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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
although, though, even though
despite, in spite of
Getting more advanced
while, whilst, whereas
nevertheless, however, even so, all the same
much as
no matter how / what etc
however, whatever, whoever etc
adjective + as / though
but still, but even so, but all the same
(and) yet
Even more exotic
when, if, albeit
may ... but
Contrastive emphasis with auxiliaries
We'll also look briefly at 'reducing' concession clauses, at fronting concession clauses and at
something called Yes, But arguing.
Though as an adverb.
Note that we can also use though (but not although and even though) as an adverb, to mean
'however'. In this use it can also come at the end of the sentence
That's what she says, but what she really thinks, though, I have no idea.
We'd better be going. - We've still got plenty of time, though.
1b. Expressing concession with despite, in spite of
These have a similar meaning to although and also express concession. But they are prepositions,
so they can be only be followed by:
a noun or noun phrase
In spite of the bad weather, we had a great time
a pronoun
Everything seemed to go wrong, but we had a really good time in spite of it all.
an -ing form (gerund) or gerund phrase -
Despite telling him three times, he still forgot.
If we want to follow them with a full clause (that's to say, subject + verb), we need to add 'the fact
that',
the fact that + clause
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.
Although it was raining, we went for a walk anyway.
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'.
I believe in the Loch Ness monster, whereas / while my brother doesn't.
Whereas / While she likes jazz, I prefer opera.
He is quite tall, while / whereas his brother is rather short.
Although whereas is always used to express a direct contrast between two situations, sometimes
this contrast can be surprising or unexpected in the context, in which case whereas can also be
said to have a concessive function. In these cases the whereas-clause usually comes first.
This seems to be especially true when we contrast something that goes against the norm, against
the majority, or against the trend, or when we point out a negative contrast. In these cases,
the whereas-clause often comes first:
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.
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.
Concesson Contrast
although
whereas
while
5a. when
We sometimes use when with a concessive meaning. In this case, the when clause always comes
second.
He stayed out late when I specifically told him to be back by midnight.
(even though I specifically told him)
She did it all by herself when she could easily have asked for help
(even though she could have asked for help)
He brought me a white coffee when I'd asked for a black one.
(although I'd asked for a black one)
5b. if and if not
We can sometimes use if, usually followed by an adjective or adverbial expression, to have a
concessive meaning:
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)
It’s 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:
She is very bright, if not a genius.
This could have a concessive meaning:
She is very bright, although not a genius.
But here, if not can also mean something like perhaps even.
She is very bright, perhaps even a genius.
In spoken language, the meaning is usually pretty clear from intonation - in the second meaning
we'd stress genius and our intonation would go up. But in written texts there can sometimes be
some ambiguity. For this reason, some commenters, for example the Johnson language blog at
the Economist and Bryan Garner, author of Garner's Modern American Usage, suggest avoiding it
in writing.
5c. ... may ... but ...
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 finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to accept our offer.
They made their way up the hill, albeit rather slowly.
She finally accepted his idea, albeit with some hesitation.
He tried as hard as he could, albeit without much success.
5e. Contrastive emphasis with auxiliaries
In spoken language we can intensify contrast and concession by emphasising auxiliaries.
Remember that in simple tenses we need to add do / does / did
I don't like jam, although I do like marmalade.
We don't usually like his films, but we did like his last one.
They've never been to Paris, although they have been to France several times.
He can't snowboard, although he can ski quite well.