Paragraphs
አንቀጾች (paragraphs)
A paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea: a topic sentence, supporting sentences, linking words, and a concluding sentence. Used in emails, school writing, job applications and reports.
The parts of a paragraph
An English paragraph usually starts with its main point, the topic sentence, and then supports it. Amharic writing often builds up to the point at the end; English readers expect it first. A paragraph has one main idea; when the idea changes, start a new paragraph. In emails, leave a blank line between paragraphs.
In Amharic
የእንግሊዝኛ አንቀጽ ብዙ ጊዜ በዋናው ነጥቡ፣ በርዕሰ ዓረፍተ ነገሩ ይጀምራል፤ ከዚያም ይደግፈዋል። የአማርኛ ጽሑፍ ብዙ ጊዜ ወደ ዋናው ነጥብ እያደገ በመጨረሻ ይደርሳል፤ የእንግሊዝኛ አንባቢዎች ግን መጀመሪያ ይጠብቁታል። አንድ አንቀጽ አንድ ዋና ሐሳብ አለው፤ ሐሳቡ ሲለወጥ አዲስ አንቀጽ ይጀምሩ። በኢሜይል በአንቀጾች መካከል ባዶ መስመር ይተዉ።
| Part | Job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| topic sentence | states the main idea | Las Vegas is a good city for new immigrants. |
| supporting sentences (2–5) | reasons, facts, examples | There are many jobs in hotels and restaurants. |
| linking words | connect the sentences | First, … Also, … For example, … However, … |
| concluding sentence | repeats or closes the idea | For these reasons, many families choose to settle here. |
- One paragraph, one main idea.
- Every supporting sentence must be about the topic sentence. If it is not, move it or delete it.
- A typical paragraph is 4–7 sentences. An email paragraph can be 2–3.
- Topic: My first job in the US taught me a lot.
- Support: I learned to talk to customers in English.
- Support: I also learned how American workplaces work, from breaks to schedules.
- Conclusion: Although it was hard, that job prepared me for my career.
Linking words
Linking words show how one sentence connects to the next: adding, giving an example, contrasting, showing a result, or ordering. They usually come at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma.
In Amharic
ማያያዣ ቃላት አንዱ ዓረፍተ ነገር ከሚቀጥለው ጋር እንዴት እንደሚገናኝ ያሳያሉ፦ መጨመር፣ ምሳሌ መስጠት፣ ማነጻጸር፣ ውጤት ማሳየት ወይም ቅደም ተከተል። ብዙ ጊዜ በዓረፍተ ነገር መጀመሪያ ይመጣሉ፤ ከኋላቸውም ኮማ ይከተላል።
| Job | Linking words |
|---|---|
| order | First, Second, Next, Then, Finally, |
| adding | Also, In addition, Moreover, |
| example | For example, For instance, |
| contrast | However, On the other hand, Although |
| result | As a result, Therefore, So |
| conclusion | In conclusion, Overall, For these reasons, |
- Put a comma after a linking word at the start of a sentence: However, the rent is high.
- Do not use a linker in every sentence; two or three in a paragraph is enough.
- Pronouns (this, these, it, they) also link sentences: I found a cheaper apartment. It is near my work.
- First, fill in the application. Then, bring it to the front desk.
- The job pays well. In addition, it has health insurance.
- The apartment is beautiful. However, it is far from the bus line.
- The road was closed. As a result, many workers were late.
- For example, my neighbour drives me to church on Sundays.
A model paragraph
Here is a full paragraph with each part in place: (Topic) Learning English has changed my life in Las Vegas. (Support) First, I can now talk to my children's teachers without an interpreter. (Support) I also read my own letters from the bank and the county, so I do not have to wait for help. (Support) In addition, my English helped me get a better job at the front desk of a hotel. (Support) For example, last month I helped a guest from Texas find a lost suitcase, and my manager thanked me. (Conclusion) For these reasons, I am glad I kept studying, even when I was tired after work.
In Amharic
እያንዳንዱ ክፍል በቦታው ያለበት ሙሉ አንቀጽ በእንግሊዝኛው ክፍል ይገኛል። ርዕሰ ዓረፍተ ነገሩ ዋናውን ሐሳብ ይናገራል (እንግሊዝኛ መማር ሕይወቴን ለውጦታል)፤ አራት ደጋፊ ዓረፍተ ነገሮች ምክንያቶችንና ምሳሌ ይሰጣሉ (ከመምህራን ጋር ያለ አስተርጓሚ መነጋገር፣ ደብዳቤዎችን ማንበብ፣ የተሻለ ሥራ፣ እንግዳን መርዳት)፤ First, also, In addition, For example የሚሉት ቃላት ያያይዟቸዋል፤ የማጠቃለያው ዓረፍተ ነገር ደግሞ ሐሳቡን በ For these reasons ይዘጋል።
- Write the topic sentence first; check that every other sentence supports it.
- Give at least one concrete example: a name, a place, a number, an event.
- The concluding sentence repeats the main idea in new words; it does not add a new idea.
- Topic sentence: Our neighbourhood needs a safer crosswalk.
- Support: Many children cross Maryland Parkway to get to school.
- Support: Last year, two people were hit by cars at that corner.
- Conclusion: A crosswalk with a light would protect our families.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| (Separate paragraphs: one for your job, one for your family) | One paragraph, one main idea. | |
| (Starting with the main point, then the details) | English readers expect the topic sentence first. | |
| However, the rent is high. | A comma follows a linking word at the start of a sentence. | |
| In conclusion, this job is a good fit for me. | The conclusion closes the idea; it does not add a new one. | |
| First... Also... For example... As a result... | Vary the linking words; do not number every sentence. |
Practice
Each answer is checked as you go, with the reason. Nothing here is saved.
Where does the topic sentence usually go in an English paragraph?
Which is the best topic sentence for a paragraph about why you like your job?
Linking word for an example: “For ___, I help my neighbour with her shopping.” (one word)
Which linking word shows contrast?
Paragraph topic: “Our apartment is great for our family.” Which sentence does NOT belong?
Linking word for a result: “The bus broke down. As a ___, I was late.” (one word)
What does a concluding sentence do?
Which is punctuated correctly?
Linking word to add a point: “The rent is low. ___, the landlord is kind.” (one word)
When should you start a new paragraph?