Against vs Contrary vs Counter

Quand utiliser chacun en anglais, avec le sens, le registre et des exemples.

Against

Top 1000 (très courant)A2preposition

Contrary

Top 3000 (courant)C1adjective

Counter

Top 1000 (très courant)B2noun
 AgainstContraryCounter
Prononciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈɡenst//əˈɡeɪnst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈɡenst//əˈɡeɪnst/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒntrəri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːntreri/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈkaʊntə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkaʊntər/"]/
SensIn opposition to something.opposite in nature or meaningA place where things are counted or a surface to place items.
ExempleHe stood against the wall and waited for his friend.His contrary opinion surprised everyone at the meeting.She placed her order at the counter and waited for her coffee.
RegistreNeutreNeutreNeutre
FréquenceTop 1000 (très courant)Top 3000 (courant)Top 1000 (très courant)
Niveau CEFRA2C1B2
Nature grammaticaleprepositionadjectivenoun
Collocationsagainst the law, against all odds, fight against, stand againstbe, run, seem, completely, directly, entirely, to, contrary to expectations, contrary to popular beliefcheckout, post office, shop, serve at, serve behind, work at, top, staff, across a/​the counter, at a/​the counter, behind a/​the counter, checkout, post office, shop, serve at, serve behind, work at, top, staff, across a/​the counter, at a/​the counter, behind a/​the counter, effective, counter to
Antonymesfor, in favor ofsimilar, identical, consistentdefender, supporter
Erreurs fréquentesConfused with 'versus', which has a different nuance., Incorrect use of 'against' with non-physical opposition., Missing preposition when used in phrases.'Contrary to' vs 'Contrast to' confusions, Using 'contrary' as an adjective without a proper noun, Mixing up with 'contradictory' in meaningsConfused with 'counterfeit' — they are completely different., Using 'counter' as a verb incorrectly., Not differentiating between a counting device and a surface.
Notes d'usageUse 'against' when discussing opposition or resistance. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but can sound aggressive if used in sensitive discussions.Use 'contrary' in discussions to express an opposing viewpoint. It's more common in formal writing than in casual conversations. Be cautious when using it in everyday speech, as simpler terms like 'opposite' might be more accessible.Use 'counter' when referring to surfaces like in a kitchen or a store. It's neutral and common in everyday language. Avoid using it in overly formal writing.

Questions fréquentes : Against vs Contrary vs Counter

Quelle est la différence entre Against, Contrary et Counter ?

Against: In opposition to something. Contrary: opposite in nature or meaning Counter: A place where things are counted or a surface to place items.

Lequel est le plus avancé : Against, Contrary et Counter ?

Contrary est le niveau le plus élevé, à C1, sur l'échelle CEFR.

Against, Contrary et Counter sont-ils au même niveau CEFR ?

Against: A2, Contrary: C1, Counter: B2 sur l'échelle CEFR.

Quelle est la nature grammaticale de Against, Contrary et Counter ?

Against: preposition, Contrary: adjective, Counter: noun.

Peux-tu montrer un exemple de chacun ?

Against: He stood against the wall and waited for his friend. Contrary: His contrary opinion surprised everyone at the meeting. Counter: She placed her order at the counter and waited for her coffee.

Puis-je utiliser Against, Contrary et Counter de façon interchangeable ?

Pas toujours. Against, Contrary et Counter sont proches et se recoupent parfois, mais elles diffèrent par le registre, la fréquence et l'usage, donc remplacer l'une par l'autre peut changer le sens ou le ton. Regarde les différences ci-dessus avant de substituer.

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