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Language, when you need it
Search concise B2 First grammar, vocabulary, functional phrases and exam strategy — without leaving the course to hunt through past lessons.
Practise thisOpen cloze — grammar words under pressureKey word transformations — 10 extra itemsCommon errors — spot and fixExtra Practice
What it is
Language that admits the other side of an argument and softens claims, so your opinion sounds balanced rather than absolute.
Form
| Type | Pattern | Model sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Concession | While/Although + clause, + main clause | While cost matters, safety matters more. |
| Counter-move | Admittedly, + clause. + That said, + clause | Admittedly, it is expensive. That said, it lasts for years. |
| Hedged claim | subject + tend(s) to / is likely to + V | Younger users tend to prefer apps. |
| Impersonal | It could be argued / It is often claimed that + clause | It could be argued that testing starts too early. |
| Negative hedge | subject + is unlikely to / rarely + V | Such schemes are unlikely to succeed alone. |
Use it when
- You write an essay and must acknowledge an opposing view.
- You state an opinion you can't prove with data.
- You disagree politely in a discussion task.
Examples
- While there are clear advantages, the cost cannot be ignored.
- Arguably, the biggest obstacle is habit rather than money.
- There is a tendency for people to overestimate the risk.
- I take your point, but I'd look at it differently.
Watch out
All people think that social media is bad.
Many people feel that social media does more harm than good.
Absolute claims lose marks; hedge them.
Although the price is high, but the quality is good.
Although the price is high, the quality is good.
Don't use although and but together.
Remember
Concede one point, then win the argument with your own.
Quick check
- 1.Soften: 'Teenagers waste their time online.'
- 2.Join with concession: 'It's slow. It's reliable.'