Concessive Clauses

Concessive clauses

Concessive clauses are also called contrast clauses. They usually denote some obstacle which does not prevent the realization of the action expressed in the main clause. For example:

• Although it was very cold and rainy (contrast clause expressing an obstacle), we enjoyed our trip to New York (main clause).

In the above example, the idea expressed in the first clause contrasts with the idea expressed in the second clause.

Subordinators in Contrast Clauses

The first word that introduces the contrast clause in the above example is called a subordinator. In this article, we are going to learn to use some concessive subordinators which you can confidently use in contrast clauses on a regular basis: although, even though, though, while, and whereas. The article will also show you how to use the prepositions in spite of and despite to express contrast, and I shall explain how you can use the adverb however and the conjunction/adverb though to talk about contrast.

But first of all, let me quickly explain how subordinators function. Subordinators are linking words that join clauses to make sentences. They have a big effect on words in sentences. A clause without a subordinator forms a complete statement and can stand alone, while a clause introduced by a subordinator cannot stand alone and therefore forms a statement that is incomplete. For example:

• It was very cold and rainy.

This sentence forms a complete thought because it is not introduced by a subordinator.

• Although it was cold and rainy. (the reader or listener wants to know what happens next because the thought is incomplete)

The above statement is incomplete because the first word in it is a subordinator. If you remove this subordinator from the clause, your statement will become complete. This subordinate clause is therefore dependent on the following main clause to complete its meaning:

• Although it was very cold and rainy (subordinate contrast clause), we enjoyed our trip to London (main clause).

Now the reader or listener is able to fully understand the statement.

A note to remember: Main clauses are never introduced by subordinators and can therefore always form a complete thought. That's why they are also called independent clauses in English grammar.

Although, Though and Even Though

Although, though and even though are subordinators used in contrast clauses. They are also called subordinating conjunctions. They all introduce an idea which contrasts with the main clause. For example:

• Although Tanya was half asleep, she remembered to set the house alarm.
• Though Tanya was half asleep, she remembered to set the house alarm.
• Even though Tanya was half asleep, she remembered to set the house alarm.

The three subordinators have the same meaning; however, though is more common in informal speech than although. Even though is a stonger form of although and though and is definitely more emphatic than although. Let's sum it up: If you want to sound very informal, use though instead of although. If you want to sound very emphatic (concession is made more emphatic by using the modifier even), then you can use even though instead of although and though. The three subordinators always come before the subject and verb in a clause. The although/though/even though clause can come before or after the main clause. One more example:

• I didn't get the job as an actor although I had all the necessary qualifications.

While and Whereas

We can use while or whereas, which are subordinating conjunctions, to say that something in the subordinate clause contrasts with something in the main clause. The two subordinators are interchangeable and show major contrast. For example:

• I am quiet and shy (main clause), while my sister is lively and talkative.
• I am quiet and shy (main clause), whereas my sister is lively and talkative.

The above two sentences express a contrast between two ideas. As you can see, while is not only used to express time; it can also express contrast.Thewhile/whereas clause can come before or after the main clause. One more example:

• While/Whereas my father is strong and tall, I am short and weak.

While/Whereas don't denote some obstacle which does not prevent the realization of the action in the main clause, but are used to show how one person, thing, or place is different from another.

In spite of and Despite

We can use the prepositions in spite of and despite to talk about contrast. After them you always have to use a noun, a pronoun, or an ing form of a verb (gerund). For example:

• In spite of the rain(noun), we started to play basketball.
• Despite the rain (noun), we started to play basketball.
• In spite of having (gerund) a migraine headache, I decided to go out on a date.
• Despite having (gerund) a migraine headache, I decided to go out on a date.

In spite of and despite are interchangeable. However, despite is slightly more formal than in spite of.

Though and However

Though is not only a conjunction; if placed at the end of a sentence, it functions as an adverb. In spoken English, we can use though at the end of a sentence to show contrast. For example:

• The cottage isn't very nice. I like the garden though. (= but I like the garden)
• I see my neighbors every day. I've never spoken to them though. (= but I've never spoken to them)

In more formal English, the adverb however can be used instead. For example:

• The cottage isn't very nice. However, I like the garden.
• I see my neighbors every day. However, I've never spoken to them.