Concessive clauses

8.65 Sometimes you want to make two statements, one of which contrasts with the other or makes it seem surprising. You can put both statements into one sentence by using a concessive clause.

Here is a list of conjunctions used in concessive clauses:

although despite even if

even though except that in spite of

much as not that though

whereas while whilst

8.66 If you simply want to contrast two statements, you use 'although', 'though', 'even though', or 'while'.

I used to read a lot although I don't get much time for books now.

Though he has lived for years in London, he writes in German.

I used to love listening to her, even though I could understand about half of that she said.

While I did well in class, I was a poor performer at games.

'Whilst' and 'whereas' can also be used. They are fairly formal words.

Raspberries have a matt, spongy surface whilst blackberries have a taut, shiny skin.

To every child adult approval means love, whereas disapproval means hate.

8.67 if you want to say that something which is probably true does not affect the truth of something else, you use 'even if'.

All this is part of modern commercial life (even if it is not as essential an activity as most participants care to believe).

From the minute he does these things he begins to be a different person, even if he doesn't realize it.

'Even if' is also used in conditional clauses. This use is explained in paragraph 8.39.

8.68 You can use 'not that' instead of using 'although' and a negative. For example, instead of saying 'I have decided to leave, although no one will miss me', you can say 'I have decided to leave—not that anyone will miss me'.

Clauses beginning with 'not that' always go after a main clause.

I wouldn't want to give away any secrets at this stage—not that we've got any answers yet.

Kunta continued sleeping in Qmoro's hut for the next seven nights—not that anyone seemed to notice or care.

exceptions 8.69 If you want to mention an exception to a statement that you have just made, you use 'except that'.

She treats her daughter the same as her younger boy except that she takes her several times a week to a special clinic.

Nobody said a thing except that one or two asked the if I was better.

This kind of clause is sometimes called an exception clause.

USAGE NOTE 8.70 When a clause beginning with 'though' ends with a complement, the complement can be brought forward to the beginning of the clause. For example, instead of saying 'Though he was tired, he insisted on coming to the meeting', you can say 'Tired though he was, he insisted on coming to the meeting'.

Tempting though it may be to follow this point through, it is not really relevant and we had better move on.

I had to accept the fact, improbable though it was.

Astute business man though he was, Philip was capable at times of extreme recklessness.

When the complement is an adjective, you can use 'as' instead of 'though'.

Stupid as it sounds, I was so in love with her that I believed her.

When a clause beginning with 'though' ends with an adverb, you can often put the adverb at the beginning of the clause.

Some members of the staff couldn't handle Murray's condition, hard though they tried.

When you are talking about a strong feeling or desire, you can use 'much as' instead of 'although' and an adjunct. For example, instead of saying 'Although I like Venice very much, I couldn't live there' you can say 'Much as I like Venice, I couldn't live there'.

Much as they admired her looks and her manners, they had no wish to marry her.

non-finite clauses 8.71 'Although', 'though', 'while', and 'whilst' are sometimes used in non-finite concessive clauses. For example, instead of saying 'Whilst he liked cats, he never let them come into his house', you can say 'Whilst liking cats, he never let them come into his house'.

While conceding the importance of freedom of speech, I believe it must be exercised with sensitivity and responsibility.

'Despite' and 'in spite of' can also be used at the beginning of non-finite concessive clauses. 'Despite working hard, I failed my exams' means 'Although I worked hard, I failed my exams'.

Sensible, interested mothers still pay a big part in their children's lives, despite working and having a full-time nanny.

We had two more years of profit in spite of paying higher wages than previous owner.

8.72 'Although', 'though', 'while', and 'whilst' are also used in front of noun groups, adjective groups, and adjuncts. For example, instead of saying 'Although she was fond of Gregory, she did not love him', you can say 'Although fond of Gregory, she did not love him'. Similarly, instead of saying 'They agreed to his proposal, though they had many reservations', you can say 'They agreed to his proposal, though with many reservations'.

It was an unequal marriage, although a stable and long-testing one.

Though not very attractive physically, she possessed a sense of humour.

They had followed her suggestion, though without much enthusiasm.

'Even if', 'if', and 'albeit' can also be used in this way. 'Albeit' is a formal word.

By 1977 things were beginning to improve, even if, in the view of the Royal Air Farce, not quickly enough.

...some pleasant, if unexciting, tunes.

Like mercury, lead affects the brain, albeit in different ways.