Although, though and even though are followed by a subject and a verb. In spite of and despite are followed by a noun, a pronoun or an -ing form. All of them connect two facts that do not sit comfortably together.
A Two facts that do not fit
Last summer Pete and Jas went camping in the Lake District. It rained almost every day, but they enjoyed it anyway.
You can say:
Although it rained almost every day, they enjoyed it.
or
In spite of the rain, they enjoyed it. / Despite the rain, they enjoyed it.
The Lake District was, in this respect, entirely itself.
- Although it rained almost every day, they enjoyed it. (= It rained almost every day, but they enjoyed it.)
- In spite of the rain, they enjoyed it.
- Despite the rain, they enjoyed it.
B although + subject + verb
After although, use a subject + verb.
Compare the meaning of although and because. With although, the second fact is unexpected. With because, it is the natural result.
- Although it rained almost every day, they enjoyed it.
- I didn't buy the coat although it fitted perfectly.
- We went for a walk although it was freezing.
- We didn't go for a walk because it was freezing.
C in spite of / despite + noun, pronoun or -ing
After in spite of or despite, use a noun, a pronoun (this, that, what etc.) or an -ing form.
Despite means the same as in spite of. We say in spite of, but despite without of: never despite of this.
You can also say in spite of the fact (that) or despite the fact (that) + subject + verb.
Compare in spite of and because of, which behave in the same way as although and because.
- In spite of the rain, they enjoyed it.
- The car is twenty years old, but in spite of this it has never broken down.
- The car is twenty years old, but despite this it has never broken down. (not despite of this)
- In spite of everything that happened, we're still friends.
- I didn't buy the coat in spite of liking it a lot.
- I didn't buy the coat in spite of the fact that it fitted perfectly.
- I didn't buy the coat despite the fact that it fitted perfectly.
- We went for a walk in spite of the cold. (or despite the cold)
- We didn't go for a walk because of the cold.
D although or in spite of / despite: compared
The meaning is the same. The grammar after the word is not.
| although + subject + verb | in spite of / despite + noun or -ing |
|---|---|
| Although the queue was long, we got in quickly. | In spite of the long queue, we got in quickly. |
| I couldn't relax although I was on holiday. | I couldn't relax despite being on holiday. |
We do not say in spite of the queue was long or despite I was on holiday.
- Although the queue was long, we got in quickly.
- In spite of the long queue, we got in quickly. (not in spite of the queue was long)
- I couldn't relax although I was on holiday.
- I couldn't relax despite being on holiday. (not despite I was on holiday)
E though and even though
Though means the same as although.
In spoken English we often put though at the end of a sentence. Here it means but or however, and it softens what came before.
Even though is similar to although, but stronger. Even alone cannot do this job (see Unit 112).
- I didn't buy the coat though it fitted perfectly.
- The food was a bit cold. The service was excellent though. (= but the service was excellent)
- I've lived next door to them for years. I don't know their names though. (= but I don't know their names)
- Even though I'd set two alarms, I overslept. (not even I'd set two alarms)
Exercises
113.1 Complete the sentences, using although and a sentence from the box.
I didn't know anyone at the weddingI'd only been there once beforeit was pouring with rainshe's lived here for yearsthe instructions were very clearthe windows were openhe isn't very friendlywe've worked together for ages
Although she's lived here for years, she still gets lost in the town centre.
Although she's lived here for years, she still gets lost in the town centre.
, I found the house without any trouble.
Although I'd only been there once before, I found the house without any trouble.
The children played outside all afternoon .
The children played outside all afternoon although it was pouring with rain.
We asked Gav to join the team .
We asked Gav to join the team although he isn't very friendly.
, I had a lovely time.
Although I didn't know anyone at the wedding, I had a lovely time.
, the room was very stuffy.
Although the windows were open, the room was very stuffy.
I put the shelf up upside down .
I put the shelf up upside down although the instructions were very clear.
We don't really know each other very well .
We don't really know each other very well although we've worked together for ages.
113.2 Complete the sentences with although, in spite of, because or because of. Items 2 and 3, 4 and 5, 6 and 7, and 8 and 9 are pairs. For items 10 to 13, complete the sentence with your own idea; these are not marked.
Although it snowed all week, we had a great time.
Although it snowed all week, we had a great time.
all our preparation, the show was a disaster.
In spite of all our preparation, the show was a disaster.
we'd rehearsed for weeks, the show was a disaster.
Although we'd rehearsed for weeks, the show was a disaster.
I left the party early I had a headache.
I left the party early because I had a headache.
I went to the party I had a headache.
I went to the party although I had a headache.
Nina bought the flat the view, which was stunning.
Nina bought the flat because of the view, which was stunning.
Jake bought the flat the view, which was of a car park.
Jake bought the flat in spite of the view, which was of a car park.
the dog barked all night, I slept quite well.
Although the dog barked all night, I slept quite well.
I couldn't concentrate the dog.
I couldn't concentrate because of the dog.
She got the job although .
She got the job although she was late for the interview.
She got the job because .
She got the job because she had more experience than anyone else.
I didn't go to bed early although .
I didn't go to bed early although I was exhausted.
I didn't go to bed early in spite of .
I didn't go to bed early in spite of having to get up at five.
113.3 Make one sentence from the two, using the word or words in brackets.
I couldn't concentrate. I'd had plenty of sleep. (despite)
I couldn't concentrate despite having had plenty of sleep.
I couldn't concentrate despite having had plenty of sleep.
We trained hard. We came last. (in spite of)
In spite of training hard, we came last.
I'd lost my voice. I managed to sing in the concert. (although)
Although I'd lost my voice, I managed to sing in the concert.
I liked the book. The ending was disappointing. (in spite of)
I liked the book in spite of the disappointing ending.
We work in the same office. We rarely speak to each other. (despite)
Despite working in the same office, we rarely speak to each other.
They stayed for dinner. Nobody had asked them. (even though)
They stayed for dinner even though nobody had asked them.
113.4 Use the words in brackets to make a sentence with though at the end.
The flat is very small. (like / location)
I like the location though.
The flat is very small. I like the location though.
I enjoyed the holiday. (very expensive)
I enjoyed the holiday. It was very expensive though.
We didn't enjoy the play. (stayed / until the end)
We didn't enjoy the play. We stayed until the end though.
Craig is very friendly. (don't like / brother)
Craig is very friendly. I don't like his brother though.