Comparing options

Compare advantages and drawbacks before reaching a balanced choice.

Understand and learn

Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.

Maya

Should we take the early flight or the overnight train?

Maya presents two practical options.

Leo

The flight is much faster, whereas the train is cheaper and takes us straight to the center.

Leo contrasts speed, price, and convenience.

Maya

On the other hand, we’d lose a night’s sleep on the train.

Maya adds a drawback to the cheaper choice.

Leo

That’s true. Overall, I think the flight is worth the extra cost this time.

Leo acknowledges the point and reaches a conclusion.

Understand a natural example and learn a small set of useful words, phrases, and patterns.

These items were selected by the lesson curriculum for practical use—not extracted as an every-word list.

The main advantage is…
Introduce a benefit.
The main advantage is…
The drawback is…
Introduce a disadvantage.
The drawback is…
…whereas…
Contrast two facts in one sentence.
The flight is much faster, whereas the train is cheaper and takes us straight to the center.
On the other hand…
Add the opposite side.
On the other hand, we’d lose a night’s sleep on the train.
Overall, I think…
Give a balanced conclusion.
That’s true. Overall, I think the flight is worth the extra cost this time.

Which response reaches a balanced conclusion?

Overall, the train offers better value despite the longer journey.The train whereas cheaper.On other hand train.The drawback, so advantage.

Compare two real options using one advantage, one drawback, and a conclusion.

Choose two products, routes, jobs, courses, or weekend plans.

Use it with someone