Grammar Focus

Explicación (en español)

En el nivel C1 Advanced, el uso de conectores (linkers) es lo que diferencia a un estudiante intermedio de uno avanzado. En esta unidad, nos enfocaremos en cuatro funciones críticas: concession (concesión/contraste inesperado), contrast (contraste directo), purpose (propósito) y result (resultado). El objetivo es que dejes de usar siempre "but", "because" o "so" y empieces a utilizar estructuras más sofisticadas que permitan matizar tus ideas sobre temas complejos como la educación y el conocimiento.

Un error muy común entre los hispanohablantes es la traducción literal de "aunque". Mientras que en español usamos "aunque" tanto para although como para even though, en inglés debemos prestar atención a la estructura gramatical que le sigue. Por ejemplo, despite y in spite of requieren un sustantivo o un gerundio (-ing), no una oración completa con sujeto y verbo. Si intentas decir "Despite he studied hard..." (error común), estarás cometiendo un fallo de nivel B1. Lo correcto sería "Despite studying hard..." o "Despite the fact that he studied hard...".

En cuanto al propósito y el resultado, es vital dominar la diferencia entre so that (seguido de una cláusula con modal: can/could/may) y in order to (seguido de un infinitivo). Muchos estudiantes confunden estas estructuras al intentar expresar finalidad. Asimismo, para expresar resultados, pasaremos de usar el simple "so" a estructuras más formales como consequently, therefore o as a result, que son esenciales para la escritura académica (Writing Task 2).

Finalmente, recuerda que la posición del conector cambia el énfasis. Un conector de contraste como whereas suele ir en medio de la frase para comparar dos ideas, mientras que uno de concesión como although suele introducir la idea secundaria. Dominar estas sutilezas te permitirá estructurar ensayos académicos con una fluidez natural y profesional.

Form — estructura

Examples

1. Although the curriculum is outdated, many students still find the lessons engaging. (Aunque el plan de estudios está desactualizado, muchos estudiantes aún encuentran las lecciones interesantes.)
2. Despite having limited resources, the university achieved international recognition. (A pesar de tener recursos limitados, la universidad logró reconocimiento internacional.)
3. Students must undergo rigorous testing in order to demonstrate their proficiency. (Los estudiantes deben someterse a pruebas rigurosas para demostrar su competencia.)
4. She decided to take a gap year so that she could gain practical work experience. (Ella decidió tomarse un año sabático para poder ganar experiencia laboral práctica.)
5. Some believe online learning is more efficient, whereas others argue it lacks social interaction. (Algunos creen que el aprendizaje en línea es más eficiente, mientras que otros argumentan que carece de interacción social.)
6. The research was flawed; consequently, the findings were dismissed by the faculty. (La investigación tenía fallos; por consiguiente, los hallazgos fueron rechazados por la facultad.)
7. Even though she lacks formal qualifications, her expertise in coding is undeniable. (A pesar de que carece de cualificaciones formales, su pericia en programación es innegable.)
8. We implemented new teaching methods so as to encourage critical thinking. (Implementamos nuevos métodos de enseñanza para fomentar el pensamiento crítico.)

Contrast

1. ✗ Despite he failed the exam, he remains optimistic. / ✓ Although he failed the exam, he remains optimistic. (Error: Despite cannot be followed by a subject + verb clause.)
2. ✗ I studied hard so to pass the entrance exam. / ✓ I studied hard in order to pass the entrance exam. (Error: So cannot be followed directly by an infinitive; use in order to.)
3. ✗ The lecture was long, so that I fell asleep. / ✓ The lecture was long; consequently, I fell asleep. (Error: So that expresses purpose, not result. Use consequently or therefore for results.)
4. ✗ In spite of the fact that it was raining, but we went to the lecture. / ✓ In spite of the fact that it was raining, we went to the lecture. (Error: You cannot use both a concession linker and "but" in the same sentence.)

Mini-quiz — 10 preguntas

Part 1: Sentence Transformation (Rewrite the sentence using the word in BOLD so that the meaning stays the same).

1. Even though the tuition fees are high, the quality of education is excellent. DESPITE

2. I am learning English because I want to study abroad. SO THAT

3. Although he had no experience, he was offered the teaching position. IN SPITE OF

4. The school lacks funding; as a result, they cannot build a new lab. CONSEQUENTLY

5. While some students prefer studying alone, others prefer group work. WHEREAS

Part 2: Multiple Choice (Choose the correct option a, b, or c).

6. ___ the complexity of the subject, the professor made it easy to understand. a) Although b) Despite c) Even though

7. He worked late every night ___ complete his thesis on time. a) so that b) in order to c) whereas

8. The student was caught cheating; ___, he was expelled from the university. a) therefore b) although c) so as to

9. ___ she is a genius, she struggles with social skills. a) Despite b) In spite of c) Even though

10. We need to revise the syllabus ___ students can better prepare for the job market. a) so that b) in order to c) whereas

Respuestas: 1. Despite the high tuition fees, the quality of education is excellent. / Despite tuition fees being high... 2. I am learning English so that I can study abroad. 3. In spite of having no experience, he was offered the teaching position. / In spite of his lack of experience... 4. The school lacks funding; consequently, they cannot build a new lab. 5. Some students prefer studying alone, whereas others prefer group work. 6. b 7. b 8. a 9. c 10. a