C2 Mastery Advanced conjunctions and agreement
Advanced contrast & concession connectors
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can use advanced contrast & concession connectors (albeit, notwithstanding, whereas) with the right nuance in formal style.
When to use it
- Brief concession within a sentence, no full clause needed: innovative, albeit expensive.
- Formal, academic/legal concession: Notwithstanding the objections, ...
- Contrasting two parallel facts (not concession): Sales rose in Asia, whereas they fell in Europe.
Form
| Connector | Followed by |
|---|---|
| albeit | adjective / short phrase |
| notwithstanding | noun / noun phrase |
| whereas | a full clause |
Step by step
- albeit + adjective/short phrase (not a full clause) — inserted right after the point being conceded.
- notwithstanding + noun/noun phrase (no 'of'; 'notwithstanding that' + clause exists but is rare and very formal) — can precede or follow the noun.
- whereas joins two independent clauses for a parallel contrast, NOT for concession or cause.
- Distinguish: albeit/notwithstanding = concession (despite an obstacle, something still happens); whereas = contrast (two different facts, no obstacle).
Concession vs. Contrast
| Connector | Relationship type |
|---|---|
| albeit, notwithstanding | concession — there is an obstacle but it still happens |
| whereas | contrast — two parallel facts, no obstacle |
Examples
The design is innovative, albeit expensive.
Notwithstanding the criticism, the director stood by her decision.
The north has a cold climate, whereas the south is tropical.
Notwithstanding can also follow its noun: the risks notwithstanding.
Common mistakes
Notwithstanding of the limited budget, the team delivered excellent results. → Notwithstanding the limited budget, the team delivered excellent results.
Notwithstanding takes the noun directly, with no of (unlike in spite of).
Whereas he was tired, he kept working. → Although he was tired, he kept working.
This is a concession (despite being tired, he kept working), not a parallel contrast → use although, not whereas.
He succeeded, whereas at a great cost. → He succeeded, albeit at a great cost.
whereas must be followed by a full clause, not a prepositional phrase; a brief concession should use albeit.
Memory tip
Ask: are these two parallel facts with no obstacle? If so → whereas. If it's despite an obstacle, something still happens → albeit/notwithstanding.
Summary
- albeit + adjective/short phrase = brief concession.
- notwithstanding + noun = formal concession, can precede/follow the noun.
- whereas + full clause = parallel contrast, not concession.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.