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Interactive Grammar: Sophisticated Cohesion Devices

Apply the full system of cohesion — anaphora, cataphora, lexical chains, ellipsis — at mastery level.

Grammar Explanation · Authentic Examples · Practice Exercises

Lesson progressNot started
Duration
~57 min
Exercises
38
Level
Mastery

Overview

Apply the full system of cohesion — anaphora, cataphora, lexical chains, ellipsis — at mastery level.

Cohesion System

  • ReferenceAnaphoric: The committee… it… / Cataphoric: The following applies:
  • SubstitutionWill you attend? I might do so. (do so = attend)
  • EllipsisShe applied and so did he. (applied omitted)
  • Lexical chainSynonyms/hyponyms linking paragraphs: policy → measure → regulation

C2 Advanced Patterns

  • Cataphoric reference: This is the key insight: X causes Y.
  • Lexical chains: sustaining a topic through vocabulary — not just pronouns
  • Collocation chains: risk → exposure → vulnerability → threat
  • Discourse reference: The above / The former / The latter for precision

Common C2 Mistakes

  • ❌ Ambiguous pronoun: The CEO met the board. He was concerned. (who?) → ✅ Specify or restructure
  • ❌ Do so with stative verbs: She knows it. *He does so too. → ✅ He knows it too.
  • ❌ Overusing 'this' without clear antecedent → ✅ this issue / this finding / this decision
  • ❌ Lexical repetition where a chain or pronoun would improve flow

When to use

Academic prose

The former approach prioritises speed; the latter, accuracy.

Formal reports

Several options were proposed. The following analysis evaluates each.

Quality journalism

The scandal, which had been building for months, finally broke last week.

Policy documents

The regulation applies to all entities. Those in breach face penalties.

Sophisticated Cohesion Devices Quiz

Choose the cohesion device that best completes each formal sentence

Multiple Choice12 questions
1The committee submitted its final report. was accepted without amendment.
2Will the board approve the proposal? I believe .
3Two models were evaluated. prioritises efficiency; the latter, equity.
4The following is of particular significance: .
5Several amendments were proposed. of these were adopted in full.
6She resigned last month, and three senior colleagues shortly afterwards.
7The policy → measure → regulation → framework: this sequence illustrates .
8'This' in 'This is significant: the data contradicts the model' is .
9The board was briefed on two options. The was unanimously rejected.
10Would you prefer the detailed version or the ?
11The problem was structural. financial — became clear over subsequent months.
12Which use of 'this' is most precise in academic writing?

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence with the most appropriate cohesion device

Fill in the Blanks10 questions
1Two approaches were proposed.(The former)emphasises prevention; the latter, remediation.
2Will you attend the debrief session?(I might do so)— it depends on the scheduling.
3The following principle applies:(cataphoric this)disclosure must precede consent.
4The original report and the revised(one)were both submitted before the deadline.
5Three candidates were interviewed;(none of whom)met the minimum qualification threshold.
6She led the inquiry, and her deputy(did so)jointly — an arrangement that proved highly effective.
7The regulation was amended.(This amendment)took effect from the start of the following financial year.
8Both proposals were reviewed.(The former)was supported by the evidence; the latter was not.
9The data reveals a clear trend.(This trend)has been consistent across all three reporting periods.
10Is the hypothesis supported?(The evidence suggests so), though further validation is recommended.

Transform the Sentences

Replace repetition or unclear reference with the correct cohesion device

Transform8 questions

1The board reviewed the proposal. The board rejected the proposal. → → Use pronoun + 'it'

2Model A emphasises speed. Model B emphasises accuracy. → → Use 'The former…the latter'

3She resigned. Several colleagues resigned shortly afterwards. → → Use 'did so'

4The issue is structural. The issue is also financial. → → Use 'Not only…but also'

5The committee issued a warning. The warning was ignored. → → Use relative clause

6Three reports were submitted. All three reports had significant gaps. → → Use 'all of which'

7Would you like the full report? Or would you like the short version? → → Use 'one/ones'

8This is the key finding: accountability was absent at every level. → → Identify cohesion type then rewrite more formally

Fix the Errors

Rewrite each sentence to correct the cohesion error

Error Fix8 questions

1The CEO met the directors. He was very concerned about the results.

2She knows the procedure well. He does so too.

3Two models were proposed. The later was adopted.

4This is very concerning — no accountability at any level — this must change.

5The report was long. It was also the complex.

6She resigned and several colleagues did it shortly afterwards.

7Will they approve the proposal? I believe it.

8The data shows a trend. This is consistent across all reporting periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this lesson on sentence structure cover?

Apply the full system of cohesion — anaphora, cataphora, lexical chains, ellipsis — at mastery level.

Which CEFR level is this lesson designed for?

This lesson is designed for Mastery (C2) learners and forms part of the Sentence Structure section on Grammartier.

What is the best approach for studying this grammar topic?

Start with the definition, then study the examples carefully to understand how the pattern works in context. Practise identifying the structure in authentic sentences before producing your own — this recognition-first approach builds a strong foundation for accurate, confident use.

Your Grammar Learning Path

Follow the CEFR progression for this topic cluster.

  1. C2
    Native-Like Emphasis Structures
  2. C2
    Rhetorical Question Structures
  3. C2
    Sophisticated Cohesion DevicesYou are here

Before You Start

Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first.

Related Concepts

Deepen your grammar knowledge with these related C2 topics.

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