Contrast and concession: office or home? Exercises on whereas, albeit and nonetheless
About this lesson
This C1 drill lesson gives contrast and concession exercises on whereas, while, much as, albeit, notwithstanding, nonetheless and even so, in everyday and formal English.
- Grammar
- What follows each word (a clause, a noun, a phrase or a new sentence), the three meanings of while, the punctuation around linkers, and though at the end.
- Topic
- Remote work: an invented software company's town-hall debate on office days, with the summary post, both speeches, audience questions and a colleague's texts.
- Activities
- True or false, sorts, choices, typed gaps, matching, word order, find-the-mistake quizzes, everyday-to-formal tables, drag-and-drop texts, a memory game, an anagram and a chat.
What's inside
Chapter 1The rule
Chapter 2Two facts: whereas and while
- Sort the sentences: what does while mean?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Choose the right word: two facts or a surprise?Choose the optionTry it
- Fill in the gaps: finish the contrastFill in the gapsUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock
- Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
- Read the magazine profile and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: whereas and whileUnjumbleUnlock
Chapter 3Even so, nonetheless, though
- Sort the sentences: correct or incorrect?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: let the punctuation decideFill in the gapsTry it
- Choose the right word: at the start or at the end?Choose the optionUnlock
- Match the sentences that go togetherMatchUnlock
- Read the news story and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: linkersUnjumbleUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock
Chapter 4Albeit, notwithstanding, much as
- Choose the right words: what comes next?Choose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: the formal wordsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Fill in the table: everyday and formalFill in the tableTry it
- Match the beginnings and the endings: formal sentencesMatchUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: formal EnglishQuizUnlock
- Read the film review and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: albeit, notwithstanding and much asUnjumbleUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: office or home?
- Read the summary of the town-hall debateReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the post again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read Magnus's opening statement and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Ngozi's reply and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Read the questions from the audience and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Arvid texts youChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right word: at work and at homeChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: let the structure decideFill in the gapsUnlock
- Sort the sentences: right or wrong?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: everyday sentencesUnjumbleUnlock
- Match the pairs: the same meaningMatchUnlock
- Fill in the table: say it formallyFill in the tableUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: everyday EnglishQuizUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: two ways to say itMemory gameUnlock
- Read the restaurant review and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read Yaniv's email and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or false: in the newsTrue or falseUnlock
- Unscramble the linking wordsAnagramUnlock
- Choose the right words: formal writingChoose the optionUnlock
- Choose the formal versionQuizUnlock
- Write the sentences again with a formal wordFill in the gapsUnlock
Grammar: contrast and concession: two facts, or yes, but…
Contrast puts two different facts side by side: Ana loves the office, whereas Ben prefers home. Concession accepts one point and adds another: Much as I love my team, I need quiet days. Each word decides what may follow it: a clause, a noun, a short phrase or a whole new sentence.
Contrast and concession: two facts, or “yes, but…”
Compare two different facts (whereas, while) or accept one point and add another (much as, albeit, notwithstanding, nonetheless, even so).
A clause, a noun or a new sentence
Whereas, while, although and much as take a clause; despite and notwithstanding take a noun. Nonetheless and even so open a new sentence, after a period or a semicolon: It was late. Even so, we kept going.
+ a clause (subject + verb)
- whereas · while
- although · though · even though
- much as
+ a noun (or -ing after despite)
- despite · in spite of
- notwithstanding (before or after the noun)
+ a new sentence (. or ; before it)
- nonetheless · nevertheless
- even so · still · however
Whereas and while: two facts side by side
Whereas only compares two people or things: The city is loud, whereas the village is quiet. While can compare too, but it can also mean although (While I agree, …) or during the time that. In mid-sentence, a comma goes before either word.
- whereas and while compare two different people or things: The city is loud, whereas the village is quiet.
- while can also mean although (While I agree, …) or during the time that (While I was cooking, …). whereas only compares.
- In the middle of a sentence, put a comma before whereas or while. After a whereas clause at the start, put a comma.
- nonetheless and nevertheless mean the same; even so and still are a little less formal.
- A linker can also go in the middle or at the end of its sentence: We nevertheless agreed. · We agreed nonetheless.
- though at the end of a sentence is everyday English; although and even though never go at the end.
- Much as = although I really…: Much as I'd like to help, I can't. As much as is fine too.
- albeit and notwithstanding are formal: use them in reports, speeches and essays. In a chat, say although, but or despite.
Much as, albeit, notwithstanding
Much as + clause means although I really…, and no but follows. Albeit takes an adjective, an adverb or a phrase: It worked, albeit slowly. Notwithstanding sits before or after its noun, never with of: The cost notwithstanding, …
| Word | What comes next | Example |
|---|---|---|
| whereas · while | a clause: two different facts side by side | Ana loves the office, whereas Ben prefers home. |
| while (= although) | a clause, at the start: “yes, but…” | While I see your point, I can't agree. |
| much as | a clause, at the start (like, love, admire, want…), never with but | Much as I love my team, I need quiet days. |
| albeit | an adjective, an adverb or a phrase, never a clause | It worked, albeit slowly. · a small, albeit useful, change |
| notwithstanding | a noun, before or after it (never notwithstanding of) | Notwithstanding the cost, … · The cost notwithstanding, … |
| nonetheless · nevertheless · even so | a period or a semicolon before it, a comma after it | It was late. Even so, we kept going. |
| though (at the end) | the end of a sentence, in everyday English | Nice office. Long commute, though. |
Formal or everyday?
Whereas, albeit, notwithstanding and nonetheless suit reports, speeches and essays; while, still, even so and though at the end suit a chat. Both registers are correct: choose by the reader.
Formal or everyday?
Formal (reports, speeches, essays): whereas, albeit, notwithstanding, nonetheless, nevertheless. Everyday (chats, conversation): while, but, though, still, even so, despite. Both are correct: choose by the reader. And watch the punctuation: a linker comes after a period or a semicolon, never after a comma alone.
Common mistakes
Whereas it was raining, we went for a walk needs although, since nothing is compared. Also avoid albeit it was slow, Much as I like my job, but… and a lone comma before nevertheless, as in It was late, nevertheless we kept working.
Whereas it was raining, we went for a walk.
Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
whereas compares two facts; for a surprising result, use although
The plan worked, albeit it was slow.
The plan worked, albeit slowly.
albeit + an adjective, adverb or phrase, never a clause
Much as I like my job, but I need a break.
Much as I like my job, I need a break.
never much as… but
It was late, nevertheless we kept working.
It was late; nevertheless, we kept working.
a period or a semicolon before the linker, not a comma
Examples
- Some of us work best at home, whereas others need the office.two groups compared
- While I understand the worry, I can't support the plan.while = although
- Much as I enjoy the quiet, I miss my colleagues.much as + a clause, no but
- Sales grew, albeit more slowly than last year.albeit + a phrase
- These problems notwithstanding, the project was a success.notwithstanding after its noun
- The trial was short. Nonetheless, it taught us a lot.a new sentence, a comma after the linker
More lessons on this grammar: Linking words lessons and exercises
Try the contrast and concession exercises
Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.
What's in the lesson
- 40 auto-checked exercises
- 6 games
- 1 real-life document
- 1 grammar scheme
- 1 picture
The main objectives of this lesson are to:
- compare two different facts with whereas or while: My manager prefers phone calls, whereas I prefer email.
- use while to mean although at the start of a sentence: While I admire her talent, I find her hard to work with.
- follow albeit with a word or phrase, never a clause: The plan worked, albeit slowly, not albeit it was slow
- put notwithstanding before or after its noun: Notwithstanding the bad reviews, the film made a fortune.
- open a new sentence with a linker and a comma: The road was icy. Nevertheless, the bus arrived on time.
- Grammar:
- whereas / while · albeit · notwithstanding · much as · nonetheless / nevertheless / even so · though at the end · contrast linkers
- Topic:
- grammar practice · debates · remote work · formal writing · workplace
Teaching tips
- Run a short office debate: half the class argues for office days, half for home, and every speaker must fit in one whereas and one albeit before the other side answers.
- Show the punctuation with cards: you read a sentence aloud, and students hold up a period, a semicolon or a comma for the spot before nevertheless. Only the comma is wrong.
- Upgrade a casual review: pairs take a chatty line such as Great food. Slow service, though. and rewrite it for a newspaper with albeit, notwithstanding or nonetheless.
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The whole course: English Grammar Practice · C1
English Grammar Practice · C1 has 16 drill lessons on advanced grammar, one point each: inversion, cleft sentences, the subjunctive, advanced passives, ellipsis, nominalization, hedging, fronting and concession. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course
- 1Inversion: never have I been so nervous!
- 2Conditionals without if: had I known, should you need, were I to
- 3Cleft sentences: it's the focus that counts
- 4Advanced passives: who was told what?
- 5The subjunctive: it's essential that everyone be honest
- 6Likelihood: is it bound to happen?
- 7Be to, about to, due to, set to: the first tram is about to leave
- 8Ellipsis and substitution: I hope so, I'd love to
- 9Nominalization: from “sales fell” to “a fall in sales”
- 10Advanced participle clauses: weather permitting
- 11Hedging: it would appear that we tend to agree
- 12Alternatives to if: supposing they say no?
- 13Fronting: strange as it may seem
- 14Advanced relative clauses: the rules, all of which are new
- 15However, whatever, no matter how: whatever happens, keep running
- 16Contrast and concession: office or home?