Subordinate Clauses of Contrast: Examples Using 'While' and 'Whereas' in ESL

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🧭 Subordinate Clause: A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence; it depends on the main clause.
• 🆚 Clauses of Contrast: These clauses show differences between two things or ideas.
• ⏱️ 'While': Used to show contrast, often when two things are happening at the same time, or to introduce a fact that contrasts with another.
• ⚖️ 'Whereas': More formal than 'while', it introduces a statement that contrasts with the previous one.
• 📌 Placement: The subordinate clause (with 'while' or 'whereas') can come before or after the main clause. When it comes before, use a comma.

✍️ Practice Quiz

1. Which sentence correctly uses 'while' to show contrast?
   1. A. While I enjoy swimming, I also like to read.
   2. B. I enjoy swimming while I also like to read.
   3. C. I enjoy swimming, while I also like to read.
   4. D. While I enjoy swimming I also like to read.
2. Choose the sentence that best uses 'whereas' to show contrast.
   1. A. I prefer coffee, whereas my sister prefers tea.
   2. B. I prefer coffee whereas my sister prefers tea.
   3. C. Whereas I prefer coffee, but my sister prefers tea.
   4. D. Whereas, I prefer coffee my sister prefers tea.
3. Which sentence incorrectly uses 'while'?
   1. A. While the weather was sunny, we decided to stay inside.
   2. B. The weather was sunny, while we decided to stay inside.
   3. C. We decided to stay inside while the weather was sunny.
   4. D. While we decided to stay inside, the weather was sunny.
4. Select the best sentence using 'whereas'.
   1. A. My car is old, whereas hers is new.
   2. B. My car is old, whereas, hers is new.
   3. C. My car is old whereas hers is new.
   4. D. Whereas my car is old, hers is new.
5. Which of the following sentences uses 'while' correctly to show two simultaneous contrasting actions?
   1. A. While she was studying, her brother was playing video games.
   2. B. She was studying while her brother playing video games.
   3. C. She was studying, while her brother was playing video games.
   4. D. While she was studying her brother was playing video games.
6. Identify the sentence that has the correct structure with 'whereas'.
   1. A. Whereas, he loves to dance, she prefers to sing.
   2. B. He loves to dance whereas she prefers to sing.
   3. C. Whereas he loves to dance, she prefers to sing.
   4. D. He loves to dance, whereas, she prefers to sing.
7. Choose the most appropriate sentence using 'while' to show contrast.
   1. A. While cities are often crowded, the countryside is peaceful.
   2. B. Cities are often crowded, the countryside is peaceful while.
   3. C. Cities are often crowded while, the countryside is peaceful.
   4. D. Cities are often crowded, while the countryside is peaceful.