SpanishB2Lesson 1.2
🇪🇸 Spanish B2 · Lesson 1.2

Conceder y rebatir — Conceding then rebutting

Acknowledge the opposing view, then push back firmly and politely.

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A panel debates whether social media has improved public discourse.

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New vocabulary — tap to hear
es cierto que… peroit's true that… but 🔊
no obstantenevertheless 🔊
hasta cierto puntoup to a point 🔊
rebatir un argumentoto refute an argument 🔊
pasar por altoto overlook 🔊
en contra de lo que se creecontrary to what is believed 🔊

Now say it

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« Es cierto que hay riesgos; sin embargo, los beneficios pesan más. » 🔊
It's true there are risks; however, the benefits outweigh them.
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Pronunciation

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Las redes sociales han democratizado el acceso a la información. 🔊Social media has democratised access to information.
Es cierto que dan voz a muchos, pero también amplifican la desinformación. 🔊It's true that they give many people a voice, but they also amplify disinformation.
Hasta cierto punto, sí; no obstante, los usuarios aprenden a contrastar fuentes. 🔊Up to a point, yes; nevertheless, users learn to cross-check sources.
Me temo que pasas por alto que los algoritmos premian la indignación, no la verdad. 🔊I'm afraid you overlook that algorithms reward outrage, not truth.
En contra de lo que se cree, hay estudios que matizan ese efecto. 🔊Contrary to what is believed, there are studies that nuance that effect.
Aun así, es difícil rebatir que la polarización ha aumentado. 🔊Even so, it's hard to refute that polarisation has increased.
Grammar in focus · concession-rebuttal connectors

B2 argumentation pivots on a concede-then-rebut move. Concede with « Es cierto que + indicative » (« Es cierto que cuesta dinero »). Rebut with « pero », « no obstante », « sin embargo », « aun así ». Note register: « no obstante » and « sin embargo » are interchangeable and formal; « aun así » (even so) is slightly more conversational. Place « sin embargo » after a comma or a full stop, never glued mid-clause without punctuation.

Write it yourself

Respond to a claim you disagree with: first concede something valid, then rebut it (4–5 sentences).

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Tip for this task
Structure: « Es cierto que… » → « no obstante / sin embargo … ». « ¡Bien! » Keep the tone civil: « Comparto tu preocupación, sin embargo, los datos sugieren otra cosa ». Avoid stacking three rebuttal connectors in one sentence.

Quick check

An adaptive quiz confirms you've got it and schedules the right words for review.

1. Which pair signals concession then rebuttal?
2. « Hasta cierto punto » means…
3. « No obstante » is closest in register to…
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