Which linking words should I use in TCF Canada speaking?
Checked November 3, 2026
In speaking, linking phrases show the examiner how your ideas fit together, and FEI’s criteria include structure and coherence. Spoken French links ideas with lighter phrases than writing (« en plus » rather than « en outre »). Each task needs different ones, adding a detail in task 1, chaining questions in task 2, announcing your plan aloud in task 3. Repeating one filler everywhere works against you.
FEI’s speaking criteria include a pragmatic family (interaction, structure, coherence, development of the topic) and range of vocabulary. Linking phrases sit right on that line. The lists below are our selection, not FEI’s. For written connectors, see linking words for writing. For phrases that buy time or ask the examiner to repeat, see vocabulary.
Spoken or written
Written connectors are not wrong out loud, but a string of them can sound recited. These spoken versions do the same job.
| In writing | Out loud |
|---|---|
| en outre, de plus | en plus, et puis (familiar, use sparingly) |
| néanmoins, toutefois | cela dit, mais bon (familiar, use sparingly) |
| par conséquent | donc, c’est pour ça que |
| en effet | c’est que, parce que |
| il convient de souligner que | ce qui compte, c’est que |
| en définitive | bref, au fond |
The written ones still work in task 3, where the register is more careful. Mix the two rather than switching to one style for the whole test.
Task 1, the interview
The aim is to turn a one-line fact into two or three sentences. You need phrases that add a detail, a reason or a time.
| To | Say |
|---|---|
| add a detail | d’ailleurs, et en plus |
| explain a choice | comme…, c’est pour ça que |
| place it in time | Avant, je… Depuis un an, je… |
| talk about plans | D’ici deux ans, j’aimerais bien… |
Examinateur. Pourquoi apprenez-vous le français ?
Candidate. Comme on veut s’installer au Canada avec mon mari, c’est devenu une priorité. D’ailleurs, je l’utilise déjà au travail, j’ai des clients à Montréal. Avant, je comprenais bien, mais je n’osais pas parler. Depuis un an, je prends des cours le soir.
(Why learn French? Because of the move to Canada, she already uses it at work, and she has been taking evening classes for a year.)
Task 2, the role-play
You lead this conversation, so you need phrases to open, to go from one question to the next, to react and to close.
| To | Say |
|---|---|
| open | Bonjour, je vous appelle au sujet de… |
| move on | Et justement, à propos de… |
| move on | D’accord. Autre chose, … |
| react | Ah, c’est bon à savoir. |
| check a case | Et si jamais…, comment ça se passe ? |
| close | Bon, je crois que j’ai tout ce qu’il me faut. |
« Ça m’amène à une autre question » (that brings me to another question) is useful when the next question follows from the answer you just got. It shows you listened, which is the point of the interaction criterion.
Task 3, the opinion
With no paper in front of the examiner, your plan only exists if you say it. Signpost each step.
| To | Say |
|---|---|
| announce the plan | Je vois deux raisons à ça. |
| give the first point | Le premier argument, c’est que… |
| add a stronger point | Et puis, surtout, … |
| bring in an example | Prenez le cas de… |
| concede | Je vous l’accorde, mais… |
| get back on track | Pour revenir à ce que je disais, … |
| conclude | Bref, pour moi, … |
« Pour revenir à ce que je disais » is the one to keep ready for when the examiner interrupts. The handbook allows the examiner to ask for detail on your arguments, and coming back to your plan afterwards shows structure.
Use sparingly
These are normal in spoken French. The problem is repeating one of them in every sentence, which makes your range look narrow.
- « du coup » for every consequence. Alternate with donc and c’est pour ça que.
- « en fait » at the start of every sentence.
- « voilà » to end each idea.
- « premièrement, deuxièmement, troisièmement », which sounds like a text read out.
- A long opening learned by heart, such as « c’est un sujet très intéressant et d’actualité ». Reciting a text learned by heart could get the test marked “A1 non atteint” (memorised templates).
How to practise them
Pick three phrases from one table, record yourself on a task, then play it back and count how often each filler comes up. A full answer using these signposts is in the task 3 sample answer, and a higher-level one in a C1 answer in speaking.
Writing task 3 follows the same plan with written connectors. Write one here and get an estimated mark out of 20.