Mubarak Abdessalami

In order to express opposing ideas, you need some very specific linking words. They are mostly known as coordinating conjunctions, subordinating connectors or simply connectives. Here are some of them,

Expressing Concession and Contrast Connectives

Examples

but

This mobile phone is good, but it is very expensive

yet

I'm fond of math, yet I can't learn it.

still

I attended the lecture many times, still I cannot assimilate it.

however

He is very rich; however, he drives an old car.

nevertheless

She explained it all, nevertheless, nobody seemed to understand anything.

nonetheless

Someone had to prepare dinner, nonetheless, everyone pretended to be busy.

although

She didn't come to the party although they had invited her.

even though

He insisted to go abroad even though he didn't have a passport.

despite

Despite the bad weather, the kids are still playing football.

in spite of

In spite of sickness, I never stop working.

even if

He went out even if the doctor advised him to stay in bed.

whereas / while

The boys went out whereas / while they have to do their homework.

on the other hand

On the one hand Ben is rich; on the other hand, he never helps the poor.

even though

Hind speaks good English even though she has never been to school before.

otherwise

You must prepare well for the interview, otherwise, they won't recruit you.

regardless of

Every one of us should go to school regardless of age or social scale.

Some of these linking words are inter-replaceable though there is some slight difference in meaning between them. They could all be replaced by "contrary to expectations", for example, 1. 2. 3. 4.

My uncle is rich, but he never helps the poor. My uncle is rich, yet he never helps the poor. My uncle is rich; however, he never helps the poor. On the one hand my uncle is rich; on the other hand, he never helps the poor. 5. Etc 6. My uncle is rich; contrary to expectations, he never helps the poor.

This is generally the case with most other linkers we use for this purpose, like "conversely, in comparison, in contrast, on the contrary, rather, regardless of that, instead". This is said; we should always remember that accuracy very often obliges us to choose the most appropriate among these connectors every time there is a different situation because the discourse is not always the same once the speaker, the interlocutor, the situation or the topic change. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Leila is intelligent; still she failed to pass the test. Although Leila is intelligent, she failed to pass the test. Leila is intelligent; nevertheless, she failed to pass the test. Leila is intelligent; in spite of this, she failed to pass the test. (spoken English) Leila is intelligent; contrary to expectations, she failed to pass the test.

When it comes to expressing concession with "despite" and "In spite of", the students have to be careful because these adverbs of concession need to be done in one of these structures + noun In spite of

+ pronoun

Despite

+ gerund (when the subject is the same) + the fact that + subj. + verb ...

In spite of intelligence, Leila failed to pass the test. In spite of her being intelligent, Leila failed to pass the test. In spite of being intelligent, Leila failed to pass the test. In spite of the fact that Leila is intelligent, she failed to pass the test. What do I need to know all these rules? In fact, there are many reasons for that, but the most important are for your grammar tests and above all for your writing assignments. If you want to make your message clear enough, for your proofreaders to understand, you should keep these details in mind. Without these details, you cannot express what you want to say (which you have to) in a way that your reader gets the point effortlessly,

Let's Practise

Grammar Rewrite the following sentences with the words given 1. They didn't win the football match. The wind was on their side. (even though) ____________________________________________________________ 2. My father gave me ten Dirham. I didn't need any money. (even if) ____________________________________________________________ 3. Ted ordered a hamburger. The doctor advised him not to eat fast food. (nevertheless) ____________________________________________________________ 4. My grandfather is 92 years old now. He goes shopping alone. (nonetheless) _____________________________________________________________ 5. Maria is very beautiful. She is still single. (yet) _____________________________________________________________ 6. Samir doesn't exercise. He seems in good health. (although) _____________________________________________________________ 7. My grandfather enjoys eating sweets. He is diabetic. (still) ____________________________________________________________

Rewrite the following sentences as indicated 1. Although he is poor, she accepted to marry him. Despite _____________________________________________________ 2. Even if he is rich, he never helps the poor. Despite _____________________________________________________ 3. Khlafa is crazy; nevertheless, all that he says is wise. In spite of ___________________________________________________ 4. The boy is audacious; however, he couldn't save the drowning dog. Despite _____________________________________________________ 5. The paragraph is very long, yet it remains coherent. In spite of ___________________________________________________ 6. Although Steven was disabled. He surmounted all the obstacles. Despite _____________________________________________________ 7. Although she has a French Canadian accent, she is in fact Moroccan. In spite of ___________________________________________________

WRITING In writing, these linking words are so important that they facilitate smooth transitions, and help clarify ideas perfectly well. If you master the use of these connectives, your compound sentences will be safe and void of confusion or ambiguity. In the "for and against" essays or the argumentative ones, these tools are useful to organize your composition. The reader will be able to understand your position very well. Topic Sentences or Thesis Statements Most students prefer to start their essays with the idea they disagree with, to later on demolish with strong and solid arguments. This is generally done by introducing the idea they disagree with and directly after place an adverb of concession to start showing why it is wrong or not convincing according to them. They begin this way; •

It is true that ......; however, ....

•

Many people argue that .......; nevertheless, ........

•

It is generally agreed upon ......; nonetheless, .....

•

Although many people tend to ....., I believe ....

•

Many people still smoke in spite of the fact that the doctors always insist on the fatal dangers of smoking.

•

We all agree that (x) has got advantages; however, ...

•

My friends say I am arrogant. On the contrary, I think they don't actually understand me perfectly well.

•

We all need to believe seriously in our equality as human beings regardless of age, gender, color or ethnicity.

•

etc.

These language elements are not for decoration, they are rather necessary ingredients of coherent and comprehensible Writings. The more you use them, the better your messages are transmitted and appreciated. I wish you the best of luck.

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