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What is the name of the clause stating that the expected result did not follow the cause stated in the main clause?

  1. "He did not succeed although he worked hard."

    concessive clause

    (1st clause = absence of expected result; 2nd clause = presence of potential cause)

  2. "He worked hard but he did not succeed."

    What is this clause called?

    (1st clause = presence of potential cause; 2nd clause = absence of expected result)

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Simply contrastive (note that it's a main clause): [Google:] but conjunction 1. used to introduce something contrasting with what has already been mentioned. – Edwin Ashworth Jan 17 '14 at 23:13
"Very interesting ... but stupid!". Alternatively, stupid, but interesting. How are we to use this term (assuming one exists) in contexts where it's not clear which is the cause, and which is the "unexpected result" (including failure of the "expected result" to arise/apply)? – FumbleFingers Jan 17 '14 at 23:13
"Although" introduces a concessive clause. "But" introduces an adversative clause. You can also say that "but" introduces the antithesis. – Cerberus Jan 17 '14 at 23:58
@Cerberus: If that's the standard terminology (I don't know, obviously - but it sounds good to me, and I assume you know), you should probably post it as an answer. Personally, I don't think it's good for ELU to have too many unanswered questions. If there is an answer it should be identifiable as such. And those questions where there isn't an answer (for whatever reason) should probably be closed after a reasonable period. – FumbleFingers Jan 18 '14 at 0:50
If there is no standard terminology for the specific case, then it deserves to be brought out into the academic community. A name is indeed needed for this structure. – Kris Jan 18 '14 at 6:48

This, I believe, would be called an adversative clause.

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"Sentences which are constructed using the linking words and, but, or and the few words which can be used in the same way, like also, too, yet, are called compound sentences. These linking words for compound sentences are known as coordinators since they serve to connect main clauses on an equal footing."

In other words, this clause doesn't have it's own specific name, but is a "main clause", and the one you mentioned, the concessive clause, belongs to "Subordinate clauses".

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