用 TED-Ed 動畫教英文連接詞與轉折詞
TED-Ed 的 5 分鐘動畫，藏了英文最好的連接詞範例
如果你沒看過 TED-Ed 的動畫，去 YouTube 搜尋一下。
它們是那種五分鐘左右的教育短片，主題包羅萬象——為什麼章魚有三顆心臟、黑洞裡面到底有什麼、蜜蜂怎麼溝通。動畫精緻，配樂好聽，而且旁白的英文非常、非常乾淨。
我帶學生看 TED-Ed 不是為了科學知識，是為了裡面的英文。
因為那些旁白腳本裡，連接詞用得堪稱教科書等級。每一個轉折、每一個因果、每一個例子，都有明確的標記。你不需要自己猜「這段跟上段什麼關係」——連接詞已經告訴你了。
今天就來拆解這些連接詞，教你怎麼在英文寫作裡用它們。
連接詞到底是什麼？
連接詞（transitions / connectors）就是那些告訴你「下一句跟上一句是什麼關係」的字。
沒有連接詞的英文讀起來像這樣：
"The Earth is warming. Ice caps are melting. Sea levels are rising. Many coastal cities will be underwater by 2100."
文法沒錯，但讀起來像在看報告。每句都獨立，沒有節奏。
加上連接詞：
"The Earth is warming. As a result, ice caps are melting and sea levels are rising. Consequently, many coastal cities will be underwater by 2100."
突然間，因果關係清楚了，段落有了流動感。這就是連接詞的力量。
六大類連接詞
TED-Ed 裡最常出現的連接詞可以分成六大類。每一類都有它的功能。
一、附加（Addition）
用途： 繼續補充同方向的資訊。
| 連接詞 | 語氣 |
|---|---|
| also | 最基本的「也」 |
| moreover | 正式，「而且」（比 also 更有力） |
| furthermore | 正式，「此外」（學術寫作常用） |
| in addition | 「除此之外」 |
| besides | 「再說」（口語也常用） |
TED-Ed 範例：
"Octopuses have three hearts. Moreover, their blood is blue, not red. In addition, each of their eight arms has its own cluster of nerve cells — essentially a mini-brain."
注意 moreover 跟 in addition 交替使用，沒有重複。
寫作示範：
Learning English opens doors to global communication. Moreover, it gives you access to the world's largest library of academic research. Furthermore, studies show that bilingual speakers have better cognitive flexibility. Besides, it's just fun to understand songs and movies without subtitles.
二、對比（Contrast）
用途： 轉折、提出相反或不同的觀點。
| 連接詞 | 語氣 |
|---|---|
| however | 最常用，「然而」 |
| nevertheless | 正式，「儘管如此」 |
| on the other hand | 「另一方面」 |
| although | 「雖然」（引導子句） |
| despite | 「儘管」（後面接名詞或 V-ing） |
| yet | 「但是」（比 but 更文學） |
| while | 「然而」（對比兩件事） |
TED-Ed 範例：
"Honey never spoils. Archaeologists have found 3,000-year-old honey in Egyptian tombs that was still edible. However, honey does crystallize over time. Although this changes its texture, it doesn't mean the honey has gone bad. Despite popular belief, crystallized honey is perfectly safe to eat."
注意 however 用在句首，although 引導子句，despite 後面接名詞片語。三種句型都不一樣。
寫作示範：
Many people believe that money buys happiness. However, research suggests otherwise. Although wealthy people report higher life satisfaction, the effect plateaus after a certain income level. Despite this evidence, many still chase higher salaries at the expense of health and relationships. On the other hand, those who prioritize experiences over possessions tend to report greater long-term happiness.
三、因果（Cause and Effect）
用途： 說明原因或結果。
| 連接詞 | 語氣 |
|---|---|
| therefore | 正式，「因此」 |
| consequently | 正式，「結果」 |
| as a result | 「因此」（比 therefore 口語一點） |
| because | 「因為」（最常用，引導原因子句） |
| since | 「因為」（比 because 輕鬆） |
| thus | 正式，「如此一來」 |
| hence | 正式，「由此可見」 |
TED-Ed 範例：
"Bees are disappearing at an alarming rate. Because they pollinate roughly one-third of the food we eat, their decline could have devastating consequences. As a result, scientists are racing to understand what's causing colony collapse disorder. Therefore, protecting bees isn't just an environmental issue — it's a food security issue."
Because 說原因，as a result 說直接後果，therefore 做結論推導。三層因果關係，清清楚楚。
寫作示範：
Taiwan has one of the best public transportation systems in Asia. Because the government invested heavily in the MRT and high-speed rail, commuting is fast and affordable. As a result, fewer people need to own cars. Consequently, traffic congestion in major cities has decreased significantly. Thus, air quality has also improved.
四、順序（Sequence）
用途： 標示步驟、時間順序。
| 連接詞 | 語氣 |
|---|---|
| first | 「首先」 |
| then | 「然後」 |
| next | 「接下來」 |
| finally | 「最後」 |
| meanwhile | 「與此同時」 |
| subsequently | 正式，「隨後」 |
| at the same time | 「同時」 |
TED-Ed 範例：
"First, the caterpillar eats constantly for two weeks. Then, it forms a chrysalis around itself. Meanwhile, inside the chrysalis, its body is completely breaking down. Next, the cells reorganize into entirely new structures — wings, antennae, compound eyes. Finally, the butterfly emerges, wet and crumpled, and waits for its wings to dry."
五個步驟，每個都有明確的標記。你讀的時候完全不會迷路。
寫作示範：
First, gather all your ingredients. Then, preheat the oven to 180°C. Meanwhile, mix the flour and sugar in a large bowl. Next, add the eggs and butter. Finally, pour the batter into a pan and bake for 25 minutes.
五、舉例（Example）
用途： 給出具體的例子來支撐論點。
| 連接詞 | 語氣 |
|---|---|
| for example | 最常用，「例如」 |
| for instance | 「舉例來說」（跟 for example 幾乎一樣） |
| such as | 「像是」（後面接名詞） |
| specifically | 「具體來說」 |
| in particular | 「特別是」 |
| to illustrate | 「為了說明」 |
TED-Ed 範例：
"Many animals use camouflage to hide from predators. For example, the chameleon can change its skin color to match its surroundings. Similarly, the Arctic fox turns white in winter. Specifically, its fur changes from brown to white as daylight hours decrease. In particular, species that live in seasonal environments have evolved these remarkable adaptations."
For example 舉第一個例子，specifically 縮小範圍到一個細節，in particular 聚焦到最特別的點。
寫作示範：
Taiwan's night market culture is world-famous. For example, the Shilin Night Market in Taipei attracts millions of visitors every year. Such as stinky tofu, bubble tea, and oyster omelets have become iconic street foods. In particular, bubble tea has gone global — you can now find it in virtually every major city in the world. To illustrate its popularity, the global bubble tea market is expected to reach $4.3 billion by 2027.
注意：such as 後面接名詞，不要接子句。寫 "such as stinky tofu" 不是 "such as stinky tofu is popular"。
六、結論（Conclusion）
用途： 收尾、總結。
| 連接詞 | 語氣 |
|---|---|
| in conclusion | 正式，「總之」 |
| to sum up | 「總結來說」 |
| ultimately | 「最終」 |
| in short | 「簡而言之」 |
| all in all | 「整體來說」（口語） |
| to wrap up | 「做個總結」（口語） |
| in summary | 「概括地說」 |
TED-Ed 範例：
"In conclusion, octopuses are among the most remarkable creatures on Earth. All in all, their combination of intelligence, flexibility, and camouflage abilities makes them true masters of adaptation. Ultimately, studying them could help us develop everything from better robotics to new medical treatments."
寫作示範：
In short, learning English isn't about memorizing grammar rules. Ultimately, it's about communication — understanding others and being understood. All in all, the best way to improve is to use the language every day, whether through reading, speaking, or watching videos. So go ahead. Start now.
實戰分析：TED-Ed 腳本拆解
讓我們看一段真實的 TED-Ed 風格腳本，標出所有連接詞。
主題：為什麼我們會做夢？
Everyone dreams. In fact, the average person spends about six years of their life dreaming. But why do we dream? First, let's look at what happens when we sleep.
When you fall asleep, your brain cycles through several stages. Initially, you enter light sleep. Then, you gradually move into deeper stages. Eventually, you reach REM sleep — the stage where most vivid dreaming occurs.
So, what's the purpose of all this? One theory is that dreams help us process emotions. For example, if you had a stressful day, you might dream about it that night. In this way, your brain is essentially filing away emotional experiences.
Another theory suggests that dreams help with memory consolidation. Specifically, during REM sleep, the brain replays and organizes information from the day. As a result, you wake up with a clearer understanding of what you learned.
However, not all scientists agree. Some believe dreams have no purpose at all — they're simply random neural activity. Despite decades of research, the question remains open.
In conclusion, we dream every night, yet we still don't fully understand why. Nevertheless, the study of dreams continues to reveal fascinating insights about how our brains work. Ultimately, whether dreams serve a function or not, they remain one of the most mysterious aspects of human consciousness.
連接詞標記
| 類型 | 出現的連接詞 |
|---|---|
| 附加 | In fact, Another theory |
| 對比 | But, However, despite, yet, nevertheless |
| 因果 | As a result |
| 順序 | First, Initially, Then, Eventually |
| 舉例 | For example, Specifically |
| 結論 | In conclusion, Ultimately |
| 其他 | So, One theory, Some, In this way |
短短幾段裡，連接詞出現了將近二十次。這就是為什麼 TED-Ed 聽起來那麼順——因為每一步都有路標。
連接詞在寫作中的實際應用
段落結構公式
一個好的英文段落長這樣：
主題句（Topic Sentence）
↓
連接詞 + 支撐細節 1
↓
連接詞 + 支撐細節 2
↓
連接詞 + 舉例
↓
結論句（Closing Sentence）
實際範例
主題：為什麼學英文很重要
English is one of the most important languages in the world. First, it is the most widely spoken second language, with over 1.5 billion speakers globally. Moreover, it is the dominant language of science, technology, and international business. For example, more than 80% of academic journals are published in English. In addition, learning English gives you access to a vast library of online content — from news to entertainment to education. However, learning any language requires time and dedication. Despite the challenges, the benefits are undeniable. In conclusion, investing in English is one of the smartest decisions a student can make.
你看，每句之間的關係都由連接詞標示。讀者不需要猜。
課後練習
練習一：選填連接詞
從以下詞庫中選出最適合的連接詞填入空格：
詞庫： however, moreover, for example, as a result, in conclusion, meanwhile, although, specifically, therefore, first
- ______, let's review what we learned last week.
- She studied hard. ______, she passed the exam with flying colors.
- Taiwan has a rich food culture. ______, night markets offer hundreds of unique dishes.
- He wanted to go hiking. ______, it was raining heavily, so he stayed home.
- ______ the movie was long, it kept the audience engaged throughout.
- Many countries are investing in renewable energy. ______, solar power has become much cheaper in recent years.
- ______, we should all do our part to protect the environment.
- The team worked on the project all night. ______, the other team was celebrating their early finish.
- The traffic was terrible. ______, everyone arrived late to the meeting.
- ______, I think this is the best solution we've found so far.
練習二：用五個不同的連接詞寫一段話
題目：寫一段關於你最喜歡的季節（至少 80 字，使用 5 個不同類型的連接詞）
要求：你的段落裡必須包含——
- 一個附加連接詞（moreover, furthermore, in addition...）
- 一個對比連接詞（however, although, despite...）
- 一個因果連接詞（therefore, as a result, because...）
- 一個舉例連接詞（for example, such as, specifically...）
- 一個結論連接詞（in conclusion, to sum up, ultimately...）
參考答案：
練習一：
- First 2. As a result 3. For example 4. However 5. Although 6. Specifically 7. In conclusion 8. Meanwhile 9. Therefore 10. In short
練習二：（參考範例）
My favorite season is autumn. First, the weather is perfectly mild — not too hot, not too cold. Moreover, the changing leaves create stunning scenery, especially in the mountains. For example, every October, thousands of people visit places like Alishan to see the red and golden foliage. However, autumn in Taiwan is often too short. Despite its beauty, it barely lasts a month before winter arrives. Because the temperature drops gradually, it's the best season for outdoor activities like hiking and cycling. In conclusion, autumn offers the perfect combination of comfortable weather and natural beauty, making it the ideal time to explore Taiwan's outdoors.
連接詞使用心法
1. 不要堆疊
❌ "However, nevertheless, but..." ✅ 選一個就好。
2. 交替使用
一段話裡不要出現三次 "moreover"。第一次用 moreover，第二次換 furthermore，第三次換 in addition。讓文章有變化。
3. 注意標點
- 句首連接詞：後面加逗號。→ However, I disagree.
- 子句連接詞（although, because, since）：不加逗號在前。→ Although I disagree, I understand your point.
- 連接兩個獨立子句的連接詞（however, therefore）：前面加分號或句號。→ I studied hard**;** however, I still failed.
4. 口語 vs. 正式
| 口語 | 正式 |
|---|---|
| but | however, nevertheless |
| so | therefore, consequently |
| also | moreover, furthermore |
| like | for example, such as |
| basically | essentially, fundamentally |
寫作用右邊的，講話用左邊的。但兩邊都要認識。
最後的話
TED-Ed 能用五分鐘把一個複雜的科學概念解釋清楚，不是因為它用了多難的字，而是因為它的結構清楚。
連接詞就是結構的骨架。
你不需要每句都加連接詞——那就太刻意了。但在關鍵的地方放一個 however、一個 as a result、一個 for example，你的英文就會從「句子的堆砌」變成「有邏輯的文章」。
去找一部 TED-Ed 動畫，今天就看。看的時候拿筆記本，把每一個連接詞都標出來。你會發現，五分鐘的影片裡，連接詞可能出現了二十次以上。
那就是好英文的樣子。
