2009. 1. 22. 01:34
although / though / even though / in spite of / despite
A. Study this example situation
Last year jack and Jill spent their 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 the rain, they enjoyed themselves.
Despite the rain, they enjoyed themselves.
B. After although we use a suject + verb
- Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday.
- I didn't get the job although I had all 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.
C. After in spite of of 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 all the necessary qualifications.
- She wasn't well, but in spite of this she went o work.
- In spite of what I said yesterday, I still love you.
Despite is the same as in spite of. Note that 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 in spite of the fact (that) I had all the necessary qualifications.
- I didn't get the job despite of the fact (that) I had all the necessary qualifications.
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, I arrived on time. (not 'in spite of the traffic was bad')
- In spie of the traffic, I arrived on time, (not 'in spite of the traffic was bad')
- I couldn't sleep although I was very tired. (not 'despited I was tired')
- I couldn't sleep despite being very tired. (not 'despited I was tired')
E. Sometimes we use though instead of although :
- I didn't get the job though I had all 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 him every day. I've never spoken to him though. (= but I've never spoken to him)
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 ...')
