B2 · Unit 25 · 43 words, 2 texts with translation
Make your case in a debate
Argue by the rules: give your reasons in order, draw conclusions, and discuss work, books and movies.
Texts in this unit
Grammar in this unit
Connectors for an argument: en primer lugar, de hecho, es más, en definitiva
You can already disagree (en cambio, sin embargo; B1, units 10 and 11) and give a cause and a result (ya que and por lo tanto — therefore; unit 8). Now come the words for a debate, a meeting or a piece of writing: they tell the listener where you start, where you add a stronger point and where you sum up.
| What you do | Connector | In English |
|---|---|---|
| Start a list of points | en primer lugar | first of all |
| Weigh both sides | por un lado… por otro (lado) | on the one hand… on the other (hand) |
| Back it up with a fact | de hecho | in fact |
| Add a stronger point | es más | what's more |
| Draw a conclusion | en definitiva | all in all, in the end |
| Sum up | en resumen | in short, to sum up |
The verb after them is in the normal form (indicative), the same as without the connector: these words don't change the verb (unlike aunque or para que). They go at the start of the sentence, followed by a comma.
- En primer lugar, el piso es caro. Es más, no tiene ascensor. — First of all, the apartment is expensive. What's more, it doesn't have an elevator.
- Por un lado, el barrio me encanta; por otro, está lejos del trabajo. — On the one hand, I love the neighborhood; on the other, it's far from work.
- No me gusta el frío. De hecho, por eso vivo en Valencia. — I don't like the cold. In fact, that's why I live in Valencia.
- En definitiva, nos quedamos con el segundo piso. — All in all, we're taking the second apartment. (Formal; with friends, say
al final.)
Es más has two meanings. On its own, with a pause and a whole sentence after it, it means "what's more". Before an adjective it's just a comparison: Este piso es más barato — This apartment is cheaper.
A common mistake is using de hecho to mean "but actually it's the other way around". De hecho backs up what you just said; to correct it, use en realidad: Parece serio, pero en realidad es muy majo — He looks serious, but he's actually really nice. English "in fact" can do both jobs; Spanish splits them.
No es que…, sino que…: it's not that…, it's that…
You already know that no creo que and no es verdad que take the subjunctive (B1, unit 24; unit 7), and that sino is "but (rather)" after a negative: no es caro, sino barato (B1, unit 11). Now we put the two together: in an argument you often need to say "you got me wrong, the reason is something else".
1. No es que + subjunctive, sino que + normal form — "it's not that…, it's (just) that…". The first half is what you reject: it isn't a fact, so it takes the subjunctive. The second half is what you claim: the normal form (indicative).
- No es que no me guste el piso, sino que es muy caro. — It's not that I don't like the apartment, it's just that it's very expensive.
- No es que lo haya olvidado, sino que no he tenido tiempo. — It's not that I forgot, I just haven't had time.
In conversation the second half often starts with es que: No es que esté enfadada, es que estoy cansada — It's not that I'm angry, I'm just tired (woman speaking).
2. No… porque + subjunctive, sino porque + normal form — "not because…, but because…".
- No lo digo porque quiera discutir, sino porque me importa. — I'm not saying this because I want to argue, but because it matters to me.
Here the verb form changes the meaning of the sentence. Compare:
- No lo compro porque es caro. — I'm not buying it because it's expensive. (I'm not buying it, and that's the real reason.)
- No lo compro porque sea barato, sino porque lo necesito. — I'm not buying it because it's cheap, but because I need it. (I am buying it; only the reason is rejected.)
In English, "I'm not buying it because it's cheap" can mean either thing. Spanish shows which one with the verb form.
Sino or sino que? Before a word or an infinitive, use sino; before a conjugated verb, use sino que: no se queja, sino que busca soluciones (he doesn't complain; instead, he looks for solutions).
Common mistakes: the normal form in the first half (✗ no es que no me gusta; correct: no es que no me guste) and pero instead of sino in the second half.
Words in this unit
en primer lugar — first of all, in the first place
En primer lugar, quiero darte las gracias. — First of all, I want to thank you.
en definitiva — all in all, ultimately, in the end
Es barato, está cerca y tiene terraza. En definitiva, es el piso perfecto. — It's cheap, it's close by and it has a terrace. All in all, it's the perfect apartment.
considerar — to consider, to believe
Considero que tienes razón. — I believe you're right.
el debate — debate, discussion
Esta noche hay un debate en la tele sobre el trabajo. — There's a debate on TV tonight about work.
argumentar — to argue, to give reasons
Tienes que argumentar tu opinión, no solo decirla. — You have to give reasons for your opinion, not just state it.
precisamente — precisely, exactly, just
Precisamente por eso te lo digo. — That's exactly why I'm telling you.
básicamente — basically, essentially
Básicamente, el problema es el precio. — Basically, the problem is the price.
francamente — frankly, honestly
Francamente, no me gusta nada. — Frankly, I don't like it at all.
la encuesta — survey, poll
Según la encuesta, la mayoría quiere más días libres. — According to the survey, most people want more days off.
la estadística — statistics, statistic
Según las estadísticas, la gente duerme menos que antes. — According to the statistics, people sleep less than they used to.
cuestionar — to question, to challenge
Nadie cuestiona su trabajo. — Nobody questions his work.
partidario — in favor (of), supporter
Soy partidario de la semana de cuatro días. — I'm in favor of the four-day week (man speaking).
digan lo que digan — whatever people say, no matter what they say
Digan lo que digan, yo voy a ir a la fiesta. — Whatever people say, I'm going to the party.
la productividad — productivity
Con menos horas, la productividad sube. — With fewer hours, productivity goes up.
la conciliación — work-life balance, reconciliation
En mi empresa hay ayudas para la conciliación. — At my company there's support for work-life balance.
el bienestar — well-being, welfare
El bienestar de los trabajadores es importante. — Workers' well-being is important.
la generación — generation
Mi generación vive peor que la de mis padres. — My generation is worse off than my parents' generation.
la influencia — influence
Mis amigos tienen mucha influencia en mí. — My friends have a lot of influence on me.
el experimento — experiment
Hicimos un experimento en clase. — We did an experiment in class.
el voto — vote
Cada voto cuenta. — Every vote counts.
la moral — morals, morality, morale
Para mí, mentir es un problema de moral. — For me, lying is a question of morals.
mundial — world, worldwide, global
Es un problema mundial. — It's a global problem.
la novela — novel
Estoy leyendo una novela muy buena. — I'm reading a really good novel.
la lectura — reading
Me encanta la lectura. — I love reading.
el escritor — writer
Mi escritora favorita nació en Valencia. — My favorite writer (female) was born in Valencia.
el autor — author
¿Quién es el autor de este libro? — Who's the author of this book?
la reseña — review
Leí una reseña muy buena de esta novela. — I read a really good review of this novel.
la versión — version
Prefiero la versión original de la película. — I prefer the original version of the movie.
la adaptación — adaptation
La adaptación de la novela es muy buena. — The adaptation of the novel is very good.
la literatura — literature
Estudio literatura española en la universidad. — I study Spanish literature at the university.
el narrador — narrator
El narrador de la novela es un niño. — The narrator of the novel is a child.
cultural — cultural
Hay muchos eventos culturales en la ciudad. — There are lots of cultural events in the city.
el festival — festival
Este verano voy a un festival de música. — This summer I'm going to a music festival.
el canal — channel
¿En qué canal ponen el partido? — What channel is the game on?
reflexionar — to reflect, to think over
Necesito reflexionar antes de decidir. — I need to think it over before I decide.
reflejar — to reflect, to show
El agua refleja el cielo. — The water reflects the sky.
superficial — superficial, shallow
Es una conversación muy superficial. — It's a very superficial conversation.
complejo — complex
Es un tema muy complejo. — It's a very complex topic.
concreto — specific, concrete
Necesito un ejemplo concreto. — I need a specific example.
subjetivo — subjective
Es una opinión subjetiva, no un dato. — It's a subjective opinion, not a fact.
dejar mucho que desear — to leave a lot to be desired
El servicio del bar deja mucho que desear. — The service at the bar leaves a lot to be desired.
no tener ni pies ni cabeza — to make no sense at all
Esta historia no tiene ni pies ni cabeza. — This story makes no sense at all.
frente a — across from, facing, compared to
Mi casa está frente a la estación. — My house is across from the station.
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