45 min

language learning center · C2 · Lesson 4

Controlling rhetorical nuance

Practice this topic in Spanish: Controlling rhetorical nuance.

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.

Lucía

No es que la propuesta carezca de mérito; es que llega tarde.

It is not that the proposal lacks merit; it is that it comes too late.

Mateo

Llamarlo prudencia resulta, cuando menos, generoso.

Calling it caution is, to say the least, generous.

Lucía

La aparente concesión intensifica en realidad la crítica.

The apparent concession actually intensifies the criticism.

Mateo

Si quisiera neutralizar el tono, eliminaría esa ironía implícita.

If I wanted to neutralise the tone, I would remove that implicit irony.

Notice, try, and speak

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

Useful words and phrases

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

Learn these items
  • No es que la propuesta carezca de mérito; es que llega tarde.

    It is not that the proposal lacks merit; it is that it comes too late.

    No es que la propuesta carezca de mérito; es que llega tarde.

  • Llamarlo prudencia resulta, cuando menos, generoso.

    Calling it caution is, to say the least, generous.

    Llamarlo prudencia resulta, cuando menos, generoso.

  • La aparente concesión intensifica en realidad la crítica.

    The apparent concession actually intensifies the criticism.

    La aparente concesión intensifica en realidad la crítica.

  • Si quisiera neutralizar el tono, eliminaría esa ironía implícita.

    If I wanted to neutralise the tone, I would remove that implicit irony.

    Si quisiera neutralizar el tono, eliminaría esa ironía implícita.

  • Si quisiera reforzarlo, mantendría la pausa antes del remate.

    If I wanted to reinforce it, I would keep the pause before the final point.

    Si quisiera reforzarlo, mantendría la pausa antes del remate.

Notice, try, and speak

Which Spanish sentence has this meaning: “It is not that the proposal lacks merit; it is that it comes too late.”

Which Spanish sentence has this meaning: “It is not that the proposal lacks merit; it is that it comes too late.”

Make it yours

Say the five Spanish turns aloud, then connect two of them naturally.

Change one detail so the message is true for your own life or opinion.

Use it with someone

Use this Spanish in a real conversation

  1. 1. No es que la propuesta carezca de mérito; es que llega tarde.
  2. 2. Llamarlo prudencia resulta, cuando menos, generoso.
  3. 3. La aparente concesión intensifica en realidad la crítica.
  4. 4. Si quisiera neutralizar el tono, eliminaría esa ironía implícita.
  5. 5. Si quisiera reforzarlo, mantendría la pausa antes del remate.
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