8.66 contrast

If you simply want to contrast two statements, you use 'although', 'though', 'even though', or 'while'.

• I used to read a lot although I don't get much time for books now.
• Though he has lived for years in London, he writes in German.
• I used to love listening to her, even though I could only understand about half of what she said.
• While I did well in class, I was a poor performer at games.

'Whilst' and 'whereas' can also be used. They are fairly formal words.

• Raspberries have a matt, spongy surface whilst blackberries have a taut, shiny skin.
• To every child adult approval means love, whereas disapproval means hate.

8.67

If you want to say that something which is probably true does not affect the truth of something else, you use 'even if'.

• All this is part of modern commercial life (even if it is not as essential an activity as most participants care to believe).
• From the minute he does these things he begins to be a different person, even if he doesn't realize it.

'Even if' is also used in conditional clauses. This use is explained in paragraph 8.39.

8.68

You use 'not that' instead of using 'although' and a negative. For example, instead of saying 'I have decided to leave, although no one will miss me', you can say 'I have decided to leave --- not that anyone will miss me'.

Clauses beginning with 'not that' always go after a main clause.

• I wouldn't want to give away any secrets at this stage --- not that we've got any answers yet.
• Kunta continued sleeping in Omoro's hut for the next seven nights --- not that anyone seemed to notice or care.