Concession, Contrast and Comparison

Although, in spite of, however and whereas; the words that mark similarity and difference; and the comparative and superlative of every kind of adjective.

يتكوّن الدرس من 4 أجزاء: Concession and Contrast، Similarity and Difference، Comparatives and Superlatives، Practice and Review.

Concession and Contrast

1. What concession means

A concession admits one fact and then states something that goes against what you would expect from it.

> *He worked very hard. → You expect success. → Although he worked very hard, he failed.*

2. The three groups

Everything depends on what follows.

3. Although, though, even though

All three take a clause (subject + verb).

**Although** Andalusia had a very diverse population, it kept its social harmony.
**Though** the product is cheap, its quality is good.
**Even though** he apologised, she did not forgive him. *(the strongest of the three)*

*Though* may also close a sentence, in a familiar style: *It is expensive. I will buy it, though.*

4. In spite of, despite

Both take a noun, a pronoun or an -ing form. Note that despite has no *of*.

**In spite of** the rain, the match took place.
**Despite** his efforts, he did not succeed.
**In spite of being** ill, she sat the exam.

To follow them with a clause, add the fact that:

> Despite the fact that he was ill, he came.

5. However, nevertheless, yet

These are adverbs, so they need a full stop or a semicolon before them and a comma after.

The product is **cheap. However,** its quality is poor.
He had every reason to **resign; nevertheless,** he stayed.
She is very **young, yet** she manages the whole team. *(yet may follow a comma)*

6. While and whereas: contrast, not concession

These two mark a difference between two things, without any idea of surprise.

Some students prefer science, **whereas** others prefer literature.
**While** the north is industrial, the south is agricultural.

7. Rewriting one into another

> Although the price is high, people buy it. > Despite the high price, people buy it. > The price is high. However, people buy it. > The price is high, but people buy it.

8. Practice

A. Choose the right connector.

______ his low salary, he manages to save money.
______ he earns little, he manages to save money.
The advert was attractive. ______, the product was disappointing.
Some people eat organic food, ______ others prefer cheaper products.

B. Rewrite with the word in brackets.

Although the weather was bad, we went out. *(in spite of)*
Despite his illness, he went to work. *(although)*
The house is small, but it is comfortable. *(however)*

Similarity and Difference

1. Expressing similarity

Two points of grammar:

**like** is a preposition and takes a **noun**: *He works **like** his father*;
**as** is a conjunction and takes a **clause**: *He works **as** his father did.*

2. Expressing difference

3. Two traps

*different **from*** is the form to use. *Different than* is American and *different to* is informal; the exam expects **from**.
*unlike* is a **preposition** (+ noun) and must not be confused with the adjective *unlikely*, which means "improbable".

> *Unlike his brother, he is quiet.* · *It is unlikely that he will come.*

4. Comparing two things properly

A complete comparison names the point on which the two things are compared.

> *Venus is similar to the Earth in size, whereas it is completely different in temperature.*

Useful phrases: *in size, in shape, in price, in quality, as far as … is concerned, with regard to, in terms of.*

5. A model paragraph

> Like conventional food, organic food provides the nutrients the body needs. Unlike it, however, it is produced without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Both kinds are controlled before they reach the market, whereas only organic food carries a certificate of production. In contrast to conventional products, organic ones are more expensive, yet many consumers are willing to pay the difference.

Notice how the connectors alone carry the argument.

6. Practice

A. Complete with *like*, *unlike*, *as* or *unlikely*.

______ her sister, she hates travelling.
He speaks English ______ a native speaker.
It is ______ that the match will be postponed.
Do ______ I told you.

B. Join the two sentences.

The Earth has an atmosphere. / Mercury does not. *(whereas)*
Algeria produces oil. / Libya produces oil. *(both … and)*
Mars has no oceans today. / Venus has no oceans today. *(neither … nor)*

C. Correct the mistakes.

This method is different than the other one.
Unlikely his brother, he is very talkative.
Both Mars and Venus has no oceans.

Comparatives and Superlatives

1. The three degrees

2. Short or long?

**Short**: one syllable (*tall, big, fast*) and two syllables ending in **-y** (*happy, easy, busy*).
**Long**: two syllables or more (*modern, careful, expensive, interesting*).

Spelling changes for short adjectives:

*big → bigger* (double the final consonant after a single vowel);
*easy → easier* (*-y* becomes *-i*);
*large → larger* (a final *-e* takes only *-r*).

3. Irregular forms

4. Examples

Classes in primary schools are **more crowded than** in secondary schools.
Teachers in primary schools are **less patient than** teachers in middle schools.
The buildings of the middle school are **as old as** those of the primary school.
Jupiter is **the largest** planet in the solar system.
This is **the most interesting** article I have read.

Note that after a superlative English uses in for a place and of for a group:

> *the tallest building in the city* · *the best of the three*

5. Reinforcing a comparison

**much / far / a lot** + comparative: *This is **much** better.*
**slightly / a little** + comparative: *It is **slightly** cheaper.*
**by far** + superlative: *Jupiter is **by far** the largest planet.*
**the … the …**: ***The more** you practise, **the better** you become.*
**comparative and comparative**: *The climate is getting **warmer and warmer**.*

6. Comparing quantities

> *There are fewer additives in organic food.* · *There is less sugar in this drink.*

7. Practice

A. Put the adjective into the right form.

Gold is ______ (expensive) than silver.
This is ______ (good) film I have ever seen.
My results are ______ (bad) than yours.
Venus is almost ______ (large) as the Earth.
He is ______ (careful) driver in the family.

B. Complete with *fewer* or *less*.

Organic food contains ______ pesticides.
We should eat ______ salt.

C. Rewrite using *the … the …*.

If you read more, you learn more.
If a product is cheaper, more people buy it.

Practice and Review

1. The whole lesson in one table

2. The mistakes the exam looks for

Remember also the punctuation: an adverb such as *however* needs a full stop or a semicolon before it and a comma after it.

3. Mixed exercise

A. Fill in the gap.

______ the high price, the product sells well.
______ the price is high, the product sells well.
The first method is quick; ______, it is less accurate.
Mars is smaller ______ the Earth but bigger ______ Mercury.
This is ______ (interesting) book of the series.
______ his brother, who is very sociable, he prefers to stay alone.

B. Join the two sentences with the word in brackets.

The advert promised a sea view. / The hotel was two kilometres from the beach. *(whereas)*
He had little experience. / He was given the job. *(in spite of)*
Organic food is expensive. / Many people buy it. *(nevertheless)*

C. Rewrite without changing the meaning.

Although the exam was difficult, she passed.

→ Despite

Silver is less expensive than gold.

→ Gold is

No planet in the solar system is bigger than Jupiter.

→ Jupiter is

4. Answers to check yourself

A. 1. Despite / In spite of — 2. Although / Though / Even though — 3. however — 4. than … than — 5. the most interesting — 6. Unlike.

B. 1. The advert promised a sea view, whereas the hotel was two kilometres from the beach. — 2. In spite of his little experience, he was given the job. — 3. Organic food is expensive; nevertheless, many people buy it.

C. 1. Despite the difficulty of the exam, she passed. — 2. Gold is more expensive than silver. — 3. Jupiter is the biggest planet in the solar system.

الجزء الأول من الدرس مفتوح للجميع، وبقيته مع الاشتراك.

Concession, Contrast and Comparison

Concession and Contrast

Concession and Contrast

1. What concession means

2. The three groups

3. Although, though, even though

4. In spite of, despite

5. However, nevertheless, yet

6. While and whereas: contrast, not concession

7. Rewriting one into another

8. Practice

Similarity and Difference

Similarity and Difference

1. Expressing similarity

2. Expressing difference

3. Two traps

4. Comparing two things properly

5. A model paragraph

6. Practice

Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparatives and Superlatives

1. The three degrees

2. Short or long?

3. Irregular forms

4. Examples

5. Reinforcing a comparison

6. Comparing quantities

7. Practice

Practice and Review

Practice and Review

1. The whole lesson in one table

2. The mistakes the exam looks for

3. Mixed exercise

4. Answers to check yourself

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