Three Step English for Intermediate Learners - Learn #27 - Expressing Opposing Ideas - Grammar
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Let's look at the sentence pattern. This pattern is the structure that most of our examples will follow. Contrast linker plus clause plus clause. Let's see how a line from the dialogue follows this pattern. Even though it's not cheap, I love playing tennis here. Even though is our contrast linker. It helps connect two ideas that don't naturally go together.

"It's not cheap" is the first clause. This presents the negative or challenging idea. "I love playing tennis here" is the second clause. It shares a positive feeling that contrasts with the first idea. Normally, if it's expensive, people would avoid going there. But the speaker is saying, "Yes, it's expensive, but I still enjoy playing tennis here." This idea can also be rephrased using a different structure. Clause.

plus contrast linker plus clause. In this kind of pattern, the contrast linker comes in the middle. Let's rephrase our example to match. I love playing tennis here, even though it's not cheap. And that's the other pattern you can use. Some contrast markers we'll look at in this lesson are while, even though, and although.

We can use some contrast linkers using a slightly different grammar pattern, too. Let's look at the second pattern we'll see in this lesson. Contrast linker + noun phrase + clause Here's an example: Despite the bad weather, today was wonderful. In this sentence, the contrast linker is "despite." The noun phrase is "the bad weather," and the clause is "today was wonderful."

We can use this pattern with sentences that use despite and in spite of. We can also swap the position of the contrast linker so that it comes after the clause. For example, today was wonderful in spite of the bad weather. The clause today was wonderful is at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the contrast linker in spite of, and then the noun phrase the bad weather.

Now, let's look at some speaking examples. I love England, even though it rains all the time. Can you see how the clause, contrast linker, clause pattern applies here? I love England is the first clause, even though is the contrast linker. This introduces a contrasting idea, the rainy weather, something that might normally be seen as a reason not to love England. It rains all the time is the second clause.

Next. While I think basketball is fun, I like baseball better. Can you see how the contrast linker clause-clause pattern applies here? While is the contrast linker. I think basketball is fun is the first clause. I like baseball better is the second clause. Let's try one more. My fishing trip was fun, even though I didn't catch many fish.

This follows the clause, contrast linker, clause pattern. My fishing trip was fun is the first clause. Even though is the contrast linker. I didn't catch many fish is the second clause. One last example. I had a good day despite a few difficult customers.

"I had a good day" is the first clause. "Despite" is the contrast linker. "A few difficult customers" is the noun phrase that follows "despite."