Summary of English Connectors of Contrast
English Connectors of Contrast: Your Ultimate Guide for Students
Introduction
Contrast connectors are key tools for expressing opposing or unexpected ideas in English. They allow us to relate two parts of a sentence or two phrases, showing contrast: "despite," "although," "however," and "on the one hand... on the other hand..." In this material, we will look at the main contrast connectors, their use, their position in a sentence, and practical examples.
Definition: Contrast connectors are words or expressions that join two ideas and show that one of them contrasts with or opposes the other.
1. In spite of / Despite
Meaning
Definition: In spite of and despite both express a contrast or concession, similar to 'even though' or 'regardless of'. They are used with a noun, pronoun, or a verb in the -ing form.
- Structure: In spite of / Despite + noun / pronoun / -ing verb
- Examples:
- In spite of the rain, we went for a walk.
- Despite being ill, he went to work.
- I got sunburn in spite of wearing a hat.
Important Note: Despite is never followed by "of". Incorrect: despite of being ill.
Note on the Subject
- When using in spite of / despite + -ing, the subject of the main clause must be the same as the one performing the action of the -ing verb. Incorrect example and explanation:
- Incorrect: My sunburn was terrible in spite of wearing a hat. (= My sunburn wore a hat!)
- Correct: I got sunburn in spite of wearing a hat.
Alternative for Emphasis
- In spite of the fact that / Despite the fact that + subject + verb:
- In spite of the fact that he arrived late, he didn't miss the train.
- Despite the fact that he arrived late, he didn't miss the train.
2. Although / Though / Even though
What they mean
Definition: Although, though, and even though all mean "although". Even though is more emphatic.
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Possible structures:
- At the start: Although / Though / Even though + subject + verb, followed by the main clause (comma required).
- Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
- Even though it was raining, we went for a walk.
- Mid-sentence: Main clause + although / though / even though + subject + verb (no comma).
- We decided to buy the car although it was very expensive.
- I like making films though I'm really an actor.
- At the start: Although / Though / Even though + subject + verb, followed by the main clause (comma required).
-
Example using though at the beginning in a more colloquial register:
- Though I'm a big fan of Oasis, I have never seen them live.
3. But
Definition: But connects two contrasting ideas within the same sentence.
- Typical Usage: Phrase A but Phrase B
- She was ill but she went to work.
- It doesn't require any structural changes; it's straightforward and very common in both spoken and written language.
4. However / Nevertheless
Definition: Both however and nevertheless are used to introduce a contrasting idea or statement. Nevertheless is more formal.
-
Position: They usually appear at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma.
- I've been running for an hour. However, I'm not tired.
- She was really sad. Nevertheless, she held back tears.
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They can also appear in the middle of a sentence with appropriate punctuation: I wanted to go; however, it was too late.
5. On the one hand... On the other hand...
Definition: Expressions used to present two contrasting aspects.
- Structure:
- On the one hand, X. On the other hand, Y.
- Example:
- On the one hand, London is a city with lots of things to do. On the other hand, it is too big.
Quick Comparison (Table)
| Connector | Meaning | Structure | Typical Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| In spite of / Despite | Despite | + noun / pronoun / -ing verb | Beginning or middle (no comma when in the middle) |
| In spite of the fact that / Despite the fact that | Despite the fact that | + subject + verb | Beginning or middle |
| Although / Though / Even though | Although (even though = more emphatic) | + subject + verb | Beginning (comma) or middle (no comma) |
| But | But | C |
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Contrast Connectors
Klíčové pojmy: In spite of / Despite + noun/pronoun/verb-ing, Despite does not take 'of', In spite of the fact that / Despite the fact that + subject + verb, Although/Though/Even though + subject + verb; use a comma if they appear at the beginning of the sentence, Even though is more emphatic than although, But connects two ideas without changing the sentence structure, However and Nevertheless go at the beginning of a sentence and are followed by a comma, On the one hand... On the other hand... introduces two contrasting aspects, With in spite of/despite + -ing, the subject of the main clause must be the same as the subject of the -ing action, Do not use a comma if although/though appears in the middle of the sentence, Use despite the fact that to emphasize a strong contrast, Avoid 'despite of' as it is incorrect