Welcome to the "Glue" of English: Reference and Cohesion

Have you ever read a paragraph and felt like the sentences were just a list of random facts? Or maybe you read the word "it" and had to look back three lines to figure out what "it" was? That is exactly what we are studying today! Cohesion is like the glue that sticks sentences together to make a smooth story, and Reference is the map that tells us who or what we are talking about.

By the end of these notes, you will be able to track ideas through a text like a pro, which is a vital skill for your Reading Skills section!

1. Reference: Tracking the "Who" and "What"

In English, we don't like to repeat the same name or noun over and over again. It sounds repetitive. Instead, we use Reference Words. These words point back to something already mentioned (Anaphora) or forward to something coming up (Cataphora).

A. Personal and Indefinite Pronouns

These are the most common reference words you will see in your exams. The syllabus highlights these specific types:

  • Indefinite Pronouns: some, any, someone, anyone, everyone, one, ones.
  • Example: "There are many books on the shelf. You can choose one." (Here, one refers to a book).
  • Example: "The old computers were slow, so the school bought new ones." (Here, ones refers to computers).

B. The "Other" Family

The syllabus specifically requires you to know the difference between other, others, another, and the other(s). These are very common in reading passages to compare different ideas.

  • Another: One more of the same kind (singular). "I don't like this pen. Give me another."
  • Others: Several more (plural/general). "Some students like sports; others prefer music."
  • The other: The last one of a specific set. "I have two brothers. One is a doctor; the other is a pilot."

Quick Review: When you see these words, ask yourself: "What is the noun this word is replacing?" If you can't find it, look at the sentence immediately before!

2. Cohesion: Connecting Ideas

Cohesion uses Connectives (linking words) to show the relationship between two sentences or paragraphs. Think of them as traffic signs telling you which way the information is going.

A. Adding Information

When the writer wants to give you more of the same type of info.

  • Basic: and, as well as
  • Advanced: not only... but also, both... and
  • Example: "She is not only smart but also very kind."

B. Showing Contrast (The "U-Turn")

These tell you that a different or opposite idea is coming. They are huge "clues" in reading exams!

  • Words: but, however, although, in spite of, on the other hand.
  • Example: "The weather was terrible. However, the match continued."

C. Reason and Result (Cause and Effect)

These show why something happened or what happened because of it.

  • Reason: because, because of, due to, owing to, caused by.
  • Result: so, so... that, such... that, followed by.
  • Example: "It was such a hot day that we decided to go swimming."

D. Sequencing (The Timeline)

Essential for manuals, instructions, or news reports. They show the order of events.

  • Words: First, Second, Third, Next, Then, Finally, after.
  • Example: "First, open the box. Next, check the battery."

Key Takeaway: Connectives help you predict what the next sentence will say. If you see "However," you know a "but" is coming!

3. Step-by-Step: How to Solve Reference Questions

In your school exams, you will often see questions like: "What does the word 'this' in line 5 refer to?" Don't panic! Follow these steps:

  1. Read the sentence containing the word.
  2. Look at the sentence immediately before it. 90% of the time, the answer is there.
  3. Replace the reference word with your chosen noun. Read the sentence again. Does it make sense?
  4. Check for Singular/Plural agreement. If the word is "they," the answer must be a plural noun (like "students"), not a singular one (like "teacher").

Note: For more on how to understand the "big picture" of a text, see the chapter on Main Idea and Gist.

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Confusing "Another" and "Other": Remember that Another = An + Other (used for 1 thing). Other is for plural or uncountable things.
  • Misidentifying "It": Sometimes "It" refers to a whole idea or a whole sentence, not just one word. "He lied to me. It made me sad." (It = the fact that he lied).
  • Ignoring Connectors: Many students skip over words like "although" or "despite." These words change the entire meaning of the sentence!
Did you know?

In Thai, we often drop the subject of a sentence if we already know who we are talking about. But in English, we almost ALWAYS need a subject. This is why English uses so many reference words like he, she, it, and they. Understanding these "pointers" is the secret to reading English quickly!

Summary Checklist

• Reference words point to nouns to avoid repetition (one, ones, another, the other).
• Conjunctions show how ideas relate (but, so, because, however).
• Sequencing words keep events in order (First, Next, Finally).
• Logical connectives show cause and effect (due to, caused by, so...that).

Don't worry if tracking these feels slow at first. The more you practice "connecting the dots" between sentences, the faster your reading speed will become!