savukārt / turpretī

Whereas and on the Other Hand

Level 5

Savukārt and turpretī put two facts side by side to show how they differ. Anna strādā Rīgā, savukārt Pēteris strādā Cēsīs. (Anna works in Riga, while Pēteris works in Cēsis.)

How It Works

1. Turpretī: a clear opposite. Use it when the second fact is the reverse of the first. It joins two clauses, or starts a new sentence that answers the one before:

  • Man patīk kafija, turpretī sievai patīk tēja. (I like coffee, whereas my wife likes tea.)
  • Pilsētā dzīvokļi ir dārgi. Laukos turpretī māju var nopirkt lēti. (In the city, flats are expensive. In the countryside, by contrast, you can buy a house cheaply.)

2. Savukārt: the next item in a comparison. It moves attention to another person or thing, often without a strong opposite:

  • Anna strādā Rīgā, savukārt Pēteris strādā Cēsīs. (Anna works in Riga, while Pēteris works in Cēsis.)

3. Savukārt: in turn. It can also show that someone does their part, or that one thing leads on to the next:

  • Vecāki palīdzēja mums, un mēs savukārt palīdzējām viņiem. (Our parents helped us, and we in turn helped them.)

4. Position. Both words can open the second clause or follow its first word: savukārt Pēteris or Pēteris savukārt. Put the word you are contrasting (Pēteris, laukos) right next to them.

5. Commas. Put a comma between the two clauses, before savukārt or turpretī. When savukārt is slipped into a clause as a comment, it is set off with commas on both sides; when it simply belongs to the clause, it takes no extra commas. Everyday contrast with bet is covered in un, bet and vai.

Examples (5)

  1. Anna strādā Rīgā, savukārt Pēteris strādā Cēsīs.

    Anna works in Riga, while Pēteris works in Cēsis.

    Word by Word: Anna works in-Riga, in-turn Pēteris works in-Cēsis.

  2. Man patīk kafija, turpretī sievai patīk tēja.

    I like coffee, whereas my wife likes tea.

    Word by Word: To-me pleases coffee, whereas to-wife pleases tea.

  3. Ziemā šeit ir kluss, turpretī vasarā ir daudz tūristu.

    In winter it is quiet here, whereas in summer there are a lot of tourists.

    Word by Word: In-winter here is quiet, whereas in-summer is many of-tourists.

  4. Pilsētā dzīvokļi ir dārgi. Laukos turpretī māju var nopirkt lēti.

    In the city, flats are expensive. In the countryside, by contrast, you can buy a house cheaply.

    Word by Word: In-city flats are expensive. In-countryside whereas house can buy cheaply.

    Turpretī can start a new sentence that answers the previous one. Here it follows the contrasted word laukos.

  5. Vecāki palīdzēja mums, un mēs savukārt palīdzējām viņiem.

    Our parents helped us, and we in turn helped them.

    Word by Word: Parents helped to-us, and we in-turn helped to-them.

    Here savukārt means in turn, not a contrast.

Common Mistakes

  • Using turpretī when the two facts agree.

    Anna strādā Rīgā, turpretī Pēteris arī strādā Rīgā.
    Anna strādā Rīgā, un arī Pēteris strādā Rīgā.

    Turpretī promises an opposite. If both people do the same thing, join the clauses with un and arī.

  • Leaving out the comma between the clauses.

    Man patīk kafija turpretī sievai patīk tēja.
    Man patīk kafija, turpretī sievai patīk tēja.

    Turpretī joins two full clauses, so a comma goes before it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

savukārt / turpretīLevel 5Whereas and on the Other Hand

Learn This First

Savukārt and turpretī contrast two things.

Words in This Pattern

turpretī