1.debate「辯論」、「爭論」，可作動詞或名詞，動詞後不跟 that 從句，著重雙方正式辯論，各陳理由，有較強的「交鋒」意味。
正式用詞，多指圍繞某一問題展開的或爭論。側重指意見觀點對立的雙方之間的正式或公開的爭辯。
著重「雙方各述己見」, 內含「交鋒」的意思, 如:
我們一直在就這個問題進行辯論。
I don't wish to debate my opinions with you. 我不想就我的想法同你辯論。
The Senate debated whether the new highway should be built or not.
參議院就是否應該建造這條新公路展開辯論。
On Sunday night they challenged us to debate on the problem of automobile
development and heavy traffic.
星期天晚上,他們向我們挑戰辯論汽車發展與的交通擁擠問題。
It is useless to debate this question in angry quarrel.
在憤怒的爭吵中爭論這種問題是沒有用的
The Parliament has been debating the financial situation for two weeks.
議會就財政狀況辯論已有兩個星期。
We debated until it was time for supper.我們一直辮論到晚飯時間。
2.argue只作動詞，不能作名詞用，為最普通用詞，後可跟 that 從句，表示「說服，論證」或「企圖說服」，指從心平氣和的說理到言辭激烈的爭論。「爭辯」、「爭論」、「爭吵」，普通用詞，指堅持己見與人爭論自己不贊同或反對的事，著重說理、試圖說服他人。
I argued with him for a long time, but he refused to listen to reason.
我與他爭論了好長時間,但他不聽我跟他說理。
The lawyers for the plaintiff and the defendant argued the case for hours.
原告律師與被告律師就這個案子辯論了好幾個小時。
She knew it was useless to argue with his father. He would not change his decision.
她知道跟父親爭論是沒用的，他決定的事不會更改。
He tried to argue that the case was not what it seemed to be.
我們試圖爭辯說,事並不是像表面看上去的那樣。
I argued with her for a long time, but she refused to listen to reason.
我和她辯論了好久, 但她還是不聽。
President Lincoln argued that all men are created equal. 林肯總統主張人皆生來平等。
可以指「說理，論證」，也可以指「激烈地交換意見以致爭吵」。如:
1) He argued against the plan.他舉出種種理由反對這項計劃。
2) He argued that she should not go.他爭辯說，她不應當去。
3. dispute可作動詞或名詞，動詞後不跟 that 從句，著重雙方各執一詞，相持不下，針鋒相對地激烈辯論。
「爭論」、「爭吵」、「爭辯」，多對分歧進行激烈或熱烈的爭論或爭辯，爭辯中激情多於理智，爭論雙方往往各持已見，爭論相持不下，問題得不到解決。
指「激烈爭辯」, 含有「相持不下」或「未得解決」之意, 如:
Whether he will be elected as chairman is still disputed.
The opposing party disputed with the president on the government budget. 反對黨就政府預算問題同總統激烈爭執。
He disputed with his wife on household expenses.
他與妻子在家庭開支問題上爭執不下。
Whether he will succeed with his new method is still disputed.
關於他採用新辦法是否會成功這一點，仍然存在爭論。
The school board members spend their time disputing and getting nothing done.
學校董事會成員花不少時間辯論，但什麼事也做不成。
It is ridiculous for them dispute about such trivial matters.
在這些瑣事上爭的不亦樂是荒謬的。
The strikers began to dispute hotly with management on the increase in wages.
罷工工人開始就增加工資問題與資方展開激烈爭論。
The circumstances of her death have been hotly disputed.
她的死因引起了激烈的爭論。
Few will dispute that educating women has great social benefits.
很少有人質疑婦女接受教育具有重大的社會意義。
They are disputing about the rights and wrongs of the case.他們正在激烈爭論這個事件的是非曲直。
4.contend 「爭辯」、「爭論」，指據理力爭，或自認為自己是對的，多見接賓語從句
that-clause。指聲稱某事屬實，含有與他人進行爭辯的意思。如：
They didn’t contending about the least important points in the design.
對設計中的一些不重要的地方，他們沒有什麼爭執。
The man contended that it was not his fault.
那人爭辯說這不是他的過錯。
Some people contend that current immigration laws unfairly discriminate against
certain racial groups.
有些人爭辯說現行的移民法對某些種族團體有不公平的歧視。
I would contend that the minister's thinking is flawed on this point.
我倒認為部長的想法在這一點上有漏洞。
The government contends that he is fundamentalist...
政府認定他是原教旨主義者。
I would contend that unemployment is the most serious social problem today.
我認為失業是當今最為嚴重的社會弊病。
He contended that it was true.
他聲稱那是真的。
They contend that the company failed to disclose material information.
他們堅持認為該公司並未透露實質性的信息。
5. contend v. 主張，聲稱
指聲稱某事屬實，含有與他人進行爭辯的意思。如：
He contended that it was true.
他聲稱那是真的。
I would contend that unemployment is the most serious social problem today.
我認為失業是當今最為嚴重的社會弊病
6. assert v. 堅決主張；斷言
含較強的主觀意味，指堅決而明確地表示某事真實無誤。
She asserted that French cooking is the best in the world.
她堅稱法國菜是世界上最好的。
The scientist asserted that there is no water on the moon.
那位科學家斷言月球上沒有水
7. maintain v. 堅持說，堅持認為，如：
指堅決維護某種主張或觀點等。
She maintained her innocence.
她堅持自己是無辜的。
He maintains that he once saw a UFO.
他堅稱自己曾看見過飛碟。