Although / though / even though In spite of / despite Study this example situation: 226 Last year Paul and Joanne had a holiday by the sea. It rained a lot, but they enjoyed themselves. You can say: Although it rained a lot, they enjoyed themselves. (= It rained a lot, but they ...) or In spite of 1 ram tnev enjoyed themselves. Despite j After although we use a subject + verb: □ Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday. □ I didn't get the job although I had the necessary qualifications. Compare the meaning of although and because: □ We went out although it was raining. □ We didn't go out because it was raining. 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 holiday. □ I didn't get the job in spite of having the necessary qualifications. □ She wasn't well, but in spite of this she went to work. □ In spite of what I said yesterday, I still love you. Despite is the same as in spite of. We say in spite of, but despite {without of): □ She wasn't well, 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) ... : in spite of the fact (that) ].,.., ,.~ - . , , , , \ I had the necessary qualifications. □ I didn't get the job j ^"^Vfactlthat) 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. Compare although and in spite of / despite: □ Although the traffic was bad, j ^ on ^ ^ In spite of the traffk was bad) (not despite I was tired) In spite of the traffic, [ although I was very tired. □ I couldn't sleep j despite bejng yery tire