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
Even though and although are followed by a clause.
although/ even though
Although
subject
I
verb
subject + verb (A
clause)
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.
In spite of and despite
Despite and in spite of are followed by a noun phrase or a gerund.
despite/ in spite
of
Despite
Despite
In spite of
In spite of
the fact (that)
the fact that
the fact
the fact that
the fact that
despite/ in spite of
subject
verb
subject + verb
(A clause)
I
am poor,
I am happy.
they
played well,
they lost.
she
was tired,
she went out.
he
-ing form
eats a lot,
he is thin.
subject + 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.
This form is less common but possible:
despite/ in spite of
Noun
subject + verb
Despite
my poverty
Despite
their good play,
In spite of
her tiredness
she went out.
In spite of
his great appetite,
he is thin.
I am happy.
they lost.
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
Let´s practice…
• ______ he´s only 12, David is taller than his mother.
A. Although
B. In spite of
• We went out _____ the rain.
A. Despite
B. Even though
• _______ its financial problems, the company is successful.
A. Even though
B. Despite
• He still loves her _____ everything.
A. Although
B. In spite of
• I won´t go to the party _____ I was invited.
A. Even though
B. Despite
• ________ her illness, James went to school.
A. Although
B. In spite of
• ________ he´s 86, he has an excellent heath.
A. Even though
B. Despite
• You can copy down my answers ______ I´m not sure they´re
right.
A. Although
B. In spite of
• Buses are still running, ______ the snow.
A. Even though
B. Despite
• I like my apartment a lot _________ it is quite small.
A. Although
B. Despite
Let´s practice…
• Although
__________ she is beautiful, everybody hates her.
in spite of the noise.
• The children slept deeply __________
• __________
In spite of earning a low salary, Sara helped her parents.
although they are neighbors.
• Jane rarely sees Alan __________,
• Kate didn´t do well in the exam ___________
in spite of working very hard.
• __________
Although I was very hungry, I couldn´t eat.
In spite of the difficulty, they managed to solve
• _____________
the problem.
although she loved him.
• Liza never talked to him __________
• Although
___________ it was cold, Marie didn´t put on her coat.
• CREDITS
• http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/
grammar-exercise-although.php
• http://www.englishbee.net/lessons/advan_exer/a
lthough_despite/quiz/quiz.htm