phrase (discourse marker) · neutral
on the contrary
UK/ɒn ðə kənˈtrɑː.ri/US/ɑːn ðə kənˈtrɛr.i/on·the·con·TRA·ry
used to introduce a statement that opposes or disagrees with what was just said
Examples
“I don't find the task difficult; on the contrary, I enjoyed it.”
“He is not lazy; on the contrary, he works very hard.”
“Some think the policy will fail; on the contrary, evidence suggests it will help.”
Band 8 sentence
“Many claim technology isolates people; on the contrary, it has created new forms of community participation.”
Collocations
- on the contrary + , + clause
- Not X; on the contrary, Y
Word family
Common mistakes
He didn't fail, on the contrary he was brilliant.→He didn't fail; on the contrary, he was brilliant.
On the contrary he didn't help at all.→On the contrary, he didn't help at all.
Say it for a higher band
5but→6however→7+on the contrary
Synonyms
quite the opposite
rather
Easily confused
on the other hand
“I enjoy city life; on the other hand, I value peace and quiet in the countryside.”
Related words
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In Contrast
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