By Mayra Yaranga
In
this new series of articles, we’d like to address some of the problems our
students find in the process of learning English. Let us start with one
apparently simple, but tricky point. In my experience, students have some
problems when choosing some of the famous linking words, particularly those
with similar meanings but different grammar.
What
happens, for example, when our students want to express contrast between two
ideas? The word they will most often use is but.
- I was very eager to learn Japanese, but I gave up quickly after starting.
- The team trained very little, but they won their matches easily.
Of
course, this is not the only way to mark contrast, and, in order to show students’
English has gone beyond a basic level, they should be able to use some other
linking words which essentially mean the same, but are grammatically quite
different , such as however, although and in spite of.
1. However is a sentence adverb. That means it
should start a new sentence.
I was very eager to learn Japanese. However, I
gave up quickly after starting.
2. Although is
a conjunction. That means it will join two clauses (two sentences within a
sentence) creating a contrast relationship.
Although the team trained very little, they won their matches easily.
Students can also use the shorter though in exactly the same way. Only that it
has an additional use at the end of a short sentence, very common in speech:
I was very eager to learn Japanese. I
gave up quickly after starting, though.
3. The most difficult phrase is in spite of. It is a phrase that works as a preposition. That means it doesn’t take
sentences or clauses, but noun phrases (phrases with a noun or gerund as the
most important word, not a verb)
In spite of my eagerness to learn Japanese, I gave up quickly after starting. (eagerness is the noun that
replaces “I was eager”)
In spite of training very little, the team won their matches easily. (training is the gerund that
replaces “the team trained”)
In more formal English, your students can use despite,
which is a slightly more formal word:
Despite training
very little, the team won their matches easily. (NOT despite of)
NOT Despite
the team trained very little,
We
sincerely hope you find our advice useful and helps you consolidate what your
students have been doing in class. See you next time!
Now
it’s YOUR turn:
Do
your students show problems when using these linkers?
What
do you do to address those problems?
Biodata
Mayra Yaranga (1985) has completed Doctorate studies in Education at UNIFÉ;Master’s Degree in Media, Culture and Identity from Roehampton University (London) revalidated by PUCP, a Bachelor’s Degree in Education - UPCH and the Professional Title of Licenciada - IPNM. Currently she works as IELTS trainer, Cambridge Oral Examiner and Member of the Research Area for Universidad del Pacifico Language Centre. She is also ESP coordinator and Pre-University Centre Director at UNIFÉ.
