Clauses and Phrases Showing Contrast and Exception

Clauses and Phrases Showing Contrast and Exception

1. Contrast: to compare in order to show unlikeness or differences: an obvious difference between two or more things

   • WHILE: during the time that, or at the same time as
     • While the typical Italian person thinks school is boring, the typical Japanese person doesn’t. While women tend to go to the restroom with friends, men normally go on their own
   • UNLIKE: different from, not typical or charateristic
     • Unlike the Japanese, Italians seem to drink a lot of bottled water. Unlike Mexicans, Canadians take off their shoes when they enter someone ́s homes.
   • IN CONTRAST TO: to show that you are mentioning a very different situation from the one you have just mentioned.
     • In contrast to Italian drivers, Japanese people drive on the left. In contrast to people from Jalisco, people from Mexico city don ́t eat tortas ahogadas.

2. Exception: someone or something that is not included in a rule, group, or list or that does not behave in the expected way

   • EXCEPT THAT: used to give a reason why something is not possible or true
     • Jason likes Italian food, except that he doesn't eat ravioli.
   • EXCEPT FOR: to introduce an exception to a generalization
     • Many Americans like Mexican food, except for food with chili.
   • EXCEPT FOR THE FACT (THAT): to present something in opposition to the original sentence
     • German food is good, except for the fact that some of it is actually eaten raw.