Understanding Signal Words (1)

作者写文章时按一定的思路或顺序展开，领悟作者的思路有助于我们理解作者的文章。英语中有一类词叫作signal words(信号词)，这些词能帮助我们理解文章思路的发展，了解句子与句子、段落与段落之间的关系。

表示“递进”关系的signal words有and, also, first, second, next, besides, furthermore, moreover, in addition (to), again, likewise(同样地，也)和what is more等。

比如: 

I’ll always remember you were there when you were needed.

…

I also remember that even after I grew bigger than you, you weren't afraid to remind me who was in charge.

前一句表示作者记得某桩事，后一句用also表示还记得另一桩事。

有些signal words表示的是“转折”关系，这些词语有：but, however, although, nevertheless, otherwise, yet, 等等。

请看下面的句子：

Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose.

“赢固然很棒”与“学会如何输”两个ideas用but连接，表示一种转折。

在阅读时，利用这些signal words，可以帮助我们提高阅读速度，加深对文章的理解。