However Vs Although

However and although are two English words that both loosely mean “but”. Unfortunately, knowing exactly when you should use however vs although is something that most native English speakers would struggle to explain.

The difference between “however” and “although”

The main difference between these two words is that however can stand by itself at the beginning of a sentence, with a comma after it. Although can’t do this.

The words also have slightly different meanings:

Although means “in spite of the fact that…”.

However means “but”.

The actual rules about whether to use however or although are quite complicated, but there is an easy rule that works in almost all situations.  See if you can figure out what it is.

The next two sentences are correct:

Although the weather was cold, we decided not to wear our jackets.

We decided not to wear our jackets. However, the weather was cold.

While this sentence isn’t correct:

We decided not to wear our jackets. Although, it was rather cold.

If we were to use “however” instead of “although”, this sentence would be correct.

So in general, we use “however” at the beginning of a new sentence, with a comma after it. “Although” can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence, but it doesn’t have a comma afterwards.

Here’s a few for you to try

See if you can work out whether to use “although” or “however” in the following sentences.

1. __________ I speak English well, my first language is actually German.

2. We can go to the park for lunch. _________, the weather report says it’s going to rain.

3. I’ll happily drink red wine, ________ I prefer white.

See if you got the answers right by checking the Answer Key

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English Sentence Structure: 4 Types of English Sentences

Simple Sentence

A simple sentence contains one independent clause.

What’s an “independent clause”? It’s one subject followed by one verb or verb phrase. It expresses a single idea.

Examples of simple sentences:

• I‘m happy.
• Robert doesn’t eat meat.
• My brother and I went to the mall last night.
• This new laptop computer has already crashed twice.

Notice that a “simple sentence” isn’t necessarily short. The subject can be a single word like “I” or “Robert,” or it can be a double subject like “my brother and I,” or it can be multiple words describing a single person/object, like “This new laptop computer.”

Compound Sentence

A compound sentence has two independent clauses joined by a linking word (and, but, or, so, yet, however).

Each independent clause could be a sentence by itself, but we connect them with a linking word:

• I‘m happy, but my kids are always complaining.
• Robert doesn’t eat meat, so Barbara made a special vegetarian dish for him.
• My brother and I went to the mall last night, but we didn’t buy anything.
• This new laptop computer has already crashed twice, and I have no idea why.

Note that each sentence has TWO subjects and TWO verb phrases.

Complex Sentence

A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

A dependent clause cannot be a complete sentence by itself.

• I’m happy, even though I don’t make much money.
• Robert, a friend I’ve known since high school, doesn’t eat meat.
• My brother and I went to the mall last night, while my sister stayed home and studied.
• This new laptop computer, which I bought yesterday, has already crashed twice.

Compound-Complex Sentence

A compound-complex sentence contains 3 or more clauses: 2 independent and at least 1dependent clause.

• I’m happy, even though I don’t make much money, but my kids are always complaining since we can’t afford to buy the newest toys.

Independent clauses: “I’m happy” and “my kids are always complaining”
Dependent clauses: “even though I don’t make much money” and “since we can’t afford to buy the newest toys”
Linking word: “but”

• Robert, a friend I’ve known since high school, doesn’t eat meat – so Barbara made a special vegetarian dish for him.

Independent clauses: “Robert doesn’t eat meat” and “Barbara made a special vegetarian dish for him”
Dependent clause: “a friend I’ve known since high school”
Linking word: “so”

• My brother and I went to the mall last night, while my sister stayed home and studied because she has a test coming up.

Independent clauses: “My brother and I went to the mall last night” and “my sister stayed home and studied”
Dependent clause: “because she has a test coming up”
Linking word: “while”

• This new laptop computer, which I bought yesterday, has already crashed twice; however, I have no idea why.

Independent clauses: “This new laptop computer has already crashed twice” and “I have no idea why”
Dependent clause: “which I bought yesterday”
Linking word: “however”

Source: http://www.espressoenglish.net

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What’s the difference between CAN, COULD, and ABLE TO?

In the present:

“Can” and “able to” are the same in the present tense:

Yes, I can take on this project.

Yes, I‘m able to take on this project.

The negative forms are can’t and am not / is not / are not able to.

In the past:

We use “could/couldn’t” or “was/wasn’t able to.”

In general, both are used in the negative form:

I wasn’t able to finish all my homework yesterday.

I couldn’t finish all my homework yesterday.

But in the positive form, “was able to” is more common than “could”:

I was able to leave work a little early yesterday.

Don’t say didn’t can in the past – it doesn’t exist, and it’s a common error in English!

In the future:

In the future, there is only one form: “will be able to”:

I have some free time tomorrow, so I‘ll be able to work on this project.

Sorry, I won’t be able to go to the party on Thursday. I have school the next day.

Don’t say “will can” or “won’t can” - it’s another common error in English!

When asking someone to do something:

When you are asking someone to do something, use “could” (more formal) or “can” (more informal):

Could you bring me a glass of water, please?

Can you bring me a glass of water, please?

When asking about someone’s abilities:

In this case, you can use either CAN or ABLE TO:

Can you run a mile in less than 10 minutes?

Are you able to run a mile in less than 10 minutes?

Can is probably more common in spoken English, simply because it’s shorter.

Source: http://www.espressoenglish.net

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3 VERY common mistakes with the English word “it”

#1 – Forgetting to use “it” when the sentence needs a subject

“I just bought a new computer. Was on sale.”

Every sentence in English needs a subject. In the second sentence, we need to say “It was on sale” – the word “it” functions as the subject, referring to the new computer.

We also use “it” as the subject with weather and time:

• “Is raining.”
  “It’s raining.”
• “Is cold today.”
  “It’s cold today.” 
• “Is five o’clock.”
  “It’s five o’clock.”

#2 – Forgetting to use “it” when the verb needs an object

“What did you do with the document?”
“I sent to your secretary.”

“Where’s my jacket?”
“I put in the closet.”

In these sentences, the main verbs – sent and put – need a direct object:

“I sent it to your secretary.”

“I put it in the closet.”

Again, we need to use the word “it” in place of the specific name of the object (the document / the jacket).

#3 – Using “it” to repeat the subject that’s already in the clause

“This food it’s not very good.”

“The best part about English class it’s that we play a lot of games.”

In the first sentence, the subjects of the sentences (“food” and “part”) are already mentioned specifically, so we don’t need to include “it.” Many students make this mistake when the subject is a long phrase (“the best part about English class”) rather than just one word.

We could use “it” if we added a second clause to the sentence:

“This food is not very good, but I’ll eat it anyway.”

Source: http://www.espressoenglish.net

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