Expressing contrast

CONNECTORS OF CONTRAST

»However

»Nevertheless»On the one hand / on the other

hand

»In spite of / despite

»Although /even though

»But

CONNECTORS OF CONTRAST

• Some connectors have got similar meanings but:

1. are followed by different structures. 2. Take different places in the sentence.

  

although/ even though

subject verbsubject + verb

(A clause)

AlthoughI

am poor, I am happy.

Although they played well, they lost.

Even though she was tired, she went out.

Even though he eats a lot, he is thin.

ALTHOUGH/ EVEN THOUGH

  Even though and although are followed by a clause.

despite/ in spite of -ing formsubject + verb (A

clause)

Despite being poor I am happy.

Despite playing well they lost.

In spite of being tired she went out.

In spite of eating a lot he is thin.

despite/ in spite of

the fact (that)

subject verbsubject + verb (A clause)

Despitethe fact that

I am poor, I am happy.

Despitethe fact

they played well, they lost.

In spite of the fact that she was tired,she went

out.

In spite of the fact that he eats a lot, he is thin.

In spite of and despite 

Despite and in spite of are followed by a noun phrase or a gerund.

despite/ in spite of Noun subject + verb

Despite my povertyI am happy.

Despite their good play,they lost.

In spite of her tiredness she went out.

In spite of his great appetite, he is thin.

This form is less common but possible:

Connectors are usually written in specific places in a sentence:

• At the beginning of a sentence: however, nevertheless, on the one hand, on the  other  hand.

• Either at the beginning or in the middle: despite, in spite of, although, even

though.• Only in the middle of a sentence:

but

• ______ he´s only 12, David is taller than his mother.A. AlthoughB. In spite of

• We went out _____ the rain.A. DespiteB. Even though

• _______ its financial problems, the company is successful.

A. Even thoughB. Despite

Let´s practice…

• He still loves her _____ everything.A. AlthoughB. In spite of

• I won´t go to the party _____ I was invited.

A. Even thoughB. Despite

• ________ her illness, James went to school.A. AlthoughB. In spite of

• ________ he´s 86, he has an excellent heath.

A. Even thoughB. Despite

• You can copy down my answers ______ I´m not sure they´re right.

A. AlthoughB. In spite of

• Buses are still running, ______ the snow.A. Even thoughB. Despite

• I like my apartment a lot _________ it is quite small.A. AlthoughB. Despite

Let´s practice…

• __________ she is beautiful, everybody hates her.• The children slept deeply __________ the noise.• __________ earning a low salary, Sara helped her parents.• Jane rarely sees Alan __________, they are neighbors.• Kate didn´t do well in the exam ___________ working very

hard.

• __________ I was very hungry, I couldn´t eat.• _____________ the difficulty, they managed to

solve the problem.• Liza never talked to him __________ she loved

him.• ___________ it was cold, Marie didn´t put on her

coat.

although

Although

AlthoughIn spite of

In spite of

in spite of

in spite of

Although

although

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