Although / though / even though / In spite of / despite

Though, Although, Even though, Despite, and In spite of are conjunctions frequently used in English to indicate contrast. Although they share similar meanings, they have different usages and grammatical structures. In today’s article, Essay King will provide you with the structures, usage, distinctions, and exercises for Despite, In Spite of, Although, Though, and Even though to help you understand them better!

Example situation:

Last year Paul and Sarah had a holiday by the sea. It rained a lot, but they enjoyed it.

You can say:

Although it rained a lot, they enjoyed it. (= It rained a lot, but they….)
or In spite of / Despite the rain, they enjoyed it.

After although we use a subject + verb:

• 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 heavily.
• We didn’t go out because it was raining heavily

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 continued working.
• In spite of what I said yesterday, I still love.

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 continued working. (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 the necessary qualifications.
• I didn’t get the job despite the fact (that) I had 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.

Compare although and in spite of / despite:

• Although the traffic was bad, we arrived on time.
  In spite of the traffic, we arrived on time (not In spite of the traffic was bad)
• I couldn’t sleep although I was very tired.
  I couldn’t sleep despite being very tired (not despite I was tired)

Though is the same as although:

• 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 so 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…)