1.debate“辩论”、“争论”，可作动词或名词，动词后不跟 that 从句，着重双方正式辩论，各陈理由，有较强的“交锋”意味。
正式用词，多指围绕某一问题展开的或争论。侧重指意见观点对立的双方之间的正式或公开的争辩。
着重“双方各述己见”, 内含“交锋”的意思, 如:
We have been debating about the issue.
我们一直在就这个问题进行辩论。
I don't wish to debate my opinions with you. 我不想就我的想法同你辩论。
The Senate debated whether the new highway should be built or not.
参议院就是否应该建造这条新公路展开辩论。
On Sunday night they challenged us to debate on the problem of automobile
development and heavy traffic.
星期天晚上,他们向我们挑战辩论汽车发展与的交通拥挤问题。
It is useless to debate this question in angry quarrel.
在愤怒的争吵中争论这种问题是没有用的
The Parliament has been debating the financial situation for two weeks.
议会就财政状况辩论已有两个星期。
We debated until it was time for supper.我们一直辫论到晚饭时间。
2.argue只作动词，不能作名词用，为最普通用词，后可跟 that 从句，表示“说服，论证”或“企图说服”，指从心平气和的说理到言辞激烈的争论。“争辩”、“争论”、“争吵”，普通用词，指坚持己见与人争论自己不赞同或反对的事，着重说理、试图说服他人。
I argued with him for a long time, but he refused to listen to reason.
我与他争论了好长时间,但他不听我跟他说理。
The lawyers for the plaintiff and the defendant argued the case for hours.
原告律师与被告律师就这个案子辩论了好几个小时。
She knew it was useless to argue with his father. He would not change his decision.
她知道跟父亲争论是没用的，他决定的事不会更改。
He tried to argue that the case was not what it seemed to be.
我们试图争辩说,事并不是像表面看上去的那样。
I argued with her for a long time, but she refused to listen to reason.
我和她辩论了好久, 但她还是不听。
President Lincoln argued that all men are created equal. 林肯总统主张人皆生来平等。
可以指“说理，论证”，也可以指“激烈地交换意见以致争吵”。如:
1) He argued against the plan.他举出种种理由反对这项计划。
2) He argued that she should not go.他争辩说，她不应当去。
3. dispute可作动词或名词，动词后不跟 that 从句，着重双方各执一词，相持不下，针锋相对地激烈辩论。
“争论”、“争吵”、“争辩”，多对分歧进行激烈或热烈的争论或争辩，争辩中激情多于理智，争论双方往往各持已见，争论相持不下，问题得不到解决。
指“激烈争辩”, 含有“相持不下”或“未得解决”之意, 如:
Whether he will be elected as chairman is still disputed.
他是否当选为主席, 仍然有争论。
The opposing party disputed with the president on the government budget. 反对党就政府预算问题同总统激烈争执。
He disputed with his wife on household expenses.
他与妻子在家庭开支问题上争执不下。
Whether he will succeed with his new method is still disputed.
关于他采用新办法是否会成功这一点，仍然存在争论。
The school board members spend their time disputing and getting nothing done.
学校董事会成员花不少时间辩论，但什么事也做不成。
It is ridiculous for them dispute about such trivial matters.
在这些琐事上争的不亦乐是荒谬的。
The strikers began to dispute hotly with management on the increase in wages.
罢工工人开始就增加工资问题与资方展开激烈争论。
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.
很少有人质疑妇女接受教育具有重大的社会意义。
They are disputing about the rights and wrongs of the case.他们正在激烈争论这个事件的是非曲直。
4.contend “争辩”、“争论”，指据理力争，或自认为自己是对的，多见接宾语从句
that-clause。指声称某事属实，含有与他人进行争辩的意思。如：
They didn’t contending about the least important points in the design.
对设计中的一些不重要的地方，他们没有什么争执。
The man contended that it was not his fault.
那人争辩说这不是他的过错。
Some people contend that current immigration laws unfairly discriminate against
certain racial groups.
有些人争辩说现行的移民法对某些种族团体有不公平的歧视。
I would contend that the minister's thinking is flawed on this point.
我倒认为部长的想法在这一点上有漏洞。
The government contends that he is fundamentalist...
政府认定他是原教旨主义者。
I would contend that unemployment is the most serious social problem today.
我认为失业是当今最为严重的社会弊病。
He contended that it was true.
他声称那是真的。
They contend that the company failed to disclose material information.
他们坚持认为该公司并未透露实质性的信息。
5. contend v. 主张，声称
指声称某事属实，含有与他人进行争辩的意思。如：
He contended that it was true.
他声称那是真的。
I would contend that unemployment is the most serious social problem today.
我认为失业是当今最为严重的社会弊病
6. assert v. 坚决主张；断言
含较强的主观意味，指坚决而明确地表示某事真实无误。
She asserted that French cooking is the best in the world.
她坚称法国菜是世界上最好的。
The scientist asserted that there is no water on the moon.
那位科学家断言月球上没有水
7. maintain v. 坚持说，坚持认为，如：
指坚决维护某种主张或观点等。
She maintained her innocence.
她坚持自己是无辜的。
He maintains that he once saw a UFO.
他坚称自己曾看见过飞碟。