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Lesson 90B2

Debate & Argumentation

Debate & Argumentation

Structuring an argument in Spanish pulls together the discourse markers, opinion phrases, and subjunctive-triggering verbs from across B1 and B2 — this lesson is a synthesis point, not new grammar.

Grammar Comparison

Grammar Comparison

Conceding a point before rebutting it

Spanish

aunque es verdad que..., no creo que... (although it's true that..., I don't think that...) — aunque + indicative for a conceded fact

English

although it's true that..., I don't think that... — the same concession structure

Notice that aunque takes the indicative here (es verdad), not the subjunctive — because you're conceding a fact you believe is genuinely true, not expressing doubt about it. This is a useful reminder that aunque's mood depends on the same certainty logic from your earlier subjunctive lessons, not on the word aunque itself.

Rebuttal phrases often trigger the subjunctive you'd expect

Spanish

no es que esté en desacuerdo, sino que... (it's not that I disagree, but rather that...) — esté is subjunctive, following the same negated-belief pattern from your subjunctive-vs-indicative lesson

English

it's not that I disagree, but rather that... — no special verb form

No es que + subjunctive is a common way to soften a rebuttal, and it follows the exact negated-certainty pattern you already know — denying a stated reason reopens the uncertainty that triggers the subjunctive. This phrase also naturally pairs with sino que from your pero/sino lesson.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

aunque es verdad queOWN-keh es vehr-DAHD keh
English
although it's true that
no es que esté en desacuerdonoh es keh es-TEH en des-ah-KWEHR-doh
English
it's not that I disagree
por un lado... por otropor oon LAH-doh por OH-troh
English
on one hand... on the other
el argumentoel ahr-goo-MEN-toh
English
the argument
refutarreh-foo-TAHR
English
to refute
sostener quesohs-teh-NEHR keh
English
to maintain that
llegar a un acuerdoyeh-GAHR ah oon ah-KWEHR-doh
English
to reach an agreement
en conclusiónen kohn-kloo-see-OHN
English
in conclusion
carecer de fundamentokah-reh-SEHR deh foon-dah-MEN-toh
English
to lack basis
no hay que confundir X con Ynoh eye keh kohn-foon-DEER X kohn Y
English
X shouldn't be confused with Y