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Improve Your Writing With
Contrast and Concession |
For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar.
Today we are going to talk about words that connect
opposing ideas.
We call these ideas contrast or concession. Some of
these adverbs are but, although, however and despite.
These words will help you communicate more complex
ideas. They will improve the flow and clarity of your
writing.
Contrast versus concession
Let us begin by understanding the differences between
contrast and concession. Here are two examples:
I used to live in Malaysia, but now I live in Thailand.
Even though I live in Malaysia, I work in Thailand.
The first example shows a simple contrast. The first
sentence, “I used to live in Malaysia” indicates my
previous place of residence. The second part of the
sentence, “but now I live in Thailand”, shows that I now
live in another place. The statement contrasts these two
different places: the one where I used to live and the
one where I live now.
In the second example, “Even though I live in Malaysia”
tells you where I live now. But this sentence contains a
surprise for my readers: “I work in Thailand.” When the
opposing idea is something readers do not expect or that
surprises them, we call it concession.
But
Let us start with but, the most common way to show
contrast. But is a coordinator. We use it to connect
ideas that are more or less of equal value. Here are
some examples:
The students were tired after the test, but were happy with
their results.
Some refugees have found new homes, but others are still
living in camps.
Luca tried to solve the math problem for two hours, but he
could not find the answer.
In the second and third examples, notice that the
conjunction but connects two independent sentences or
clauses. In this case, we use a comma before but.
However, nevertheless,
nonetheless
A more formal way to say but is however. Consider the
examples:
We really wanted to go to that concert; however, we could not
afford the tickets.
Car prices went up fast. However, motorcycle prices are still
the same.
In these examples, you can replace however with
nevertheless or nonetheless. The idea will remain the
same. However and nonetheless can make your sentences
more formal.
You have some options for punctuation. You could write,
“I am tired. [period] However, [comma] I will finish the
job.” Or you could write, “I am tired; [semicolon]
however, [comma] I will finish the job.” The semicolon
is a punctuation option to connect two independent
clauses that are closely related. It is up to the writer
to decide whether to use a period or a semicolon.
Although, even though, and though
Although and even though are two common adverbs to
express unexpected results or surprises. They are
subordinators: adverbs that show that one idea is more
important than the other. Here are some examples:
I managed to fall asleep although we were watching an action
movie.
Although we were watching an action movie, I managed to fall
asleep.
In both sentences, the subordinating conjunction
although is attached to the clause that contains the
less important idea. “Although we were watching an
action movie,” cannot stand alone as a sentence; it is a
subordinate clause. If the subordinate clause comes
first, we must separate the two by using a comma. If the
subordinate clause comes second, there is no comma.
Here are two examples with even though.
These students already know how to read even though they are
still in kindergarten.
Even though these students are still in kindergarten, they
already know how to read.
Though is less formal than although and even though. It
is more common in spoken English. Here are some
examples:
Though Indra waited for almost an hour, his doctor never
showed up.
Indra’s doctor never showed up though he waited for almost an
hour.
To make your sentence even more conversational, you can
move though to the end:
Indra waited for almost an hour. His doctor never showed up,
though.
In spite of, despite
In spite of and despite are also subordinators to show
unexpected results. They also come attached to the
subordinate clause. However, they require a different
sentence structure. Consider the examples:
That man has saved a lot of money in spite of earning a small
salary.
That artist is very creative despite having limited
resources.
In these examples, in spite of and despite are followed
by a gerund. A gerund is the “-ing” form of a verb which
functions like a noun. In the sentences above, “earning
a small salary” and “having limited resources” are
gerund phrases.
Despite and in spite of can also be followed by noun
phrases.
My brother has managed to save a lot of money in spite of his
small salary.
That artist is very creative despite her limited resources.
His small salary and her limited resources are noun
phrases.
In spite of that
In spite of that can also be used to indicate contrast
or concession, but it works as a coordinating
conjunction. Therefore, it is used to connect two
independent clauses. For example:
Most students had understood the explanation; in spite of
that, the teacher wrote a few more examples.
It rained for almost three hours non-stop. In spite of that,
the ground is already dry.
Practice
The best way to master these transition words is to make
up a few sentences of your own. After you start
practicing, you will naturally begin to remember when
and how to use these words more accurately. Try to write
a few sentences using the transition words above and
post them here for comments.
I’m Jill Robbins.
And I’m John Russell.
This article was written by guest writer Fabio de
Oliveira Coelho. Fabio is a linguist and bilingual
educator. He has worked on education and development
projects in Brazil, the United States, Nicaragua,
Indonesia, and Guinea-Bissau. He was born in Brazil and
is a now U.S. citizen. Fabio is an English Language
Fellow with the U.S. Department of State in Semarang,
Indonesia. |
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