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Grammar
Objective: Distinguish neutral, formal, and expected-contrast connectors, and apply the correct one to the correct register and logical relationship.
| Connector | Register | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| mais | neutral | simple opposition | Ce livre est court mais dense. |
| pourtant | neutral to formal | contrast with an expectation | Il avait peu de temps, pourtant il a tout terminé. |
| cependant | formal, written | simple opposition, elevated | La tâche est difficile, cependant elle est faisable. |
| en revanche | formal, written | balancing alternative | L'hôtel est modeste, en revanche la vue est magnifique. |
| par contre | conversational | simple opposition, informal | Ce restaurant est bon, par contre il est bruyant. |
Par contre belongs to a conversational register and is avoided in formal writing, where cependant is preferred.
Pourtant marks a contrast with what the situation would normally lead to, since rain usually keeps someone inside. En revanche would require a balancing alternative, which the sentence does not provide.
Mais is the neutral connector and stands between the two adjectives without a comma, since the sentence is short.
Par contre belongs to a conversational register. It contains two words and never elides.
Pourtant marks a contrast with the expectation raised by the lack of time. The passé composé reports the completed action.
The age of the car raises the expectation of breakdowns, and the second clause contradicts it. Pourtant sits at the head of the contrasting clause.
Cependant belongs to a formal written register and expresses a simple opposition between two assessments.
7 exercises · about 11 minutes
Pourtant would require the second clause to contradict an expectation raised by the first, but disliking coffee does not raise any expectation about tea. En revanche balances two different preferences against each other, which is what the sentence does.
Pourtant marks a contrast with an expectation. Working hard and succeeding are not in contrast, so the causal connector donc expresses the correct relationship.
En revanche balances two aspects of the hotel against each other. The second clause compensates for the first.
In elevated written French, cependant may sit after the conjugated verb to emphasise the contrast.
The complexity raises the expectation of confusion, and the second clause contradicts it. Pourtant is the correct connector.