Daily EL
a) Study this example situation:Last year Jack and Jill spent their vacation at the beach. It rain 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 / Despite the rain, they enjoyed themselves.
b) After although we use a subject+verb:
- Although she smokes 20 cigarettes a day, she seems quite healthy.
- Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our vacation.
- I didn't get the job, although I had all the necessary qualification.
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 vacation.
- I didn't get the job, despite my qualifications.
- she wasn't well, but in spite of this she went to work.
- Despite what I said last night, I still love you.
- I am not tired, in spite of working hard all day.
Note that we say "in spite of," but despite (without of). You can also say in spite of / despite the fact that...:
- In spite of the fact that I was tired, I couldn't sleep.
- She seems healthy, despite the fact that she smokes 20 cigarettes a day.
Compare although and in spite of / despite:
- Although the traffic was bad, I arrived on time.
- I couldn't sleep, although I was very tired.
- I couldn't sleep, despite being very tired.
c) 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 everyday. I've never spoken to him though. (= but I've never spoken to him)
Even though is a stronger form of although:
- Even though I was really tired, I couldn't sleep.
