Question

Identify the transitional word/s or phrase/s in the following sentence/s. Identify the type of transition. She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength. But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought.

Answer 1

The transition words are used to link words, phrases or sentences in order to help the reader to progress from one idea to the next idea. They also help to build up coherent relationships within the text. Transition words have been assigned to artificial categories such as: agreement, opposition, causes, examples, effect, conclusion etc.

In the first sentence transition word is “and” (“…bespoke repression and even a certain strength”) which belongs to the category of agreement transition words (alongside again, then, also…)

In the second sentence transition word is “but” (“But now there was a dull stare in her eyes…”) which belongs to the category of opposition (alongside still, unlike, yet, while…), whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky.

In the third sentence is the transition phrase “but rather” (“…but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought”), in category of opposition.