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In this post we look at the difference between concession and simple contrast, and at the various
words and expressions we can use to express concession and contrast. As well as information
about these, there are ten exercises to give you plenty of practice in using them.
Words and expressions used to express concession
The Basics
much as
Although everyone was tired, they kept going until it got dark.
(= concession - their action is slightly surprising given their tiredness)
Although they accepted some of his recommendations, they rejected others.
(= contrast - between accepting some recommendation and rejecting others)
Some books for learners would call the first clause in both of these sentences concession clauses.
Others would call them both contrast clauses. This particular book calls the first one a concession
clause and the second a contrast clause, but not many books make that distinction.
There is not a big difference between contrast and concession, and a lot of the examples we'll be
looking at express both concession and contrast to varying degrees. It's an area where even
linguists have problems: in one academic paper, the writer calls concession a 'fuzzy' (not clear,
confused) concept, so it's not worth getting too worried about the difference.
Although I was rather tired, I decided to stay up to see the late movie.
I was rather tired, although I decided to stay up to see the late movie.
But sometimes you have a choice, depending on your point of view:
That's what she says, but what she really thinks, though, I have no idea.
In spite of the fact that she was pregnant, she kept working till the last moment.
Despite the fact that it was raining, we went for a walk anyway.
But this is rather formal and long-winded, and it's usually better to use although instead:
Although she was pregnant, she kept working till the last moment.
It can be used to express a contrast, especially when comparing the same aspect of two
different people, things or situations, etc. The while-clause can come first or second, but
most commonly seems to appear second.
Italy is in the south of Europe, while Sweden is in the north.
While Sally has blue eyes, her sister has brown ones.
2. We can also use while to express concession, when it can usually be replaced by although. In
this meaning the while-clause always comes first. (See note at end).
While I understand your point of view, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you.
While results have been pretty good so far, we shouldn't get too complacent
Note - We need to make sure when using while for contrast or concession that there isn't any
confusion with the time meaning:
While Peterson scored the first two goals, the third was headed in by Jennings.
- This could be ambiguous - were all three goals scored at the same time? So we could either
change it slightly:
While it was Peterson who scored the first two goals, the third was headed in by Jennings.
- This makes the sense of contrast, rather than time, clearer. Or we could avoid whilealtogether:
Peterson scored the first two goals and/but the third was headed in by Jennings.
Whilst
In British English, we occasionally use whilst instead of while, but it is considered rather formal. In
American English, whilst is considered old fashioned or pretentious. There is no real need for
foreign learners to use it.
Whereas
To some extent whereas has a similar meaning to while, but is a bit more formal and is more
common in written texts. However, its use is more restricted than that of while, in that it must
always express a direct contrast between two situations.
Although we can put the whereas / while-clause first or second in this meaning, in the vast majority
of examples I've found it comes second (see note at end), when it means something
like but or 'when on the other hand'.
Whereas (While) more than ninety percent of British children go to state schools, a recent
study has shown that as many as 50% of the top jobs in the country are held by people who were
educated at elite 'independent' (i.e. private) schools.
Whereas (While) most of the party's MPs support the government on this issue, a small
handful are determined to vote against the party line.
Whereas (While) sales have been excellent for most of the summer, for some reason we're
not sure about, they declined in August.
Whereas (While) most patients recover from this illness fairly quickly, a few develop
complications, which can cause the illness to linger.
Comparing although, while and whereas.
1. Although
This is the most versatile of the three: on the one hand it can convey concession with almost no
idea of contrast:
Although I'd already eaten, I decided to go with some friends for a sushi anyway.
On the other, it can refer to simple contrast with very little idea of concession:
Although I get on well with Peter, I don't like his brother very much.
2. While
Although while is usually used for simple contrast, we can often also use it in a very similar way
toalthough. When used with a concessive meaning like this, it should express some sort of
contrast, but that contrast can be very soft, and not necessarily comparing two similar things.
While/Although we've only known each other a short time, we get on really well.
Brian Garner, in Garner's Modern American Usage, calls while 'a more relaxed and conversational
term than although or whereas'.
3. Whereas
Whereas is the most restricted of the three, used to express a strong contrast between two
people, things or situations. It can only be used to express concession when this strong contrast
also exists:
Whereas / While I've only known Mark for a short time, I've known his brother for much
longer.
In this sentence, we are directly comparing two similar situations (how long I've known Mark
compared with how long I've known his brother), so whereas is possible. There is a slight element
of concession in that you might possibly expect me to have known his brother for much the same
time as I've known him.
While / Whereas we've only known each other a short time, we get on really well.
But in this second sentence, we are talking about concession without any real idea of contrasting,
and especially not of contrasting like with like, so whereas wouldn't work here.
4. Summary
although - mainly used for concession, with some overlap into contrast.
whereas - mainly for strong contrast, with some overlap into concession.
while - can usually be used for both concession and contrast.
Concesso
n
Contrast
although
whereas
while
however
My wife likes the mornings best. I, however, prefer the evenings.
on the other hand
The West coast is quite wet. On the other hand, it is also quite warm.
in contrast
The West coast is quite wet. In contrast, the east coast is much drier.
In contrast to the east coast, the west coast in quite wet.
Concession
We'd seen the film before. My wife wanted to watch it again, nevertheless.
Tip
Advanced foreign learners no doubt already use however and on the other hand, but if you don't
already do so, now would be a good time to add nevertheless and in contrast to your armoury.
They are especially useful in academic writing.
however + adjective
However tired she was, she always managed to cook a meal.
however + adverb
He just couldn't manage, however hard he tried.
however much / many
I'm not changing my mind, however much you ask me.
However many times you ask me, the answer will still be no!
whatever, whenever etc
We'll do it, whatever it takes.
Nobody talks to me like that, whoever they are!
I Will Be Right Here Waiting For You
Sung by Bryan Adams and written by Richard Marx. (hat tip to a commenter at anglisci.pl)
Wherever you go, whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
whatever it takes, or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
4e. Adjective + as/though + subject + linking verb
Look at these two sentences:
Talented though/as she is, she didn't get the first prize.
(even though she's talented.)
Smart though/as she appears, she was unable to answer the question.
(even though she appears smart)
but still
He ran his best race yet, but still managed to come almost last.
(even though he ran his best race yet)
The expressions even so and all the same can come immediately after but, or at the end of the
sentence.
but even so
There may be some problems, but even so, I think we should go ahead.
There may be some problems, but I think we should go ahead even so.
(even though there may be some problems)
but all the same
He made a big mistake, but all the same, I think we should give him a second chance.
He made a big mistake, but I think we should give him a second chance all the same
(even though he made a big mistake)
In more formal contexts (and) yet is sometimes used like but to give a concessive meaning to the
clause that comes before it:
The neighbourhood is only five minutes from the city centre; yet it is a haven of peace and
quiet.
(even though the neighourhood is only ten minutes from the city centre)
He put in his best performance to date, and yet failed to even win a medal.
(even though he put in his best performance to date)
The salary is pretty good, if slightly less than I was hoping for.
(although (it's) slightly less than I was hoping for)
The flat is in a lovely area, if a bit far from the city centre.
(although (it's) a bit far from the city centre)
Its possible, if difficult.
(although it may be difficult)
With the expression if not, however, there can sometimes be a bit of ambiguity. Take the sentence:
David may have passed with a higher grade, but Sally shows the better attitude.
(Although David passed with a higher grade, Sally shows the better attitude)
Sally may not be the highest qualified, but she does have the most experience.
(Although Sally isn't the highest qualified, she does have the most experience)
It may be a demanding job, but at least it's not boring.
(Although it's a demanding job, at least it isn't boring)
The climb may have been a long one, but it was certainly worth it for the views.
(Although the climb was a long one, it was certainly worth it for the views)
5d. albeit
You will occasionally come across albeit (pronounced as all be it) in printed texts. It is rather formal
and means although / even though / even if. It is not followed by a clause, but usually by an
adverb (especially of manner - and with rather a negative meaning, such as reluctantly) or similar
prepositional phrase, often starting with or without.
In all these examples, albeit could be replaced by although (or concessive if - see 5c).
The albeitphrase always follows a verb, but can come between two verbs, as in the first example:
They've never been to Paris, although they have been to France several times.
We don't usually like his films, but we did like his last one.
He can't snowboard, although he can ski quite well.
While not wanting to offend him, she was nevertheless determined to be frank.
(while she didn't want to offend him)
Although generally singing her praises, he could, at times, be quite critical.
(although he generally sang her praises)
3rd forms - passive meaning
We can do something similar with that and the verb be. Again, fronting is obligatory. In American
English only Noun phrases can be treated this way, but in British English we can do it with
adjectives as well.
Yes - yes, it is true (that), admittedly, granted, of course, there is no doubt (that), true,
to be sure
But - but, however, nonetheless, even so, all the same, still
This is a particularly useful device, not only in more academic writing, but any time that you have
to put forward an argument, and discuss it. But it is important not to use 'But' expressions in your
concessionary part, or 'Yes' expressions in the return part, or you might confuse your listener /
reader.
There's a link at the end to a website for teachers where you can find more information about Yes,
Butarguments.
Some examples of whereas-clauses from the media and the BNC
Where they express pure contrast
The average London student pays 287 a week for essentials like accommodation, food,
study materials and travel - whereas Leicester students pay just fraction of this weekly sum at
167.
(The Daily Telegraph)
They (women) see it (visiting the doctor) as a question of maintenance, whereas men see it
as a question of repair.
(The Guardian)
Part of the problem, he said, was that the climate sceptic lobby employed communications
professionals, whereas "scientists are just barely competent at communicating with the public and
don't have the wherewithal to do it."
(The Independent)
The more prestigious (private schools) such as Eton, Harrow and Winchester can afford to
charge annual fees in excess of 4,000 (more than $6,000 in 1983 terms), whereas some less
prestigious day schools may charge less than 1,000 per year.
(British National Corpus - NB these figures are much higher today!)
Whereas some Italian coaches are obsessed by formation, strategy and shape, the Real
Madrid manager has a more relaxed approach that concentrates on maximising individual talent.
(The Guardian)
Where they suggest a strong element of concession
Whereas most modern performance cars encourage aggression through their virulence, the
Stag suppresses it while getting there just as quickly.
(British National Corpus)
Here, the writer is not simply contrasting the (Triumph) Stag - a British sports car produced in the
1970s - with another sports car, but is suggesting that it was different from most other 'modern'
sports cars. In this way the information about the Stag is slightly surprising or unexpected, so I
think we can talk of concession here.
Whereas the French Ministry of Culture alone has 7,000 officials, the entire European
Commission has less than double (12,911) to deal with all policies.
(British National Corpus)
In this example, the concession comes from the writer's implying that the European commission is
surprisingly small when compared with national governments - the key word here is alone.
Yet whereas US GDP stands roughly where it was just before the financial crisis broke, the
UK's GDP is some 4pc below. Why the difference?
(The Guardian)
I think there is concession here (strengthened by that opening 'yet') in that the writer seems rather
surprised that the UK's GDP is so low compared with that of the US.
Whereas only four per cent of people at any one time have major depression, around one
third suffer symptoms of the minor variety.
(The Guardian)
Considering how few people suffer from major depression, it is perhaps surprising (concession)
that as many as a third suffer from minor depression.
I think women in sport are perceived as being not very feminine, not very girly, whereas we
can be.
(The Guardian)
A rare example of a whereas-clause used for concession appearing in second position. The
information in the whereas-clause is contrary to the general perception (although would fit here) hence the concession.
Other (ambiguous) examples of whereas-clauses in first position
But whereas Bristol's A&E (Accident and Emegency) departments are filling up by midnight
with fight injuries, you rarely see as much as a scuffle in Bilbao.
(The Guardian)
Here, the writer is comparing alcohol use among young people in Southern European with that of
the British, the main subject of his article. The information in the main clause contrasts with the
general theme of his article - that (in Britain) alcohol and violence often go together.
They ate dairy products, but whereas much of it in Jamaica was home-reared, ours comes,
less healthily, from mass production.
(The Guardian)
The author (a British journalist of Jamaican descent) is comparing what Jamaican emmigrants
('they') ate back home in Jamaica with what they now eat in Britain. The information in
the whereas-clause is rather positive, whereas that in the main clause is rather negative.
Reference
As there is very little about the exact uses of while and whereas in standard EFL and ESL
resources, I've relied heavily on A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, by Quirk,
Greenbaum and others.
Links
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary Usage Notes
There are useful notes on contrast and concession at these entries.
although
whereas
nevertheless
Although, despite etc
Grammarphobia
The Economist
Various
Motivated Grammar - Is there any difference between in spite of and despite? A linguist's
thoughts.
Grammar Girl - while and although
anglisci.pl
At Google Books
These are only extracts. At the time of publishing this post, the relevant sections were available for
viewing.
Linguistic Perspectives on English Grammar: A Guide for EFL Teachers, Martin J. Endley
-even if / even though
Garner's Modern American Usage - while
meanwhile
therefore
hence
moreover
thus
however
nevertheless -> oddzielasz przecinkie przed i po wyrazie
D. SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS These words are commonly used as subordinating
conjunctions
after
in order (that)
unless
although
in so far as
until
as
in that
when
as far as
lest
whenever
as soon as
no matter how
where
as if
now that
wherever
as though
once
whether
because
provided (that)
while
before
since
why
even if
so that
even though
supposing (that)
how
than
if
that
inasmuch
as though
in case (that)
till-> nie oddzielasz