en
cs
da
de
it
plCommon errors
Omitting 但是, 可是 or 不过/不過 in the second clause
In English, when using although, the second clause does not require the conjunction but. Therefore, learners may forget to include 但是, 可是 or 不过/不過 in the second clause, which makes the sentence incomplete.
*虽然我喜欢他，他不喜欢我。
虽然我喜欢他，可是他不喜欢我。
*坐出租汽车虽然快，不便宜。
坐出租汽车虽然快，但是不便宜。
*雖然我喜歡他，他不喜歡我。
雖然我喜歡他，可是他不喜歡我。
*坐出租汽車雖然快，不便宜。
坐出租汽車雖然快，但是不便宜。
Placing the clause with 虽然/雖然 in the second position
A clause beginning with 虽然/雖然 usually presents a known fact. The usual word order is to state the fact first and then introduce the contrast (exceptions occur in informal spoken usage, where the speaker may use a 虽然/雖然-clause to add some additional information)
*坐出租汽车不便宜，虽然快。
坐出租汽车虽然快，但是不便宜。
*坐出租汽車不便宜，雖然快。
坐出租汽車雖然快，但是不便宜。
Errors caused by native transfer
(CS/DK/DE/IT/PL)
Classroom activity
1. The teacher prepares several word cards with sentences containing 虽然/雖然, for example:
他虽然不喜欢运动
他雖然不喜歡運動
虽然天气很冷
雖然天氣很冷
虽然中文不容易
雖然中文不容易
The teacher asks students to take turns drawing a card, reading the sentence aloud, and then selecting one or two other students to complete the sentence.
The teacher may give feedback or compare students’ sentences when necessary.