five-part practice quiz: an evaluation set to see where you stand, three practice sets to drill the connector categories, and a challenge set to confirm mastery. The grammar review below covers the main connector types, the mood they trigger, and the difference between formal and conversational register.
Connectors appear in every B2 writing task and in every reading passage that develops an argument. Master the categories and you can build clear, coherent texts the exam rewards. Ready? Start with the evaluation set below.
Grammar Guide
The Rule
Connectors (also called discourse markers) signal the relationship between ideas. They organize a text and guide the reader through an argument. Spanish connectors fall into several categories: addition, contrast, cause, consequence, purpose, reformulation, and conclusion. Some are formal, some conversational, and some trigger the subjunctive.
The Main Categories
| Category | Function | Common connectors |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | Adds information | además, asimismo, es más, incluso |
| Contrast | Opposes ideas | sin embargo, no obstante, en cambio, aun así |
| Cause | Explains why | porque, ya que, debido a que, puesto que |
| Consequence | Shows result | por lo tanto, por consiguiente, así que, en consecuencia |
| Purpose | Shows intention | para, a fin de, con el fin de |
| Reformulation | Restates an idea | es decir, o sea, en otras palabras |
| Conclusion | Summarizes | en resumen, en conclusión, en definitiva |
Addition Connectors
Addition connectors add information to what was already said.
| Connector | Register | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| además | Neutral | Es listo; además, es simpático. | He’s smart; also, he’s nice. |
| asimismo | Formal | Es inteligente; asimismo, es trabajador. | He’s intelligent; likewise, he’s hardworking. |
| es más | Neutral | No vino; es más, no le importó. | He didn’t come; moreover, he didn’t care. |
| incluso | Neutral | Todos vinieron, incluso Juan. | Everyone came, even Juan. |
Contrast Connectors
Contrast connectors oppose two ideas. This is the largest category.
| Connector | Register | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| sin embargo | Neutral | Estudió; sin embargo, no aprobó. | He studied; however, he didn’t pass. |
| no obstante | Formal | Es caro; no obstante, vale la pena. | It’s expensive; nevertheless, it’s worth it. |
| en cambio | Neutral | Es caro; en cambio, es bueno. | It’s expensive; on the other hand, it’s good. |
| aun así | Neutral | No me gusta; aun así, lo haré. | I don’t like it; even so, I’ll do it. |
| por el contrario | Formal | No es tonto; por el contrario, es listo. | He’s not stupid; on the contrary, he’s smart. |
Cause Connectors
Cause connectors explain why something happened.
| Connector | Register | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| porque | Neutral | No fui porque estaba enfermo. | I didn’t go because I was sick. |
| ya que | Neutral to formal | No vino ya que no tenía transporte. | He didn’t come since he had no transport. |
| debido a que | Formal | No aprobó debido a que no estudió. | He didn’t pass due to the fact that he didn’t study. |
| puesto que | Formal | No salimos puesto que llovía. | We didn’t go out since it was raining. |
Consequence Connectors
Consequence connectors show the result of a previous statement.
| Connector | Register | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| por lo tanto | Neutral to formal | Estudié; por lo tanto, aprobé. | I studied; therefore, I passed. |
| por consiguiente | Formal | No estudió; por consiguiente, suspendió. | He didn’t study; consequently, he failed. |
| así que | Conversational | Llegué tarde, así que perdí el tren. | I arrived late, so I missed the train. |
| en consecuencia | Formal | Llovía; en consecuencia, cancelaron. | It was raining; consequently, they cancelled. |
Purpose Connectors
Purpose connectors show intention. They are followed by the infinitive when the subject is the same.
| Connector | Register | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| para | Neutral | Estudio para aprobar. | I study in order to pass. |
| a fin de | Formal | Trabajo a fin de ganar más. | I work in order to earn more. |
| con el fin de | Formal | Vino con el fin de ayudarnos. | He came in order to help us. |
Reformulation Connectors
Reformulation connectors restate an idea in different words.
| Connector | Register | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| es decir | Neutral | Es caro; es decir, no puedo comprarlo. | It’s expensive; that is, I can’t buy it. |
| o sea | Conversational | No vino, o sea, no le importó. | He didn’t come, I mean, he didn’t care. |
| en otras palabras | Neutral | No estudió; en otras palabras, suspendió. | He didn’t study; in other words, he failed. |
Conclusion Connectors
Conclusion connectors summarize or close an argument.
| Connector | Register | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| en resumen | Neutral | En resumen, no fue un buen día. | In short, it wasn’t a good day. |
| en conclusión | Formal | En conclusión, debemos actuar. | In conclusion, we must act. |
| en definitiva | Neutral | En definitiva, no hay solución fácil. | In short, there’s no easy solution. |
Fixed Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Por lo tanto | Therefore | Most common consequence connector |
| Sin embargo | However | Most common contrast connector |
| Es decir | That is | Most common reformulation connector |
| En resumen | In short | Most common conclusion connector |
| Es más | Moreover | Adds a stronger point |
Common Mistakes
Using sin embargo for consequence.
Incorrect: Estudié; sin embargo, aprobé.
Correct: Estudié; por lo tanto, aprobé.
Sin embargo expresses contrast, not consequence.
Using por lo tanto for contrast.
Incorrect: Quería venir; por lo tanto, no pudo.
Correct: Quería venir; sin embargo, no pudo.
Por lo tanto expresses consequence, not contrast.
Confusing porque and por qué.
Incorrect: No fui por qué estaba enfermo.
Correct: No fui porque estaba enfermo.
Porque is the conjunction. Por qué is the question word.
Using para with a conjugated verb.
Incorrect: Estudio para apruebo.
Correct: Estudio para aprobar.
Para is followed by the infinitive when the subject is the same.
Quick Decision Chart
| Ask yourself | Answer | Connector |
|---|---|---|
| Am I adding information? | Yes | además, asimismo, es más |
| Am I opposing two ideas? | Yes | sin embargo, no obstante, en cambio |
| Am I explaining why? | Yes | porque, ya que, debido a que |
| Am I showing a result? | Yes | por lo tanto, por consiguiente, así que |
| Am I showing intention? | Yes | para, a fin de, con el fin de |
| Am I restating an idea? | Yes | es decir, o sea, en otras palabras |
| Am I summarizing? | Yes | en resumen, en conclusión, en definitiva |
Two Sentences That Show the Difference
Estudié mucho; por lo tanto, aprobé.
I studied a lot; therefore, I passed.
Consequence: studying led to passing.
Estudié mucho; sin embargo, no aprobé.
I studied a lot; however, I didn’t pass.
Contrast: studying did not lead to passing.
No vino porque estaba enfermo.
He didn’t come because he was sick.
Cause: the sickness explains the absence.
No vino, así que no le importó.
He didn’t come, so he didn’t care.
Consequence: the absence led to the indifference.
