Although, even though, despite

  • B1 · Intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

Contrast with although and even though + a clause, and despite and in spite of + a noun or -ing: Although the staff work fewer hours, they get more done. Despite the shorter week, they finished more projects. From one company's four-day week to a debate about your own.

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althougheven thoughdespite

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: a four-day weekReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the contrast wordsGrammar exercise
  6. 6although, even though, despite, in spite ofGrammar rule
  7. 7After although or after despite?Grammar exercise
  8. 8The right wordGrammar exercise
  9. 9Two ideas, one sentenceGrammar exercise
  10. 10Build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12The four-day-week debateSpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: which is correct?Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: the art showGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: my opinionDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. How many days a week do you work or study?
  2. Which day of the week do you like least? Why?
  3. Do you get more done in the morning or in the evening?

Grammar rule

although, even though, despite, in spite of

Two ideas, and the second one is a surprise

WordWhat comes after itExample
althougha clause (subject + verb)Although the bus was full, the driver let us on.
even thougha clause; a stronger surpriseMy uncle never wears a coat even though the winters here are cold.
despitea noun, a pronoun or -ing (no subject + verb)Despite the late start, the meeting ended on time. Despite owning a car, she rides her bike to work.
in spite ofthe same as despiteIn spite of the price, we bought the bigger TV.
  • At the start of a sentence, use a comma after the first idea: Although the room was dark, I found my keys. In the middle, there is usually no comma: I found my keys although the room was dark.
  • After despite / in spite of, -ing has the same person as the rest of the sentence: Despite knowing the way, she checked the map. (She knew the way.)
  • although and but join the same two ideas in different ways: The bus was full, but the driver let us on.

Watch out

  • not despite of → despite or in spite of
  • not despite the room was dark → although the room was dark, or despite the darkness
  • not Although the room was dark, but I found my keys: one linking word joins two ideas, not two.

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← Unit 5Be used to, get used to