language learning center · C1 · Lesson 9
Counterargument and emphasis
Anticipate a credible counterargument and use advanced emphasis to show why your main claim still holds.
Step 1 of 8 — Dialogue
~5 min~40 min total
Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.
Grace
Admittedly, the initial investment is substantial, and that should not be minimised.
Ethan
Then why proceed before costs come down?
Grace
Because what is at stake is not merely the purchase price, but the cost of delaying the transition.
Ethan
So not only would delay preserve the current expense; it could also make the eventual change more disruptive.
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.
Admittedly,…
Admittedly, the initial investment is substantial, and that should not be minimised.
That should not be minimised; nevertheless,…
Admittedly, the initial investment is substantial, and that should not be minimised.
What is at stake is…
Because what is at stake is not merely the purchase price, but the cost of delaying the transition.
Not only would…, but it could also…
So not only would delay preserve the current expense; it could also make the eventual change more disruptive.
The stronger objection would be…
The stronger objection would be…
Which sentence uses fronted “not only” correctly?
Listen, then choose what you heard.
Write your own sentence using this item.
This is self-practice. It is not automatically scored as correct or incorrect.
Answer in your own words. Record yourself, listen back, and then compare your response with the model answer.
Present an English argument with one fair concession, one decisive reframing, and one correctly inverted “not only” sentence.
Choose a position you can defend without dismissing its strongest objection.
Build a counterargument in English
Daily goal
0 / 3 activities
Each activity counts once a day. A correct answer, a completed writing task, or a positive speaking reflection counts toward your goal. One activity keeps your streak going.
- 1. Admittedly,…
- 2. That should not be minimised; nevertheless,…
- 3. What is at stake is…
- 4. Not only would…, but it could also…
- 5. The stronger objection would be…