Transition words for narratives

• transitions are phrases or words used to connect one idea to the next
• transitions are used by the author to help the reader progress from one significant idea to the next
• transitions also show the relationship within a paragraph (or even within a sentence) between the main idea and the support the author gives for those ideas

There are many types of transition words. The most common in narratives are:

Time Relation or Sequence: Establish an order for ideas; show how one idea follows from another.

meanwhile, during, while

first, firstly, in the first place

second, secondly, in the second place

…

then, next, later

last, lastly, finally

before, previously

after (that), afterwards, subsequently