Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 113 · B2

in spite of / despite; although / though / even though

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.

Start the lesson

18Steps · about 34 minutes

In this lesson

Two facts that do not fitA1 screen of questions
although + subject + verbB2 screens of questions
in spite of / despite + noun, pronoun or -ingC1 screen of questions
although or in spite of / despite: comparedD1 screen of questions
though and even thoughE1 screen of questions
Put it together+5 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 5

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.

Point A · Extra practice

Put in although, in spite of or despite.

  1. it rained every day, we enjoyed the holiday.

  2. the rain, we enjoyed the holiday.

  3. the traffic, we got there on time.

Point B of 5

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.

Point B · Exercise 113.1 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences, using although and a sentence from the box.

Use these

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

  1. Example

    Although she's lived here for years, she still gets lost in the town centre.

    AnswerAlthough she's lived here for years, she still gets lost in the town centre.

  2. , I found the house without any trouble.

  3. The children played outside all afternoon .

  4. We asked Gav to join the team .

  5. , I had a lovely time.

Point B · Exercise 113.1 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences, using although and a sentence from the box.

Use these

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

  1. , the room was very stuffy.

  2. I put the shelf up upside down .

  3. We don't really know each other very well .

Point C of 5

in spite of / despite + noun, pronoun or -ing

in spite of and despite take a noun, a pronoun (this, that, what etc.) or an -ing form.

Despite and in spite of mean the same, but only in spite of has of. Despite of this is wrong.

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.

Point C · Extra practice

Put in in spite of or despite with a noun, a pronoun or an -ing form.

  1. being tired, she went to the gym.

  2. The car is old, but this it runs well.

  3. They played the match the snow.

Point D of 5

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)

Point D · Extra practice

Put in although or in spite of.

  1. the queue was long, we got in quickly.

  2. the long queue, we got in quickly.

  3. I couldn't relax I was on holiday.

Point E of 5

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)

Point E · Exercise 113.4

Use the words in brackets to make a sentence with though at the end.

  1. Example

    The flat is very small. (like / location)

    I like the location though.

    AnswerThe flat is very small. I like the location though.

  2. I enjoyed the holiday. (very expensive)

  3. We didn't enjoy the play. (stayed / until the end)

  4. Craig is very friendly. (don't like / brother)

Put it together · Exercise 113.2 · part 1 of 3

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.

  1. Example

    Although it snowed all week, we had a great time.

    AnswerAlthough it snowed all week, we had a great time.

  2. all our preparation, the show was a disaster.

  3. we'd rehearsed for weeks, the show was a disaster.

  4. I left the party early I had a headache.

  5. I went to the party I had a headache.

Put it together · Exercise 113.2 · part 2 of 3

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.

  1. Nina bought the flat the view, which was stunning.

  2. Jake bought the flat the view, which was of a car park.

  3. the dog barked all night, I slept quite well.

  4. I couldn't concentrate the dog.

Put it together · Exercise 113.2 · part 3 of 3

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.

  1. She got the job although .

  2. She got the job because .

  3. I didn't go to bed early although .

  4. I didn't go to bed early in spite of .

Put it together · Exercise 113.3 · part 1 of 2

Make one sentence from the two, using the word or words in brackets.

  1. Example

    I couldn't concentrate. I'd had plenty of sleep. (despite)

    I couldn't concentrate despite having had plenty of sleep.

    AnswerI couldn't concentrate despite having had plenty of sleep.

  2. We trained hard. We came last. (in spite of)

  3. I'd lost my voice. I managed to sing in the concert. (although)

  4. I liked the book. The ending was disappointing. (in spite of)

  5. We work in the same office. We rarely speak to each other. (despite)

Put it together · Exercise 113.3 · part 2 of 2

Make one sentence from the two, using the word or words in brackets.

  1. They stayed for dinner. Nobody had asked them. (even though)

Lesson 113 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: in caseBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Two facts that do not fit–Not checkedB. although + subject + verb–Not checkedC. in spite of / despite + noun, pronoun or -ing–Not checkedD. although or in spite of / despite: compared–Not checkedE. though and even though–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked