FALSE FRIENDS OR FALSE COGNATES

Se denominan false friends (falsos amigos) o false cognates (falsos cognados) a las palabras que por escribirse de la misma forma (o parecida) en español son confundidas, pero que en realidad en inglés significan otra cosa.

Por ejemplo, "conductor " en inglés no significa conductor, sino que se refiere al director de la orquesta o al cobrador que se encuentra en los autobuses. Aquí se encuentra una lista de los false friends más conocidos.

an abstract: resumen (y no abstracto)
to achieve: lograr (y no archivar, que se dice to file)
actual: real, efectivo (y no actual, que se dice current)
actually: en realidad (y no actualmente, que se dice nowadays, at present)
to advertise: anunciar (y no advertir, que se dice to warn)
advice: consejos (y no aviso, que se dice warning, notice)
ailment: enfermedad leve, achaque (y no alimento, que se dice food)
apparel: ropa, vestimenta (y no aparato, que se dice apparatus, machine)
application form: formulario de solicitud (y no formulario de aplicación)
to apologise: pedir disculpas (y no apología, que se dice defence)
apt: propenso (y no apto, que se dice qualified, able)
argument: discusión, pelea (y no argumento de un libro/una película, que se dice plot)
arena: estadio, plaza de toros (y no arena, que se dice sand)
army: ejército (y no armada, que se dice navy)
aspersion: calumnia (y no aspersión, que se dice sprinkling)
assessment: evaluación (y no asesoría, que se dice consultancy)
assessor: evaluador, tasador (y no asesor, que se dice advisor o consultant)
to assist: ayudar (y no asistir a un lugar, que se dice to attend)
to attain: lograr, conseguir (y no atar, que se dice to tie)
attempt: intento (y no atentado, que se dice terrorist attack)
attendance: asistencia (y no atención, que se dice attention)
avocado: aguacate (y no abogado, que se dice lawyer)
balloon: globo (y no balón, que se dice ball)
bank: banco - la institución (y no banco de plaza, que se dice bench)
bark: ladrar o ladrido (y no barco, que se dice ship)
beef: carne vacuna (y no bife, que se dice steak)
billet: acuartelamiento, alojamiento militar (y no billete, que se dice ticket o note)
billion: mil millones (y no billón, que se dice trillion)
body: cuerpo (y no boda, que se dice wedding)
bomber: avión bombardero o persona que coloca bombas (y no bombero, que se dice fireman o firefighter)
brave: valiente (y no bravo, que se dice fierce)
camp: base militar o campamento (y no campo en general, que se dice field)
can: lata o el verbo poder (y no cana, que se dice white hair)
cap: gorra (y no capa, que se dice layer)
career: carrera profesional, ocupación luego del estudio (y no carrera referida al curso universitario, que se dice degree)
carpet: alfombra (y no carpeta, que se dice folder)
cartoon: dibujos animados, tira cómica (y no cartón, que se dice cardboard)
casual: fortuito, ocasional, informal, superficial (y no casual, que se dice accidental, chance)
casualty: víctima o herido (y no casualidad, que se dice coincidence)
cave: cueva (y no cavar, que se dice to dig)
cellular: celular, relativo a la célula (y no teléfono celular, que se dice mobile telephone)
chafed: rozado (y no chafado, que se dice crushed o flattened)
collar: cuello de las prendas de vestir (y no collar, que se dice necklace)
to collapse: hundirse, derrumbarse (y no colapsar, que se dice to bring to a standstill)
college: facultad, colegio universitario (y no colegio, que se dice school)
coloured: de color (y no colorado, que se dice red)
command: orden, mandato (y no comando, que se dice commando unit)
commodity: mercancía o materia prima (y no comodidad, que se dice comfort)
to complain: quejarse (y no complacer, que se dice to please)
complexion: tez, tono de la piel (y no complexión, que se dice body type)
to compromise: ceder, transigir, poner en peligro (y no compromiso, que se dice commitment, engagement o agreement)
conductor: director de orquesta o cobrador (y no conductor, que se dice driver)
confident: seguro de sí mismo (y no confidente, que se dice confidant)
(to be) constipated: sufrir de estreñimiento (y no estar constipado, que se dice to have a cold/chill)
contest: concurso (y no contestar, que se dice to answer)
to convene: convocar, reunir (y no convenir, que se dice to agree, to be advisable)
costume: traje, disfraz (y no costumbre, que se dice custom, habit)
council: consejo (y no conciliar, que se dice to reconcile)
crane: grúa (y no cráneo, que se dice skull)
curse: maldición (y no curso, que se dice course)
date: fecha (y no dato, que se dice a piece of information o data)
deception: engaño (y no decepción, que se dice disappointment)
to deliver: entregar (y no deliberar, que se dice to deliberate)
deprivation: privación, pérdida (y no depravación, que se dice depravity)
derogatory: despectivo (la palabra despective no existe en inglés)
to design: diseñar (y no designar, que se dice to appoint o to designate)
desperate: desesperado (y no despertar, que se dice to wake up)
dessert: postre (y no desierto, que se dice desert)
destitute: indigente (y no destituído, que se dice dismissed, removed)
dinner: cena (y no dinero, que se dice money)
discrete: diferenciado (y no discreto, que se dice discreet)
disgust: asco, repugnancia (y no disgusto, que se dice annoyance, quarrel, trouble o to be upset)
disparate: dispar (y no disparate, que se dice nonsense o foolish act)
diversion: desviación (y no diversión, alegría, que se dice fun)
to doze: dormitar (y no doce, que se dice twelve)
dramatic: drástico, espectacular
economics: economía (y no económicos, que se dice cheap)
embarrassed: avergonzado/a (y no embarazada, que se dice pregnant)
emergence: surgimiento, aparición (y no emergencia, que se dice emergency)
estate: propiedad, bien inmueble, patrimonio (y no estado, que se dice state)
eventual: definitivo o posible (y no eventual, que se dice casual, incidental)
eventually: finalmente, tarde o temprano (y no eventualmente que se dice by chance, possibly)
exit: salida (y no éxito, que se dice success)
fabric: tela (y no fábrica, que se dice factory)
familiar: conocido, familiar (adjetivo) (y no pariente, familiar (sustantivo), que se dice relative)
fee: tarifa, honorarios, cuota (y no fe, que se dice faith)
file: archivo, carpeta, fichero (y no fila, que se dice row)
fin: aleta (y no fin, que se dice end)
form: formulario (y no forma, que se dice shape)
fray: riña, irritarse o deshilacharse (y no fraile, que se dice friar)
fume: vapor o gas (y no fumar, que se dice smoke)
gang: pandilla (y no ganga, que se dice bargain)
Geneva: Ginebra (y no Génova, que se dice Genoa)
gentle: moderado, suave (y no gentil, que se dice gentile, kind)
to grab: agarrar, asir (y no grabar, que se dice to record)
gracious: cortés (y no gracioso, que se dice funny)
grocery: tienda de comestibles (y no grosería, que se dice rudeness o rude word/expression)
hardly: apenas, difícilmente (y no duramente, que se dice strongly)
by heart: de memoria (y no de corazón, que se dice from one's heart)
horn: cuerno (y no horno, que se dice oven)
hostel: albergue (y no hostal, que se dice guesthouse)
idiom: modismo, locución (y no idioma, que se dice language)
to improve: mejorar (y no improvisar, que se dice to improvise)
influenza: gripe (y no influencia, que se dice influence)
ingenuity: ingenio (y no ingenuidad, que se dice naivety)
inhabitant: habitante (y no inhabitado, que se dice uninhabited)
injury: herida (y no injuria, que se dice insult)
installment: cuota, plazo o entrega (y no instalación, que se dice installation)
to intend: tener la intención de (y no intentar, que se dice to try)
intoxicated: ebrio (y no intoxicado, que se dice with food poisoning)
involve: involucrar (y no envolver, que se dice wrap)
jam: mermelada (y no jamón, que se dice ham)
lame: cojo, rengo (y no lamer, que se dice to lick)
large: grande (y no largo, que se dice long)
lecture: conferencia (y no lectura, que se dice reading)
lentil: lenteja (y no lentilla, que se dice contact lens)
letter: letra del abecedario o carta (y no letra de una canción, que se dice lyrics)
library: biblioteca (y no librería, que se dice bookshop)
lobe: lóbulo (y no lobo, que se dice wolf)
luxury: lujo (y no lujuria, que se dice lust)
macaroon: galleta con almendras o coco (y no macarrón, que se dice a piece of macaroni)
man: hombre (y no mano, que se dice hand)
mascot: persona, animal u objeto que da buena suerte (y no mascota como animal doméstico, que se dice pet)
mayor: alcalde (y no mayor, que se dice bigger)
media: medios (y no media, que se dice sock)
misery: tristeza (y no miseria, que se dice poverty)
mocha: café moca (y no mocha/o, desafilada/o, que se dice blunt)
to molest: abusar sexualmente (y no molestar, que se dice to bother o to annoy)
not at all: para nada, en lo absoluto (y no "no del todo", que se dice not quite)
notice: nota, anuncio (y no noticia, que se dice a piece of news)
occurrence: aparición (y no ocurrencia, que se dice absurd idea)
office: oficina (y no oficio, que se dice trade o job)
once: una vez (y no once, que se dice eleven)
oration: discurso ceremonial (y no oración, que se dice sentence o prayer)
ordinary: común (y no ordinario, que se dice vulgar)
pan: cacerola, cazuela (y no pan, que se dice bread)
parade: desfile (y no pared, que se dice wall)
to pare: pelar o cortar las uñas (y no parar, que se dice to stop)
parents: padres (y no parientes, que se dice relatives)
pendant: colgante de un collar (y no pendiente, que se dice earring)
petrol: gasolina o nafta (y no petróleo, que se dice oil, petroleum)
petulant: irascible, malhumorado (y no petulante, que se dice smug)
pie: pastel (y no pie, que se dice foot)
place: lugar (y no plaza, que se dice square)
plate: plato o lámina (y no plata, el metal, que se dice silver)
policy: política (y no policía, que se dice police)
politic: diplomático, cortés o prudente (y no político, que se dice politician)
preservative: conservante (y no preservativo, que se dice condom)
to pretend: aparentar, fingir (y no pretender, que se dice to expect)
prize: premio (y no precio, que se dice price)
to probe: investigar (y no probar, que se dice to prove, taste o try)
prospect: posibilidad, perspectiva o posible cliente (y no prospecto, que se dice leaflet o pamphlet)
quince: membrillo (y no quince, que se dice fifteen)
to quit: abandonar, dejar (y no quitar, que se dice to remove o to put away)
quite: bastante, totalmente (y no quitar, que se dice to remove o to put away)
quote: cita o presupuesto (y no cuota, que se dice fee, installment o payment)
to rape: violar (y no rapar, que se dice to shave o to crop)
to raze: arrasar (y no raza, que se dice race)
to realize: darse cuenta (y no realizar, que se dice to make)
recipe: receta de cocina (y no recibo, que se dice receipt)
to reckon: calcular, considerar o creer (y no reconocer, que se dice to recognize)
recollection: recuerdo (y no recolección, que se dice harvest o collection)
to record: grabar (y no recordar, que se dice to remember)
red: rojo (y no red, que se dice net)
regular: de tamaño normal (y no regular, que se dice bad, not so good)
relatives: parientes (y no relativos, que se dice relative (adjective))
reluctantly: de mala gana (y no relucientemente o brillantemente, que se dice brilliantly)
to remove: quitar, eliminar (y no remover, que se dice to stir)
rendition: interpretación (y no rendición, que se dice surrender)
resort: centro turístico o recurso (y no resorte, que se dice spring)
to rest: descansar (y no restar, que se dice to subtract)
to resume: reanudar, continuar o reasumir (y no resumir, que se dice to summarize o to sum up)
rope: cuerda, soga (y no ropa, que se dice clothes)
rude: maleducado, descortés (y no rudo, que se dice rough)
salad: ensalada (y no salado, que se dice salty)
salted: salado (y no salteado, que se dice skipped)
sane: cuerdo (y no sano, que se dice healthy)
scallop: vieira (y no escalope, que se dice escalope)
sensible: sensato (y no sensible, que se dice sensitive)
sensitive: sensible (y no sensitivo, que se dice related to the senses)
signature: firma (y no asignatura, que se dice subject)
sin: pecado (y no sin, que se dice without)
soap: jabón (y no sopa, que se dice soup)
socket: enchufe o toma de corriente (y no soquete, que se dice ankle sock)
son: hijo (y no son, conjugación del verbo ser, que se dice are)
spade: pala (y no espada, que se dice sword)
stationery: artículos de papelería (y no estacionario, que se dice stationary)
to stay: quedarse (y no estar, que se dice to be)
to stir: revolver un líquido (y no estirar, que se dice to stretch)
stranger: desconocido o forastero (y no extranjero, que se dice foreigner)
to stretch: estirar, extender, ensanchar (y no estrechar, que se dice to take in, to narrow)
suburb: barrio rico periférico de la ciudad (y no suburbio de casas pobres, que se dice slum)
success: éxito (y no suceso, que se dice event)
to support: apoyar (y no soportar, que se dice to put up with)
sympathetic: comprensivo (y no simpático, que se dice nice, likeable)
sympathy: compasión, comprensión, pésame (y no simpatía, que se dice friendliness, affection)
target: objetivo (y no tarjeta, que se dice card)
tax: impuesto (y no taxi, que se dice taxi)
tea: té (y no tía, que se dice aunt)
terrific: fenomenal, genial (y no terrorífico, que se dice terrifying)
to traduce: calumniar (y no traducir, que se dice to translate)
trait: rasgo (y no trato, que se dice deal o treatment)
to translate: traducir (y no trasladarse, que se dice to move)
tramp: vagabundo (y no trampa, que se dice trap)
ultimate: final (y no último, que se dice last)
ultimately: en última instancia, a la larga (y no últimamente, que se dice lately, recently)
umpire: árbitro (y no imperio, que se dice empire)
vacuum: vacío (y no vacuna, que se dice vaccine)
zealous: entusiasta (y no celoso, que se dice jealous)

IRREGULAR PLURALS LIST

Study these groups of words to learn how they change to plural.

Each group of words has similar changes.

---

US -> I

SINGULAR	PLURAL
alumnus	alumni
cactus	cacti
focus	foci/focuses
fungus	fungi/funguses
nucleus	nuclei
radius	radii
stimulus	stimuli

IS -> ES

SINGULAR	PLURAL
axis	axes
analysis	analyses
basis	bases
crisis	crises
diagnosis	diagnoses
ellipsis	ellipses
hypothesis	hypotheses
oasis	oases
paralysis	paralyses
parenthesis	parentheses
synthesis	syntheses
synopsis	synopses
thesis	theses

IX -> ICES

SINGULAR	PLURAL
appendix	appendices
index	indeces/indexes
matrix	matrices/matrixes

EAU -> EAUX

SINGULAR	PLURAL
beau	beaux
bureau	bureaus/bureaux
tableau	tableaux/tableaus

*** -> EN

SINGULAR	PLURAL
child	children
man	men
ox	oxen
woman	women

*** -> A

SINGULAR	PLURAL
bacterium	bacteria
corpus	corpora
criterion	criteria
curriculum	curricula
datum	data
genus	genera
medium	media
memorandum	memoranda
phenomenon	phenomena
stratum	strata

NO CHANGE

SINGULAR	PLURAL
deer	deer
fish	fish
means	means
offspring	offspring
series	series
sheep	sheep
species	specie

 

OO -> EE

SINGULAR	PLURAL
foot	feet
goose	geese
tooth	teeth

A -> AE

SINGULAR	PLURAL
antenna	antennae/antennas
formula	formulae/formulas
nebula	nebulae
vertebra	vertebrae
vita	vitae

F, FE -> VES

SINGULAR             PLURAL

CALF                      CALVES

DWARF                  DWARVES

ELF                         ELVES

LOAF                     LOAVES

SCARF                  SCARVES

SHELF                   SHELVES

THIEF                    THIEVES

WHARF                WHARVES

LEAF                     LEAVES

HOOF                   HOOVES

WOLF                  WOLVES

KNIFE                  KNIVES

LIFE                      LIVES

WIFE                    WIVES

OUSE -> ICE

SINGULAR	PLURAL
louse	lice
mouse	mice

THE MOST COMMON IDIOMS

Here are some of the most commonly used slangs in America:
HE WHO LAUGHS LAST LAUGHS LONGEST!
= the person who plays the last joke (trick) has the longest laugh!
Bob made fun of Lou's pronunciation but the next day; Lou put a toy snake on Bob's chair. Bob thought it was real and screamed when he sat on it. Lou thought it was really funny. He who laughs last laughs longest!!!
TO LEND A HAND = to help
The Smiths' neighbors lent a hand when they were building their new fence (The neighbors helped them build the new fence).
IN HOT WATER = in trouble
Bob didn't do his homework, so he's going to be/get in hot water! (from the teacher)
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!

= If you believe that what you are saying is true/right, let's bet on it!
THAT TAKES THE CAKE! = That's unbelievable/incredible/ridiculous!
NOT PLAYING WITH A FULL DECK = crazy
That guy always talks and shouts to himself. He's not playing with a full deck!
PUT A LID ON IT! = Be quiet!!!
TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE!
= Two people who work together will have more ideas than just one person!
TO LOSE YOUR SHIRT = to lose all of or most of your money
I lost my shirt at the casino!, Joe lost his shirt betting on the horses.
TO LOSE TOUCH = to fail to keep in contact/communication with someone.
After I graduated from university, I lost touch with most of my classmates.
PAINT THE TOWN (RED) = Let's go out and enjoy the exciting entertainment of the city!
After the exam, let's go out and paint the town!
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!
= A picture explains things better than words can explain things
LET'S GET THE BALL ROLLING!
= Let's start now! (Usually said about an important project)

I HEAR YOU! = I agree with what you are saying!
YOU BET! = Yes, sure, of course!
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON = Once in a while, occasionally.
I go swimming outside once in a blue moon.
IT'S A DEAL! = Okay, I agree, it will be done!
TO BET ON THE WRONG HORSE = To make an incorrect guess about the future.
If you think the Queen plans to retire, you're betting on the wrong horse!
TO BE FULL OF HOT AIR!
= When someone talks a lot about something he/she can or will do but in reality, there is no truth in any of what he/she is saying - just hot air!
He went on the job interview because the company said they would be able to offer him a good position, but during the interview, he realized it was too small, with no opportunities. The manager was just full of hot air!
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING!
= When there are problems, strong people take action to solve the problems!
When the going gets tough = When life becomes difficult
the tough get going = strong people take action and do something
MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO!
=When one person does something, everyone follows and does the same thing!
TO BLOW ONE'S OWN HORN

= when a person boasts about how great he/she is ...!
Don always blows his own horn. In staff meetings, he tells everyone how great HIS ideas are!
BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER!
= People who have something in common feel comfortable together.
HIT THE BOOKS = to study, prepare for class
Tonight I'm going to hit the books!
I CAN HAVE MY CAKE AND EAT IT TOO!

= I can have EVERYTHING I want in life!
A POKER FACE = a face with no expression
This idiom originates from the card game of poker because no gambling poker player should have an expression that is easy to read! (that way, the other players in the game won't be able to guess how good/bad his/her cards are)
George has a poker face so you never know what he's thinking!
TO LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS = to look great, to be very well dressed!
Julia Roberts looked like a million dollars at the Oscars!
A DIME A DOZEN} = very common, easy to find  (countable nouns in plural form).
In North America, shopping malls are a dime a dozen!
YOU HAVE A ONE TRACK MIND!
= You always think about the same (one) thing! (We can also say he/she/we/they "has/have a one track mind")
TO HAVE THE INSIDE TRACK
= To have an advantage because you know certain people or you have special information
Bob knows what the president is going to announce in his televised speech this evening because he has the inside track!
I would write an article about Julia Roberts' life if I could get the inside track!
ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS

= in a bad/poor/undesirable neighborhood
Sam grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.
CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT! = It's not good to be too curious!
THE CAT'S OUT OF THE BAG! = The secret is not a secret anymore!
IT'S RAINING CATS AND DOGS! = It's raining hard (a lot)!
THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT! = It is best to do it now!
TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS = With time, sadness will pass
TIME OUT! 

= Stop, calm down! (usually said in the middle of a discussion or argument)
= Let's take a break now!
A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS!
= A friendly way to say "What are you thinking about?"
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!
= If you treat people badly, something bad will happen to you and if you treat people well, something good will happen to you. This common idiom proves that Americans are superstitious!
ALL THAT GLITTERS ISN'T GOLD!
= Not everything is as wonderful as it seems (this can refer to material things and also situations)
YOU SCRATCH MY BACK AND I'LL SCRATCH YOURS!
= If you do a favor for me, I will do a favor for you!
ROME WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY!
= It might take a long time to achieve something great.
MONEY TALKS

= Money has power/influence!

The 160 most commonly used verbs in the English language.

POLITE EXPRESSIONS.

EXCUSE ME

You say excuse me when you want to go past somebody.

You also say excuse me to somebody you do not know when you want to attract their attention.

Ex. Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?

SORRY

I beg your pardon is a formal expression when you need to apologize for something.

Ex. I beg your pardon! I must have picked up the wrong bag by mistake.

Sorry or I'm sorry is used frequently in British English, and in American English Pardon me and excuse me are used for apologies.

In British English you say Pardon? or Sorry? And in American English Pardon me? And Excuse me? When you did not hear or understand what somebody said and want them to repeat it.

It is not polite to say What? in that situations.

I'M AFRAID

You use the phrase I'm afraid... when you want to apologize because you have to tell somebody something that they may not like.

Ex.  -'Has the last bus gone?' - 'I`m afraid so'

I`m afraid there's been an accident.

I WONDER IF...

You use expressions which show hesitancy when you are asking for a favor:

Could you just help me move these boxes, please?

I wonder if I could have a copy of your paper?

Would you mind if I left a few minutes early today?

Would you mind letting me leave the class at 12?

Do you think I could borrow your car this weekend?

PLEASE

You say please when you ask for something. In British English it introduces or ends a request, but in American English it always ends a request.

Please could I have the menu?

Could I have the menu please?

THANK YOU

When somebody gives you something, or when you buy something or receive information, you are expected to say Thank you or Thanks.

It is not usual to say anything in response to Thank you in British English, although some people may say That's all right, That's okay or Don't mention it.

In American English You’re welcome is common. 

CHEERS

Cheers is often used in informal British English to mean Thank you.

ex.: -'here's that 10 Euros I owe you'  - ' oh, cheers'

DISCOURSE MARKERS, The most common.

Discourse markers are expressions that are used to show how discourse is constructed. They can show the connection between  what a speaker is saying and what has already been said or what is going to be said; they can help to make clear the structure  of what is being said; they can indicate what speakers think about  what they are saying or what others have said. Some of these words and expressions have more than one use; for more information.  Some discourse markers are used mostly in informal speech or  writing; others are more common in a formal style. A discourse marker is a word or phrase that organizes or manages the dis­course in some way. In this case the type of discourse is conversation. These expressions help organize the conversation as a whole,  and some organize the speaker’s own speech. Examples include anyway, which speakers use  (often with words like so or well) to come back to the main point  after a digression or interruption, as in Example                                                                              Example  Speaker A gets back to the main point of her story, using anyway. A: [. . .] I won first prize. B: Oh you always win. A: I don’t win. B: Yes you do. A: And so anyway the prize was ten dollars . . . Anyway is also used to show that a conversation is coming to an end: Example Well, anyway. Gotta run. Speakers organize their own speech; an example is the expression I mean, which signals the speaker is going to restate, repeat, clarify, or add to what was just said. Example  Here the speaker uses I mean to explain what she means by “pretty much grown”: [. . .] this is home for my kids now. Um they’re pretty much grown. I mean they’re nineteen and seventeen. Speakers also have ways of highlighting and emphasizing the main points of what they want to say with expressions such as   the point is or the thing is and variations like the only thing is or the funny/weird thing is to show their attitude toward what they will say. Focusing and linking These expressions focus attention on what is going to be said, by announcing  the subject in advance. Some of them also make a link with previous discourse,  by referring back to what was said before. with reference to talking/speaking of/about regarding as regards as far as … is concerned as for Balancing contrasting points These expressions are used to balance two facts or ideas that contrast, but do not contradict each other. on the other hand while whereas Emphasizing a contrast however nevertheless mind you still yet in spite of this Similarity similarly in the same way Concession and counter-argument These expressions are used in a three-part structure: the speaker/writer mentions facts that point in a certain direction. it is agreed (the concession) that a particular contradictory fact points the other way. but the speaker/writer dismisses this and returns to the original direction of argument. concession: it is true of course certainly if may counter-argument: however even so but nevertheless nonetheless all the same stil Contradicting on the contrary Dismissal of previous discourse anyway anyhow at any rate at least Change of subject by the way incidentally right all right now OK Return to previous subject as I was saying Structuring first(ly) first of all second(ly) third(ly) lastly finally to begin with to start with in the first/second/third place for one thing for another thing Adding moreover (very formal) furthermore (formal) in addition as well as that on top of that (informal) another thing is what is more besides in any case Generalizing on the whole in general in all/most/many/some cases broadly speaking by and large to a great extent to some extent apart from … except for … Giving examples for instance for example in particular Logical consequences These expressions show that what is said follows logically from what was said  before. therefore (formal) as a result (formal) consequently (formal) so then Making things clear; giving details I mean actually that is to say in other words Softening and correcting I think I feel I reckon (informal) I guess (American) in my view/opinion (formal) apparently so to speak more or less sort of (informal) kind of (informal) well really that is to say at least I’m afraid I suppose or rather actually I mean Gaining time let me see let’s see well you know I don’t know I mean kind of sort of Showing one’s attitude to what one is saying honestly frankly no doubt Persuading after all look look here no doubt Referring to the other person’s expectations These expressions are used when we show whether somebody’s expectations have been fulfilled or not. actually in fact as a matter of fact to tell the truth well Summing up in conclusion to sum up briefly in short