Although / though / even though In spite of / despite
Study this example situation:
//.X^^s-y, V    / ^ast ^ear ^au' anc' Joanne had a holiday by the sea.
n ft        ' I '//   ■ V /      lf rained a lot, but they enjoyed themselves. ///       You can say: /       /       Although it rained a lot, they enjoyed themselves. ''. -~-±5EE: (= It rained a lot, iaf they ...) or
In sp'te ° 1 tjle ram tney enj0yed themselves. Despite |
After although we use a subject + wrfe
□ 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) ... :
I didn't get the job | ^fSIf     tl^t M»L|    }' 'la<' tne necessalT qualifications.
□ I didn't get the job | lact : th.lt    ' j
Compare in spite of and because of:
□ We went out in spite of the rain, (or ... despite the ram.)
□ We didn't go out because of the rain.
Compare although and in spite of / despite:
□ Although the traffic was bad, 1 w<_ amved on dme   („of in spite of the traffic was bad)
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In spite of the traffic,
.     , , ,   ,     [ although I was very tired.   ,      ... •
□ I couldn t sleep    .... .   ,      (not despite I was tired)
[ despite being very tired.
Sometimes we use though instead of although:
O I didn't get the job though I had the necessary qualifications.
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 stronger form of although:
□ Even though I was really tired, I couldn't sleep, (not Even I was really tired ...)
Even — Unit 112
Exercises
113.1 Complete the sentences. Use although + a sentence from the box.
Unit 113
I didn't speak the language I had never seen her before it was quite cold I'd met her twice before
he has a very important job
we don't like them very much
the heating was on
we've known each other a long time
■■mm.ih.M^..A..ym..W^J>i....., he isn't particularly well-paid.
3 Sb
e wasn't wearing a coat .
, I recognised her from a photograph
4 We thought we'd better invite them to the party .
2 a b
............................................................................................................................, I managed to make myself understood
0 ........................................................................................................................................................................................... , the room wasn't warm
7 I didn't recognise her..................................................................................................................................................................................................
8 We're not very good friends............................................................................................................................................................................
113.2 Complete the sentences with although / in spite of / because / because of.
1 .....Although.....jt rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday.
..........................................................all our careful plans, a lot of things went wrong.
..........................................................we'd planned everything carefully, a lot of things went wrong
3 a I went home early........................................................................I was feeling unwell.
b I went to work the next day........................................................................ I was still feeling unwell.
4 a  She only accepted the job........................................................................the salary, which was very high.
b She accepted the job........................................................................the salary, which was rather low.
5 a I managed to get to sleep........................................................................there was a lot of noise.
b I couldn't get to sleep........................................................................the noise.
Use your own ideas to complete the following sentences:
6 a He passed the exam although .................................................................................................................................................................
b He passed the exam because ....................................................................................................................................................................
7 a  I didn't eat anything although ................................................................................................................................................................
b I didn't eat anything in spite of.............................................................................................................................................................
113.3 Make one sentence from two. Use the word(s) in brackets in your sentences.
1 I couldn't sleep. I was very tired, (despite)
.....I couldn't sleep despite being verij tired-.....................................................................................................................
2 They have very little money. They are happy, (in spite of)
In spite.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
3 My foot was injured. I managed to walk to the nearest village, (although)
4 I enjoyed the film. The story was silly, (in spite of)
5 We live in the same street. We hardly ever see each other, (despite)
6 I got very wet in the rain. I was only out for five minutes, (even though)
113.4 Use the words in brackets to make a sentence with though at the end.
1 The house isn't very nice. (like / garden) ..... ■?.(. M-ii-r though.
2 It's warm today, (very windy)
3 We didn't like the food, (ate)
4 Liz is very nice, (don't like / husband) I........................................
-» Additional exercise 32 (page 321)
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