Question 1

What is the difference between however and but?

Accepted Answer

"However" and "but" both express contrast, but they have different grammar and formality. "But" is a conjunction that joins two clauses in one sentence: "The exam was hard, but I passed." "However" is an adverb that typically starts a new sentence: "The exam was hard. However, I passed." You cannot usually replace "but" with "however" in the same position — "The exam was hard, however I passed" is incorrect in formal English (use a semicolon or full stop instead). "However" sounds more formal than "but" and is preferred in essays, reports, and academic writing. In everyday speech, "but" is far more natural.

Question 2

How do I use nevertheless in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

"Nevertheless" means "despite what was just said" and is used in formal English. It usually appears at the start of a sentence followed by a comma: "The weather was terrible. Nevertheless, we decided to continue the journey." It can also appear in the middle of a sentence between commas: "The team, nevertheless, remained confident throughout the tournament." "Nevertheless" is stronger and more formal than "however" — use it when you want to emphasise that the contrast is surprising or important. In academic writing and business reports, "nevertheless" shows a high level of English. It is less common in everyday conversation, where "still" or "however" are preferred.

Question 3

What is the difference between yet and still as contrast connectors?

Accepted Answer

"Yet" introduces a surprising result — something you did not expect based on the first sentence: "He is very young. Yet he has already published two books." "Still" emphasises that something continues to be true despite the contrast: "I explained the rules three times. She still didn't understand." The key difference is focus: "yet" surprises the reader with an unexpected fact, while "still" stresses that a situation has not changed. "Yet" usually begins a new sentence, while "still" appears after the subject or auxiliary verb. Both are useful for Cambridge B2 First writing tasks where you need to vary your contrast connectors.

Contrast: However, Nevertheless, Yet, Still

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