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, they are all the same or all different.
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…
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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
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