Decide how similar or different each of the groups of phrases below, then talk about what the (main/ most important) differences might be. If there are more than two on the same line, they are all the same or all different (not two the same and one different, etc).
Determiners
1. An advantage/ The advantage
2. One of the advantages/ An advantage
3. Some advantages are…/ Some of the advantages are…
4. A great advantage/ The main advantage
Collocations with advantage
5. The greatest advantage/ The main advantage/ The most significant advantage
6. The greatest advantage/ The overwhelming advantage
7. By far the most important advantage/ The overwhelming advantage
8. A great advantage/ A major advantage/ A big advantage
9. A comparatively minor disadvantage/ A completely insignificant disadvantage
10. A more important advantage/ A very important advantage
11. A possible advantage/ A potential advantage
12. Another advantage/ A further advantage/ An additional advantage/ One more advantage
Other phrases for looking at both sides
13. Pros and cons/ Advantages and disadvantages
14. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages/ There are more pros than cons
15. A pro/ An advantage
16. A con/ A disadvantage
17. Arguments for/ Supporting arguments/ Arguments in support
18. Good and bad points/ Pluses and minuses
19. Disadvantage/ Drawback
20. Positive aspect/ Positive point
21. Negative effect/ Negative consequence
22. Positive consequence/ Benefit
23. Disadvantage/ Demerit
Contrasting phrases/ Turning to the other side of the argument
24. In contrast/ On the contrary
25. In contrast/ On the other hand
26. On the other hand/ On the other side of the coin/ Turning to the other side of the argument/ We can balance against this…
27. Nevertheless/ ,whereas…
28. Nonetheless/ Nevertheless/ Even though (all) that is true/ Despite all of this
29. However,…/…, but…
30. Despite…/ In spite of…
Compare as a class or with the suggested answers.
——————————-
Suggested answers
Determiners
1. An advantage/ The advantage – Very different
2. One of the advantages/ An advantage – The same
3. Some advantages are…/ Some of the advantages are… – Different
4. A great advantage/ The main advantage – The same
Collocations with advantage
5. The greatest advantage/ The main advantage/ The most significant advantage – The same
6. The greatest advantage/ The overwhelming advantage – Significantly different
7. By far the most important advantage/ The overwhelming advantage – The same
8. A great advantage/ A major advantage/ A big advantage – The same
9. A comparatively minor disadvantage/ A completely insignificant disadvantage – Different
10. A more important advantage/ A very important advantage – Different
11. A possible advantage/ A potential advantage – The same
12. Another advantage/ A further advantage/ An additional advantage/ One more advantage – The same
Other phrases
13. Pros and cons/ Advantages and disadvantages – The same
14. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages/ There are more pros than cons – Basically the same
15. A pro/ An advantage – Different (“Pros and cons” is a fixed expression – the general meaning of “a pro” is “a professional”)
16. A con/ A disadvantage – Different (“Pros and cons” is a fixed expression – the general meaning of “a pro” is “fraud/ a scam/ a rip off”)
17. Arguments for/ Supporting arguments/ Arguments in support – The same
18. Good and bad points/ Pluses and minuses – The same
19. Disadvantage/ Drawback – The same
20. Positive aspect/ Positive point – The same
21. Negative effect/ Negative consequence – The same
22. Positive consequence/ Benefit – The same
23. Disadvantage/ Demerit – Different (“Demerit” is rarely used in English outside school, where it is a punishment)
Contrasting phrases
24. In contrast/ On the contrary – Different (The latter means the thing just said isn’t true)
25. In contrast/ On the other hand – Different (The latter is only used to weigh things up)
26. On the other hand/ On the other side of the coin/ Turning to the other side of the argument/ We can balance against this… – The same
27. Nevertheless/ ,whereas… – Different (The former shows which side you agree with)
28. Nonetheless/ Nevertheless/ Even though (all) that is true/ Despite all of this – The same
29. However,…/…, but… – The same
30. Despite…/ In spite of… – The same
————————————–
PDF for easy saving and printing:
Related pages
