Handout 6: CONCESSION – worksheet  

Links (= conjunctions):          but

(and) yet

 although (infml. though)

 even though

 much as

 as / though after adjectives (formal)

 

Adverbs:                                but

                                               yet

                                               though

                                               all the same

                                               even so

                                               however

                                               nevertheless (formal)

 

• although and …………… are approximate equivalents, but ………..… is more informal

Although / …………… a strike of all teachers was called for today, university teachers didn’t join it.

 

• informal link though must be distinguished from though as a…………………, which:

1. cannot l…………….. clauses
2. cannot b…………… a clause or sentence
3. is always used with c…………………..:

She is hardly a brilliant teacher. Most students like her, though.

(X Though she is hardly a brilliant teacher, most students like her. = though as a link)

What you say may be true. I think, though, it’s more the exception than the rule.

What you say may be true. I think it’s more the exception than the rule, though.

 

• ………………………. is a more emphatic equivalent of although

………………………. (Although) there weren’t any trains yesterday, most people got to work in time.

 

• in the same way, ……….. is a more emphatic equivalent of but; like but it can be used as a connector adverb at the beginning of a sentence

There weren’t any trains yesterday. …………… (But) most people got to work in time.

There weren’t any trains yesterday(,) (and) …………. / but most people got to work in time.  

 

• m………. a….. can be used only with verbs expressing one’s inclinations, such as like, dislike, admire, approve, disapprove, sympathise, enjoy  

M……. a……. we’d like to see her, we don’t think we should contact her under these circumstances.

M…….. a……. he would have liked to visit Oxford, his tight schedule made that impossible.

M…….. a……. I admire him, I’d never want to be his wife.

 

• …… or …………. can be used after an introductory adjective or past participle in a special form of inversion

adjective / past participle + …………. / …..………. + S + V

Justified ………. / Justified ……….. the train drivers’ claims may be, they should not have done this.

(= Although the train drivers’ claims may be justified, they should not have done this.)

Old ……….. / Old …………… my grandmother is, she still manages to enjoy her life.

Fond ………… / Fond …………… he is of Lucy, he’s not going to rush into marriage.

 

• all the same, even so, however and nevertheless are more emphatic compared to other concessive adverbs (but, yet, though)

a) all the same, even so and nevertheless are normally used at the ..……………. of a new sentence introducing a contrasting / concessive idea

 

We’d very much like to see her. All the same / Even so / Nevertheless(,) we don’t think we should contact her under these circumstances.

Mary has spent only three months in England. All the same / Even so / Nevertheless(,) she has acquired  a pretty sound knowledge of the language.

I like Willie very much. All the same / Even so / Nevertheless(,) I can’t honestly say I’d go out with him.

      b) however has got the same meaning as all the same, even so and nevertheless but

• is always used with …………………..
• can be used in d…………….. positions in a sentence (initial, medial – after subject, final)
• is less ……………..… than nevertheless but more ………………….. than but

I’m really bad at remembering names sometimes. However, I hardly ever forget a face.

I’m really bad at remembering names sometimes. I hardly ever forget a face, however.

I never used to come first in anything at school. My sister, however, seemed to be constantly winning prizes and competitions.