Connectors for Organizing Arguments by Importance

In French, organizing arguments is all about sequencing. Most of the time, you are moving from the beginning of your thought to the end. But sometimes, you want to jump out of the line to emphasize something. The most basic structure follows a 1-2-3 pattern. You start with a word like d'abord (first). Then you move to the middle with ensuite (then) or puis (next). Finally, you wrap it up with enfin (finally). It is a simple flow that makes you sound incredibly organized. If you want to show that one argument is stronger than the others, you use words like surtout (especially). This tells your listener to pay extra attention. It’s like highlighting a sentence in a book. These words usually sit right at the start of your sentence. They act as a transition from the last thing you said. In French conversation, these are much more common than in English. French speakers love structure. Even in a casual chat at a cafe, you will hear people using these words to keep their stories on track. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they are excited, but usually, they are very precise. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. D'abord is green (go!), ensuite is yellow (keep going), and enfin is red (stop, we’re finished).

1. 1Using these connectors is actually very easy. You don't have to conjugate anything! Here is the basic recipe for using them in your speech or writing:
2. 2Pick your connector based on where you are in your argument. If you are starting, use d'abord.
3. 3Place the connector at the very beginning of your sentence.
4. 4Follow the connector with a comma (in writing) or a short pause (in speaking). This gives your listener a second to process the transition.
5. 5State your fact or argument using a simple subject-verb-object structure.
6. 6If you are adding a second or third point, use ensuite or puis for the next sentences.
7. 7For your final and most important point, you can use enfin or add surtout if you want to emphasize it.
8. 8Example: D'abord, j'aime le café. Ensuite, j'aime le thé. Enfin, j'aime le chocolat.

Use these connectors whenever you have more than one thing to say. They are perfect for real-world scenarios. Imagine you are at a job interview. You want to list your skills. Instead of saying "I speak French. I am organized," you say, "D'abord, I speak French. Ensuite, I am organized." It sounds much more professional! You also use them when giving directions. "D'abord, go straight. Puis, turn left." They are also great for daily life. When you are ordering food, you might say, "D'abord, I want the salad. Ensuite, the steak. Enfin, a coffee." It helps the waiter keep track of your order. You should also use them when you want to persuade someone. If you want your friend to go to the cinema with you, give them three reasons using these connectors. It makes your argument feel more solid and harder to say no to. Think of it as a way to hold the floor. When you use a connector like d'abord, people know you have more to say, so they are less likely to interrupt you until you hit enfin.

Don't use these connectors if you are only saying one thing. If you only want a croissant, don't say "D'abord, I want a croissant." It sounds like you are preparing for a twenty-minute speech about pastries. Also, avoid using them for a simple list of objects. If you are buying groceries, just use commas. "I bought bread, milk, and eggs." You don't need to say "D'abord bread, ensuite milk." That’s just being dramatic! Another time to be careful is in very, very formal writing. For a university thesis, you might use more complex words like premièrement or en premier lieu. Our connectors here are perfect for 95% of life, but there is always that 5% of "fancy French" that wants something different. Finally, don't use puis at the very beginning of a conversation. Puis means "then," so if you haven't said anything yet, there is no "then" to refer back to! Always start with a "first" word.

The biggest mistake is mixing up the order. Never start with enfin. It confuses people. They will wonder what they missed! It’s like starting a movie at the end credits. Another common slip is forgetting the comma. In French, that little pause after the connector is vital. Without it, the sentence feels rushed and "squashed." Many learners also use et (and) too much. Et is fine, but if you use it five times in a row, you sound like a toddler. "I went to the park and I saw a bird and I ate an ice cream and..." Switch to ensuite or puis to sound more like a grown-up. Another classic error is using finalement when you mean enfin. Finalement often implies that something changed or there was a delay (like "Eventually"). If you are just finishing a list, enfin is usually your best friend. Finally, don't over-stack them. You don't need d'abord, puis, ensuite, et puis, après, en plus all in the same short paragraph. Keep it clean. Two or three connectors are plenty for a normal conversation.

How do these stack up against other ways of listing? Well, you might know premièrement (firstly). This is the "suit and tie" version of d'abord. You use it in formal presentations or serious letters. For your everyday life, d'abord is much more natural. Then there is après (after). Après is specifically about time. Use it when one action follows another. Our connectors like ensuite are better for "arguments" or logical points. What about mais (but)? Mais is for a different job. It’s for when you want to disagree with yourself or show a problem. Our connectors are for when you are building a pile of ideas that all go in the same direction. Lastly, compare enfin with en bref (in short). Enfin is for the last item in a list. En bref is for when you want to summarize everything you just said in one sentence. It’s the difference between the last piece of a puzzle and the picture on the box.