A
Study this example situation:
-—————————–
Last year Paul and Joanne spent their vacation at the beach.
It rained a lot, but they had a goog time.
You can say:
ALthough it rained a lot, they had a good time.
(= It rained a lot, but they …)
or
In spite of – the rain, they had a good time.
Despite –
-—————————–
B
After although we use a subject + verb:
– Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our vacation.
– I didn’t get the job although I was well qualified.
Compare the meaning of although and because:
– We went our although it was raining.
– We didn’t go out because it was raining.
C
After in spite of or despite, we use a noun, a pronoun (this/that/what, etc.), or -ing
– In spite of the rain, we enjoyed our vacation.
– I didn’t get the job in spite of being well qualified.
– She wasn’t feeling well, but in spite of this she went to work.
– In spite of what I yesterday, I still love you.
Despite is the same as in spite of. We say in spite of but despite (without of):
– She felt sick, but despite this she went to work. (not despite of this)
You can say in spite of the fact (that) … and despite the fact (that) …:
– I didn’t get the job
in spite of the fact (that) – I was well qualified.
despite the fact (that) –
Compare in spite of and because of:
– We went out in spite of the rain. (or … despite the rain.)
– We didn’t go out because of the rain.
D
Compare although and in spite of / despite:
– ALthough the traffic was bad, – We arrived on time. (not In spite of the traffic was bad)
In spite of the traffic. –
- I couldn’t sleep
although I was very tired. – (not despite I was tired)
despite being veri tired. –
E
Sometimes we use though instead of although:
– I didn’t get the job though I was well qualified.
In spoken English we often use though at the end of a sentence:
– The house isn’t very nice. I like the garden, though. (= but I like the garden)
– I see them every day. I’ve never spoken to them, though.
(= but I’ve never spoken to them)
Even though (but not “even” alone) is a stringer form of although:
– Even though I was really tired, I couldn’t sleep. (not Even I was really tired …)
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