This mini episode teaches you the useful construction that involves the phrases “on the one hand” and “on the other hand.”
Episode 185 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you the useful construction that involves the phrases “on the one hand” and “on the other hand.” Send your questions about English and your suggestions for future episodes to EverybodyESL@gmail.com! (And let me know if you’d like to record the introduction to a future episode.)
Intro
“Hi! This is Liyah from Korea, and you’re listening to Everybody ESL.”
Welcome to episode 185 of Everybody ESL, the podcast for everybody who wants to improve their English, practice their English, or just learn more English. My name is Ben, and I have a mini episode for you today, where I am going to teach you about one English topic. You can subscribe to the Everybody ESL podcast at Apple podcasts, on the Stitcher app, and wherever you find your podcasts. If you like Everybody ESL, leave it a good review so other people can find out about it too. And if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for me, please send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. Okay! Let's get on with this mini episode.
The episode
The topic for today's episode is the two-part construction that goes like this: “on the one hand” and “on the other hand.” On the one hand and on the other hand.
We use this construction when we are talking about two contradictory ideas, two ideas that contradict each other, or that seem to work against each other, or that seem to be on different sides of an argument. We use this when we are considering different things and trying to make a decision or trying to understand a situation.
This is another great example of a definition that sounds very complicated. I don't think that this is actually a complicated construction. Let me give you an example of “on the one hand” and “on the other hand.”
Let's say that your friend is talking about buying a motorcycle. And your friend tells you, “On the one hand, riding a motorcycle can be dangerous. On the other hand, riding a motorcycle looks like so much fun.”
Here, we have two different ideas or two different things to consider. The first one is “riding a motorcycle can be dangerous.” And the second one is “riding a motorcycle looks like a lot of fun.” Those look like two competing, or two contradictory, ideas. The first one—“riding a motorcycle can be dangerous”—makes me think that getting a motorcycle is not a good idea. But the second one—“riding a motorcycle looks like a lot of fun”—sounds like an argument for buying a motorcycle. So it's like these are two different sides of an argument. And this is where we use “on the one hand” and “on the other hand.” We introduce the first idea or the first fact or the first opinion with “on the one hand.” And we introduce the second fact or idea or opinion with “on the other hand.” On the one hand. On the other hand. It's like introducing two sides of an argument.
You might think it sounds a little bit strange to say, “On the one hand.” Why don't we just say, “On one hand”? Sometimes you will hear people say, “On one hand,” but “On the one hand” is much more common, I think. Even though it does seem a little strange to use the article the in that way, that is how you will hear this expression most often: “On the one hand, on the other hand.”
And that is “on the one hand, on the other hand,” a very useful construction that I think you should know.
Outro
And that's the end of episode 185 of Everybody ESL. Remember: if you have any questions about English, or if you have comments or suggestions about the podcast, or if you would like to record an introduction that I can use at the beginning of future episodes—the same way Liyahrecorded the introduction you heard at the beginning of this episode—send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. I'll be back soon with another episode, and until then, keep going, keep practicing, and keep learning. Goodbye. I'll see you soon.