A connector shows how two ideas relate. Decide the relationship first, then pick the word that expresses it.
This lesson is part of the SPM Arabic subject guide. You can apply it later when you connect paragraphs into an original response.
Which connector fits which relationship?
| Relationship | Connector | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | و | and |
| Contrast | لكنّ, لكن | but |
| Reason | لأنّ | because |
| Result | لذلك | therefore |
| Sequence | ثمّ | then |
| Choice | أو | or |
Decide the relationship first, for example “this is the reason”, then pick the word.
Worked example: one pair of facts, three relationships
Start with two facts: أحبُّ الرياضةَ (I like sport) and لا ألعبُ كثيرًا (I do not play much).
- Contrast: أحبُّ الرياضةَ لكنّني لا ألعبُ كثيرًا. “I like sport, but I do not play much.”
- Reason: لا ألعبُ كثيرًا لأنّني مشغولٌ. “I do not play much because I am busy.”
- Result: أنا مشغولٌ، لذلك لا ألعبُ كثيرًا. “I am busy, therefore I do not play much.”
The facts are the same, but the connector changes the meaning of the whole sentence.
A common mistake: reversing reason and result
The pair لأنّ and لذلك look similar, so learners swap them.
| Sentence | Status |
|---|---|
| أنا مريضٌ لذلك بقيتُ في البيتِ | Correct: sick is the cause, staying home is the result |
| بقيتُ في البيتِ لأنّني مريضٌ | Correct: same meaning, reason at the end |
| أنا مريضٌ لأنّني بقيتُ في البيتِ | Wrong: this says you are sick because you stayed home |
To test yourself, ask which event came first. That event is the cause.
Two quick rules for the grammar
- لأنّ needs a noun or an attached pronoun after it: لأنّني, لأنّه, لأنّ الطقسَ حارٌّ.
- لذلك starts a new clause. Put a comma or a full stop before it.
Check yourself
Join each pair of sentences using the relationship in brackets.
- (a) أنا جائعٌ + أشتري طعامًا (result)
- (b) الامتحانُ صعبٌ + أدرسُ كثيرًا (contrast, use لكن)
Answer
(a) أنا جائعٌ، لذلك أشتري طعامًا.
“I am hungry, therefore I buy food.” Hunger is the cause, buying is the result.
(b) الامتحانُ صعبٌ لكنّني أدرسُ كثيرًا.
“The exam is hard, but I study a lot.” The second part goes against what the first might lead you to expect.
If you used لأنّ in (a), you reversed the cause and the result.
What to study next
Move on to distinguishing literal translation from natural expression, and record any swaps in your mistake log.
If you want a teacher to read your paragraphs and mark where connectors are missing, see online one-to-one Arabic tuition.