Lesson 6

Linking: Concession

 

Links: but, (and) yet; although / though, even though, much as, as / though (after adjectives etc.)

Adverbs: but, yet, though, all the same, even so, however, nevertheless, nonetheless

 

Introductory note:

- links for concession such as although / though occur in sentences which express contradiction, often with an element of surprise; the same applies to their corresponding connector adverbs = conjuncts like however, nevertheless, etc. The important difference between them is that, whereas the adverbs = conjuncts introduce the contradiction itself, the links introduce the background information against which the contradiction is made. The exceptions are but and yet, which introduce the contradiction whether they are acting as links or adverbs = conjuncts.

- the transformation of one form of grammatical usage into the other generally involves changes in the relative position of links and conjuncts; a typical example is though, which can be link or adverb / conjunct according to its position in a sentence, e.g.:

Though he is mean, she loves him. = link = conjunction - subordinator

He is mean. She loves him, though. = connector adverb = conjunct

 

 

1. A strike of all transport workers was called for today, but the bus drivers didn’t join it.

-> Although a strike of all transport workers was called for today, the bus drivers didn’t join it.

 

There weren’t any trains this morning, (and) yet most people managed to get to work somehow.

-> Even though there weren’t any trains this morning, most people managed to get to work somehow.

- although and even though are approximate equivalents, but even though is more emphatic = it involves a stronger element of contradiction or surprise

- similarly, yet is more emphatic than but

 

2. Quite a lot of commuters went in by bus or taxi. Most of them, though, used their cars or walked. / But most of them used their cars or walked.

-> Though quite a lot of commuters went in by bus or taxi, most of them used their cars or walked.

- though as a link must be carefully distinguished from though as connector adverb / conjunct; the latter cannot link clauses, cannot begin a clause or sentence, and is always used with commas

 

3. We’d very much like to see an end to the strike. All the same / Even so / However, we don’t think the Government should give way to the strikers.

-> Much as we’d like to see an end to the strike, we don’t think the Government should give way to the strikers.

- much as can be used only with verbs expressing one’s inclinations, such as like, dislike, admire, approve, disapprove, sympathise, enjoy

 

4. The train drivers’ claims may be justified. However / Nevertheless, they should not have taken industrial action.

-> Justified as / Justified though the train drivers’ claims may be, they should not have taken industrial action.

- as or though (but not although) may be used after an introductory adjective or past participle (e.g. justified) in a special form of inversion (justified as / justified though = although the train drivers’ claims may be justified…)

- as (but not though) also occurs in the formal phrase Try as one (you, she, …) might, …, e.g.:

Try as he might, he could not convince her of the truth. = formal

 

- of the adverbs all the same, even so and nevertheless are the more emphatic and would be unsuitable in 2; these three adverbs can be used on their own or to reinforce but:

We’d very much like to see an end to the strike, but all the same we don’t think the Government should give way to the strikers.

 

- however, like though, is always used with commas, which help to distinguish it from the conditional link, e.g.:

I’m not going to miss the chance of seeing them however late they are. = no matter how = conditional link

 

 

References:

Gethin, H. (1992) Grammar in Context. Harlow: Addison Wesley Longman Limited, pp. 66-69.