Unit 1 — Ancient civilizations › Language form
Expressing concession: though, in spite of, but, however
- التعبير عن التنازل، أي الإقرار بواقعة لم تمنع وقوع واقعة أخرى، بـ though و although
- استعمال in spite of the fact that و despite the fact that متبوعتين بجملة، و in spite of و despite متبوعتين بمجموعة اسميّة
- المقابلة بين واقعتين بـ but و yet و however، مع مراعاة موضع كلّ أداة وعلامة الترقيم التي تليها
- دمج جملتين في جملة تنازل واحدة، وإعادة كتابتها بأداة أخرى دون تغيير معناها
- الجملة الأساسية والجملة التابعة
- المجموعة الاسميّة (noun group) والجملة الكاملة ذات الفاعل والفعل
- الماضي البسيط والحاضر البسيط
1. Admitting a fact: though, although, in spite of the fact that
To concede means to admit. A sentence of concession admits one fact, and states another fact that remains true in spite of it: the first fact could have prevented the second, but it did not. The fact that is admitted is introduced by a conjunction of concession (a word that joins two clauses): though, although, in spite of the fact that or despite the fact that. Each of them is followed by a full clause, with its own subject and verb: « In spite of the fact that the Casbah underwent some changes during the French colonial rule, it still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers. » When the clause of concession comes first, a comma separates it from the main clause.
[…] Archaeologists are still undecided about which of these Saharan sites contains the fewest traces of these ancient civilizations. Yet the traces that have already been uncovered in the Tassili n'Ajjer speak eloquently of the fruitful contact of the Phoenician and Roman civilizations with that of the Sahara. […] Five centuries later, Emir Bulughin rebuilt the town into an important Mediterranean trading port called al-Jaza'ir. Until then, Algiers had less influence on international commerce than the other Algerian maritime cities because it had fewer natural harbours. Therefore, despite the fact that it was considered a trading post by both the Romans and Phoenicians, only the least amount of merchandise transited through it. After the Turkish Baba Aruj brothers had gained control of the city in 1516, Algiers thrived as a relatively independent city under the nominal control of the Ottoman Empire. Later, the Ottomans transformed the architectural character of the city by constructing mosques and palaces similar to those in Asia Minor and erecting the famous white-washed military fortification known as the Casbah. In spite of the fact that the Casbah underwent some changes during the French colonial rule, it still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers. Adapted from Africana: The Encyclopedia of African and African American Experience
Task 1 — Pick out the sentences of the text that express concession, and the connector of each.Task 1 — Pick out the sentences of the text that express concession, and the connector of each.استخرج من النصّ الجمل التي تعبّر عن التنازل، وأداة التنازل في كلّ منها.
| Connector | The fact admitted | The fact that remains true |
|---|---|---|
| despite the fact that | it (Algiers) was considered a trading post by both the Romans and Phoenicians | only the least amount of merchandise transited through it |
| in spite of the fact that | the Casbah underwent some changes during the French colonial rule | it still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers |
The sentence that begins with Yet also opposes two facts — archaeologists are undecided, yet the traces speak eloquently — but with a connector of contrast, not with a conjunction of concession: see part 2.
Task 2 — In the Casbah sentence, what makes the second fact surprising? Which word stresses it?Task 2 — In the Casbah sentence, what makes the second fact surprising? Which word stresses it?في جملة القصبة: ما الذي يجعل الواقعة الثانية مفاجئة؟ وأيّ كلمة تؤكّد ذلك؟
The Casbah underwent some changes during the French colonial rule: a place that changes could lose its role. It did not — it still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers. The word still stresses that the second fact remains true in spite of the first. That is exactly what concession does: it admits a fact, and shows that this fact did not prevent the other.
Task 3 — « Therefore, despite the fact that it was considered a trading post by both the Romans and Phoenicians, only the least amount of merchandise transited through it. » Two link words: which one expresses concession?Task 3 — « Therefore, despite the fact that it was considered a trading post by both the Romans and Phoenicians, only the least amount of merchandise transited through it. » Two link words: which one expresses concession?في هذه الجملة أداتا ربط: Therefore و despite the fact that. أيّهما تعبّر عن التنازل؟
despite the fact that expresses concession: Algiers was a trading post, and yet only the least amount of merchandise went through it. Therefore expresses a result: it links the sentence to the one before — Algiers had fewer natural harbours, so less merchandise went through it. One sentence can carry two relations: look at each link word separately.
2. The same relation, other connectors: in spite of, but, however
In spite of and despite can also be followed directly by a noun group, without the fact that: « In spite of some changes during the French colonial rule, the Casbah still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers. » After in spite of or despite alone, never put a full clause. But, yet and however are connectors of contrast: they set the two facts side by side and oppose them. But joins the two facts inside one sentence. However opens the second sentence and is followed by a comma. Yet can open the second sentence too, as in the text: « Yet the traces that have already been uncovered in the Tassili n'Ajjer speak eloquently of the fruitful contact of the Phoenician and Roman civilizations with that of the Sahara. »
| Connector | The sentence |
|---|---|
| in spite of the fact that | In spite of the fact that the Casbah underwent some changes during the French colonial rule, it still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers. |
| despite the fact that | Despite the fact that the Casbah underwent some changes during the French colonial rule, it still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers. |
| though, although | Though the Casbah underwent some changes during the French colonial rule, it still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers. |
| in spite of + noun group | In spite of some changes during the French colonial rule, the Casbah still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers. |
| but | The Casbah underwent some changes during the French colonial rule, but it still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers. |
| however | The Casbah underwent some changes during the French colonial rule. However, it still remains the throbbing cultural heart of the city of Algiers. |
a) In spite of the changes, the Casbah still remains the cultural heart of Algiers. b) In spite of the Casbah underwent some changes, it still remains the cultural heart of Algiers. c) Although the Casbah underwent some changes, it still remains the cultural heart of Algiers.
Task 4 — Which sentence is wrong, and why?Task 4 — Which sentence is wrong, and why?أيّ الجمل الثلاث خاطئة؟ ولماذا؟
Sentence b) is wrong: in spite of alone cannot be followed by a full clause (the Casbah underwent…). Write in spite of the fact that the Casbah underwent some changes, or put a noun group after in spite of, as in a): in spite of the changes. Sentence c) is right: although is followed by a full clause.
3. Joining two facts in one sentence
1a. Andalusia (have) an extremely diverse population. 1b. Andalusia (maintain) its social cohesion and harmony for many centuries. 2a. The Muslims (leave) Andalusia in 1492. 2b. Islamic civilization (remain) an enriching element of the Spanish cultural heritage.
Task 5 — the answersTask 5 — the answersحدّد أوّلا الواقعة التي نُقِرّ بها: هي التي تدخل عليها أداة التنازل.
- 1. Though Andalusia had an extremely diverse population, it maintained its social cohesion and harmony for many centuries. — Although, In spite of the fact that and Despite the fact that are also correct.
- 2. Although the Muslims left Andalusia in 1492, Islamic civilization remained an enriching element of the Spanish cultural heritage. — Though, In spite of the fact that and Despite the fact that are also correct.
The connector goes before the fact that is admitted — the diverse population, the departure of the Muslims — never before the fact that remains true. The verbs are in the past simple: both facts belong to the past.
Task 6 — Now join pair 2 with but, then with however.Task 6 — Now join pair 2 with but, then with however.اربط الآن الجملتين 2 بـ but، ثمّ بـ however.
The Muslims left Andalusia in 1492, but Islamic civilization remained an enriching element of the Spanish cultural heritage. The Muslims left Andalusia in 1492. However, Islamic civilization remained an enriching element of the Spanish cultural heritage. With but and however, there is no clause of concession: the two facts stand side by side, and the connector opposes them.
A model answerA model answer
Though our school is small, it has a rich library. In spite of the fact that I live far from the school, I am never late. The last test was difficult. However, most of us passed it. Notice the comma after the clause of concession, and after However.
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