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Describing Advantages and Disadvantages

A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS

Similar and different looking at both sides phrases

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Lesson Plan Content:


Looking at both sides phrases the same or different

Decide how similar or different each of the groups of phrases below, then talk about what the (main/ most important) differences might be. Some are (basically) the same. If there are more than two, they are all the same or all different (= different, different and different again).

Articles/ Determiners

1.     An advantage/ The advantage

2.     One of the advantages/ An advantage

3.     A great advantage/ The main advantage  

Collocations with advantage

4.     The greatest advantage/ The main advantage/ The most significant advantage

5.     The greatest advantage/ The overwhelming advantage

6.     By far the most important advantage/ The overwhelming advantage

7.     A great advantage/ A major advantage/ A big advantage

8.     A comparatively minor disadvantage/ A completely insignificant disadvantage

9.     A more important advantage/ A very important advantage

10.  A possible advantage/ A potential advantage

11.  Another advantage/ A further advantage/ An additional advantage/ One more advantage  

Other phrases for looking at both sides

12.  Pros and cons/ Advantages and disadvantages

13.  The advantages outweigh the disadvantages/ There are more pros than cons

14.  A pro/ An advantage

15.  A con/ A disadvantage

16.  Arguments for/ Supporting arguments/ Arguments in support

17.  Good and bad points/ Benefits and drawbacks

18.  Positive aspect/ Positive point

19.  Negative effect/ Negative consequence  

Contrasting phrases/ Turning to the other side of the argument

20.  On the contrary/ On the other hand

21.  In contrast/ On the other hand

22.  On the other hand/ On the other side of the coin/ Turning to the other side of the argument/ We can balance against this…

23.  Nevertheless/ On the other hand,…

24.  Nonetheless/ Nevertheless/ Even though (all) that is true/ Despite all of this

25.  However,…/…, but…

26.  Despite…/ In spite of…

Suggested answers

Determiners

1.     An advantage/ The advantage – Very different2.     One of the advantages/ An advantage – The same3.     A great advantage/ The main advantage – Different 

Collocations with advantage

4.     The greatest advantage/ The main advantage/ The most significant advantage – The same5.     The greatest advantage/ The overwhelming advantage – Significantly different6.     By far the most important advantage/ The overwhelming advantage – The same7.     A great advantage/ A major advantage/ A big advantage – The same8.     A comparatively minor disadvantage/ A completely insignificant disadvantage – Different9.     A more important advantage/ A very important advantage – Different10.  A possible advantage/ A potential advantage – Slightly different11.  Another advantage/ A further advantage/ An additional advantage/ One more advantage – The same 

Other phrases

12.  Pros and cons/ Advantages and disadvantages – The same13.  The advantages outweigh the disadvantages/ There are more pros than cons – Basically the same14.  A pro/ An advantage – Different (“Pros and cons” is a fixed expression – the general meaning of “a pro” is “a professional”) 15.  A con/ A disadvantage – Different (“Pros and cons” is a fixed expression – the general meaning of “a con” is “fraud/ a scam/ a rip off” or slang for “a prisoner”)16.  Arguments for/ Supporting arguments/ Arguments in support – The same17.  Good and bad points/ Benefits and drawbacks – The same18.  Positive aspect/ Positive point – The same19.  Negative effect/ Negative consequence – The same 

Contrasting phrases

20.  In contrast/ On the contrary – Different (The latter means the thing just said isn’t true)21.  In contrast/ On the other hand – Different (The latter is only used to weigh things up)22.  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 same23.  Nevertheless/ ,whereas… - Different (The former shows which side you agree with)24.  Nonetheless/ Nevertheless/ Even though (all) that is true/ Despite all of this – The same25.  However,…/…, but… – The same26.  Despite…/ In spite of… – The same

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