ABSTRACT
Pronouns are one type of cohesive tie that can be used to bind sentences. Another is the connective - words such as before and because that can signal how the meanings of sentences are related, for example in time or the causal relation. This chapter provides an overview of the ties that bind clauses and sentences together: various cohesive ties, such as co-reference and conjunction. It highlights the challenges that syntax and sentence ties pose to the developing reader and to readers with comprehension problems. The chapter suggests ways in which proficiency with such ties may be assessed - and supported by teaching. Successful reading experiences will help children become familiar with the specific and complex syntactical structures of written language. Understanding of sentences that have particular syntactic structures, such as passives and relative clauses, is clearly important for good reading comprehension.
