Discourse markers
De regel
Discourse markers structure connected discourse by signaling concession, contrast, causality, addition, and attitude across adjacent clauses.
Discourse markers are essential functional connectors that signpost the logical relationship between sentences, paragraphs, or spoken turns. Concession markers acknowledge counter-evidence without negating the primary claim. Although, even though, and though introduce subordinate finite clauses (Although the weather deteriorated, the team reached the summit). In contrast, despite and in spite of are prepositions requiring a noun phrase, pronoun, or gerund (Despite extensive market research, the product flopped). To use a finite clause after despite, speakers must add the fact that (Despite the fact that revenue fell, dividends remained stable). Adversative adverbs such as however, nevertheless, nonetheless, and on the other hand function as conjuncts, typically placed at the start of a sentence followed by a comma, or between clauses joined by a semicolon. On the contrary must not be confused with on the other hand; on the contrary exclusively contradicts or denies a preceding assertion (The task was not easy; on the contrary, it took months).
Onthoud
- Distinguish subordinating conjunctions taking clauses from prepositions like despite and in spite of taking noun phrases or gerunds.
- Use transitional conjuncts like however, nevertheless, therefore, and furthermore with appropriate semicolon or period punctuation.
- Differentiate on the contrary refuting a negative premise from on the other hand contrasting two valid perspectives.
Veelgemaakte fout om te vermijden
Writing despite or in spite of followed directly by a finite subject and verb, as in despite he had trained hard.
Guía visual
How to read this B2 topic
At B2, the form often changes the focus: agent, emphasis, register, implication, or stance.
1. Decide what is foregrounded
Passive, cleft, inversion, and participle clauses all move attention.
What matters is the evidence.
2. Check register
Some options are grammatical but too informal, too heavy, or unnatural.
Not only did she win, but she broke the record.
3. Watch compressed clauses
Advanced English often removes repeated subjects and auxiliaries.
Having finished, we left.
Decision path before answering
Use these checks before choosing between close options.
- 1Mark the subject, main verb, object, and any connector.
- 2Underline the time expression or discourse clue.
- 3Reject any option with the wrong agreement, tense, article, pronoun case, or word order.
- 4Read the whole sentence once more for naturalness and register.
Contrasts that often decide the answer
Event or background
Simple forms move events forward; continuous forms show an action in progress.
I left while she was talking.
Fact or stance
Modals, hedges, and reporting structures show how certain or responsible the speaker sounds.
This may indicate a problem.
Clause or compressed phrase
Advanced writing often compresses full clauses into participle, noun, or prepositional phrases.
Having reviewed the data, we revised the plan.
Voorbeelden
- 1Despite facing persistent supply shortages, the construction firm completed the bridge ahead of schedule.
- 2Although the economic climate remained volatile, consumer spending grew steadily throughout the quarter.
- 3The clinical trials produced promising preliminary data; however, further testing is required before commercial release.
- 4The company did not cut expenditure on training; on the contrary, the development budget increased by twenty percent.
- 5Living in a metropolitan center offers diverse cultural opportunities; on the other hand, housing costs can be exorbitant.
- 6The negotiations were exceptionally grueling; nevertheless, both parties reached a mutually acceptable compromise.
- 7In spite of having no formal background in computer science, he designed an award-winning mobile application.
- 8Whereas domestic sales expanded by twelve percent, international export figures dropped marginally.
- 9The regional hospital faced severe staffing shortages; consequently, elective surgical procedures were temporarily deferred.
Uitzonderingen
Even though expresses an emphatic factual concession, whereas even if introduces a hypothetical condition where the outcome remains unaffected (Even though it rained, we enjoyed ourselves vs Even if it rains tomorrow, the match will proceed).
Veelgemaakte fouten
Following despite with of (confusing it with in spite of), or attaching despite directly to a clause with a verb (Despite she was tired instead of Despite being tired or Despite the fact that she was tired). Another frequent error is using on the contrary to introduce a balanced alternative when on the other hand is required.
Test jezelf
Draft a cohesive debate paragraph connecting opposing viewpoints with however, whereas, despite, and on the other hand.
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