ABSTRACT

Writers use cohesive devices that act as threads, binding words, phrases, clauses, sentences and paragraphs to make a text coherent. These devices operate as signposts for the reader, signalling how different parts of a text relate to each other. Typical cohesive devices include the following: conjunctions, conjunctive adverbials, pronouns, ellipsis, determiners, repetition and synonyms, and tense consistency. One aspect of cohesion that does merit explicit teaching relates to pronouns. Pronouns typically refer back to a noun or noun phrase, but they can also refer forwards. Cohesion is more important in non-fiction writing such as argument, persuasion, information and explanation, where there may not be a narrative thread or an obvious chronological sequence to follow. This chapter looks at the way verbs and verb forms can be used to indicate the time frame of an event or action: this is what we mean when we talk about tense.