Opposition / Limitation / Contradiction

Concession & Contrast Phrases

• although this may be true

/ɔlˈðoʊ ðɪs meɪ bi tru/

• in contrast

/ɪn ˈkɑntræst/

• different from

/ˈdɪfrənt frəm/

• of course, but

/əv kɔrs, bət/

• on the other hand

/ɑn ði ˈʌðər hænd/

• on the contrary

/ɑn ðə ˈkɑntrɛri/

• at the same time

/æt ðə seɪm taɪm/

• in spite of

/ɪn spaɪt əv/

• even so

/ˈivən soʊ/

• even though

/ˈivən ðoʊ/

• be that as it may

/bi ðæt æz ɪt meɪ/

• then again

/ðɛn əˈɡɛn/ or /ðɛn əˈɡeɪn/

• above all

/əˈbʌv ɔl/

• in reality

/ɪn riˈæləɾi/

• after all

/ˈæftər ɔl/

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Single-Word or Short Contrast Markers

• but

/bət/ (strong: /bʌt/)

• (and) still

/(ænd) stɪl/ - often: /(ən) stɪl/

• unlike

/ʌnˈlaɪk/

or

/ɔr/ - weak: /ər/

• (and) yet

/(ænd) jɛt/ - often: /(ən) jɛt/

• while (meaning "whereas")

/waɪl/

• albeit

/ɔlˈbit/ or /ælˈbit/ (both heard in AmE)

• besides

/bɪˈsaɪdz/

• as much as

/æz mʌtʃ æz/ - often: /əz mʌtʃ əz/

• although

/ɔlˈðoʊ/

• instead

/ɪnˈstɛd/

• whereas

/wɛrˈæz/ or /wɛrˈæʒ/

• despite

/dɪˈspaɪt/

• conversely

/kənˈvɝsli/

• otherwise

/ˈʌðərwaɪz/

• however

/haʊˈɛvər/

• rather

/ˈræðər/

• nevertheless

/ˌnɛvərðəˈlɛs/

• nonetheless

/ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs/

• regardless

/rɪˈɡɑrdləs/

• notwithstanding

/ˌnɑtwɪθˈstændɪŋ/

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Reduction Notes (Very Important for Fluency)

Common weak forms in these transitions:

of - /əv/

to - /tə/

and - /ən/

as - /əz/

or - /ər/ (before consonants)

as much as - /əz mʌtʃ əz/

in spite of - /ɪn spaɪt əv/

Contrast transitions usually carry strong sentence stress and are followed by a pause:

However, /haʊˈɛvər/ -> falling tone

On the other hand, /ɑn ði ˈʌðər hænd/ -> rising -> falling