néanmoins

Meaning

Maintains a position DESPITE what was just conceded: the concession changes nothing.

Position and punctuation

at the start of the sentence · a comma after

Example

Les critiques sont fondées ; néanmoins, aucune solution de rechange n'a été proposée.

The criticisms are well founded; nevertheless, no alternative has been put forward.

In the DELF

the B2 essay · the C1 synthesis

The trap

Néanmoins almost always follows a CONCESSION made just before (certes, il est vrai que): it is the second half of the pair, the one that reasserts.