Ds has just asked me a question I can't answer, please help!

[shandyleer]

I'm sure I should know this, but I can't remember. What kind of words are "because" and "maybe" and others of their ilk? Thank you (and I won't pretend to him that I've suddenly remembered the answer, I'll give you all a mention

Crap, forgot to close my brackets.

Because is a connective.

Conjunctions. (or that is what they were called in my day - I suspect Littlefish is more up to date than me though)

Thank you. Is "perhaps" a conjunction too?

A connective is used to join two pieces of information ie.

I like eating cakes. Cakes are very tasty.

becomes

I like eating cakes because they are very tasty.

Other connectives: and, so, but, because, then, when...

Not sure about perhaps - will have to think about it.

Oh thank you Littlefish. I will go and impart my your knowledge to him .

Both are correct, I work in Adult literacy and our curriculum refers to them as conjunctions but my 8 year old has been taught in school to call them connectives - basically they are joining words.

Thanks everyone. Have enlightened him. He is very grateful - in the manner of a 16yr old (ie, grunt grunt mumble mutter).