Mission: win an argument politely
Linking ideas to build an argument. Contrast, cause, consequence and structure.
FrenchB1 · Opinions and debateAbout 7 min: 3 reading, 4 practiceUpdated
- Contrast ideas with cependant, pourtant, par contre, alors que, même si
- Show consequence with donc, c'est pourquoi, du coup
- Choose between grâce à and à cause de, and between parce que, puisque and car
- Structure an argument with d'une part… d'autre part, en plus, de plus, finalement, en conclusion
Opinions and debate: lesson 4 of 4
- B1 · Opinions and debate
- Mission: give your opinion at a dinner party 6 min
- Mission: tell your flatmates what needs doing 7 min
- Mission: react to news from a friend 7 min
- Mission: win an argument politely 7 min
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Level Level B1 (around the DELF B1 exam). Real French: persuading a friend with a reasoned argument.
What it is
Your mission: you and your friend Hugo are planning a holiday. You want the mountains; he wants the beach. Persuade him in a friendly way: give two reasons with d'une part… d'autre part, answer one of his objections, and finish with a short conclusion. Use tu.
At B1 your sentences must be joined into an argument. Four groups of linkers:
| Job | Linkers |
|---|---|
| Contrast | cependant, pourtant, par contre, alors que, même si |
| Consequence | donc, c'est pourquoi, du coup |
| Cause | parce que, puisque, car, grâce à, à cause de |
| Structure | d'une part… d'autre part, en plus, de plus, finalement, en conclusion |
Contrast. Cependant (however) and pourtant (yet, despite that) usually open a new clause or sentence. Par contre (on the other hand) is spoken. Alors que (whereas) joins two ideas: tu veux la mer, alors que je préfère la montagne. Même si (even if) is followed by the indicative: même s'il pleut, on y va.
Consequence. Donc (so), c'est pourquoi (that's why, slightly formal) and du coup (so, as a result; very common in speech).
Cause. Grâce à + noun = thanks to, for a good cause; à cause de + noun = because of, for a bad one. Parce que gives the reason; puisque gives a reason the listener already knows (puisque tu es libre, viens !); car is mostly written.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
« J'ai trouvé mon appartement … ma collègue. » (she helped me)
- That is for a bad cause
- parce que is followed by a verb, not a noun
Show answer
grâce à. grâce à + noun for a good cause.
Why it matters
An opinion without reasons doesn't convince anyone. Linkers are how you say why, but, so, and first, and they carry marks in the DELF B1 speaking exam (the expression d'un point de vue part) and in the written paper (one text of at least 160 words). They're also what makes everyday French sound fluent instead of chopped up.
Worked example
Planning the holiday:
- You: Hugo, je voudrais te convaincre. D'une part, la montagne est moins chère. D'autre part, c'est plus calme.
- Hugo: Oui, mais moi je veux me baigner !
- You: Tu veux la mer, alors que moi je préfère marcher. Cependant, il y a un lac près du village. En plus, on peut y nager.
- Hugo: Mmm. Même si c'est joli, j'adore la plage.
- You: Puisque tu as du temps libre, on peut faire les deux: une semaine chacun. Du coup, personne n'est déçu. En conclusion, on part dix jours, et on partage.
- Hugo: D'accord. Finalement, c'est une bonne idée !
Real French: du coup is everywhere in spoken French (du coup, on y va ?). Car is mostly written: in conversation people say parce que. And par contre is fine in speech; in careful writing, prefer en revanche or cependant.
Common mistake
Using à cause de for something good: wrong: à cause de ton aide, j'ai réussi sounds like blame. Use grâce à ton aide.
And don't put a verb after grâce à or à cause de: they usually take a noun (grâce à ton aide). With a verb, use parce que: parce que tu m'as aidé.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
Which sentence blames the train strike for a bad result?
- grâce à is for a good cause
- à cause de is followed by a noun with de
Show answer
Je suis arrivé en retard à cause de la grève.. à cause de + noun for a bad cause.
Key terms
- cependant
- however
- pourtant
- yet, nevertheless
- par contre
- on the other hand (spoken)
- alors que
- whereas
- même si
- even if
- donc
- so, therefore
- c'est pourquoi
- that's why
- du coup
- so, as a result (spoken)
- grâce à
- thanks to
- à cause de
- because of
- puisque
- since, as (the reason is known)
- d'une part… d'autre part
- on the one hand… on the other hand
- en conclusion
- in conclusion
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 13 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| cependant | however |
| pourtant | yet, nevertheless |
| par contre | on the other hand (spoken) |
| alors que | whereas |
| même si | even if |
| donc | so, therefore |
| c'est pourquoi | that's why |
| du coup | so, as a result (spoken) |
| grâce à | thanks to |
| à cause de | because of |
| puisque | since, as (the reason is known) |
| d'une part… d'autre part | on the one hand… on the other hand |
| en conclusion | in conclusion |
Practice
Sort it
What does each linker do?
cependant
howeverShow answer
Contrast. however
alors que
whereasShow answer
Contrast. whereas
donc
soShow answer
Consequence. so
du coup
so (spoken)Show answer
Consequence. so (spoken)
puisque
sinceShow answer
Cause. since
grâce à
thanks toShow answer
Cause. thanks to
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
« Tu veux la mer, … moi, je préfère la montagne. »
- That shows consequence, not contrast
- That needs a noun and shows cause
Show answer
alors que. alors que = whereas.
Result: « Il pleut, … on reste à la maison. » (so we stay in)
- That shows contrast
- That needs a noun
Show answer
du coup. du coup = so, as a result.
« … ton idée, on a trouvé une solution. »
- That is for a bad cause
- That needs a verb clause, not a noun
Show answer
Grâce à. grâce à + noun for a good cause.
Build the sentence
Build "On the one hand it's cheaper; on the other hand it's quicker."
Show answer
D'une part, c'est moins cher ; d'autre part, c'est plus rapide.. d'une part comes first, then d'autre part.
Practise speaking
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Mission role-play. You are Hugo, my friend, planning a holiday with me. Speak naturally but clearly, at level B1, using tu. Start with « Alors, on part où cet été ? Moi, je rêve de la plage. » and then ask one question at a time, disagreeing with my ideas so I have to give reasons. After each of my answers, tell me in English what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again; watch contrast, cause (parce que, puisque, grâce à, à cause de) and consequence linkers. The mission is complete when I have used d'une part… d'autre part, one answer to an objection, and ended with en conclusion (contrast, cause and consequence linkers are a bonus): then say « Mission accomplie ! » and give me one tip. Keep every reply under 3 sentences.
Listen too. Listen to native speakers before and after: see the free listening and shadowing links.
Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. Many assistants turn your speech into text first, so a vowel or liaison you got wrong may be silently “heard” as the right word. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
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In short
- Contrast: cependant, pourtant, par contre (spoken), alors que, même si + indicative.
- Consequence: donc, c'est pourquoi, du coup (spoken).
- Cause: grâce à (good) and à cause de (bad), both + noun; parce que, puisque (known reason), car (written).
- Structure: d'une part… d'autre part; en plus, de plus; finalement, en conclusion.
- Short arguments with two linkers sound more convincing than long ones.
Mastery check
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Check yourself
Answer in your head first, then open the answer. Nothing is saved.
Which is for a good cause: grâce à or à cause de?
Show answer
Grâce à.
Say "on the one hand… on the other hand".
Show answer
D'une part… d'autre part.
How do you say "so, as a result" in everyday speech?
Show answer
Du coup.
Further reading
- RFI, Journal en français facile, a free daily news bulletin: listen for linkers such as pourtant and du coup.
- TV5MONDE, Apprendre le français, free exercises on linking ideas, built on real TV clips.
Finished? Mark it done to fill in your leaf on the French map.