Words used in English to connect comparable or contradictory elements in order to form complex sentences.

1. Connecting Words
that signal comparison or contrast.

2. Animals are stupid.
I think elephants are
okay.

3. Words that signal a
contrast or comparison.
Similarities
• Both
• Also
• Too
• As well
Differences
• But
• Though
• Although
• However
• Unlike
• While
• Whereas
• On the other hand

4. But
Animals are stupid,
but I think elephants
are okay.

5. Though
A) Though animals are stupid, I think
elephants are okay.
B) Animals are stupid, though I think
elephants are okay.
C) Animals are stupid. I think elephants
are okay though.

6. Although
A) Although animals are
stupid, I think elephants are
okay.
B) Animals are stupid,
although I think elephants are
okay.

7. However
A) Animals are stupid. However, I
think elephants are okay.
B) Animals are stupid. I think
elephants, however, are okay.
C) Animals are stupid. I (do) think
elephants are okay, however.

8. Unlike
Unlike all other animals,
(which are stupid,)
I think elephants are okay.
If I didn't include "all other", it would imply that elephants are not
animals.

9. While
A) While all other animals
need wings to fly, elephants
can fly by using their big ears.
B) All other animals need
wings to fly, while elephants
can fly by using their big ears.

10. — is an alternative to “while” that
one can use to express “mientras”
when we want to introduce a
contradictory element..

12. On the other hand
A) Animals need wings to fly, and so
as most animals don't have wings, they
suffer long boring somewhat stationary
lives. On the the other hand, they
don't need language to communicate
among themselves, so their lives are a
lot simpler, and often more relaxed and
enjoyable, in that aspect.

13. On the other hand
B) Most animals need wings to fly, and
so as most animals don't have wings,
they suffer long boring somewhat
stationary lives. Elephants, on the
other hand, are able to fly by using
their big ears, which may look stupid,
but is still better than being stupid.

16. Both
A) Both Coca Cola and tequila are very good.
B) Coca Cola and tequila both are very good.
C) Coca Cola and tequila are both very good.
D) Both are good.
E) I like both Coca Cola and tequila.
F) I like Coca Cola and tequila both.
G) I like both (of them).
H) I like them both.

17. Also
A) I like Coca Cola. Also, I like
tequila.
B) I like Coca Cola. I also like tequila.
C) I like Coca Cola. I like tequila also.

18. Too
A) I like Coca Cola. I like tequila, too.
(I like both things.)
Bob: I love Coca Cola
B) Gertrudis: I love Coca Cola too.
C) Gertrudis: I, too, love Coca Cola.
(Gerty agrees with Bob)

19. As well
I like Coca Cola. I like
tequila as well.