Unit 113: Although / though / even though

English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 113: Although / though / even though - In spite of / despite

Study this 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 the rain, they enjoyed it.
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 you.

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. (not In spite of the traffic was bad)
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. (not despite I was tired)
I couldn't sleep despite being very 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 ... )

113.1 Complete the sentences. Use although + a sentence from the box.

I didn't speak the language well
I had never seen her before
it was quite cold
I'd met her twice before
~~he has a very important job~~
we don't like them very much
the heating was on
we've known each other a long time

, he isn't particularly well-paid.
__________ , I recognised her from a photograph.
She wasn't wearing a coat __________ .
We thought we'd better invite them to the party __________ .
__________ , I managed to make myself understood.
__________ , the room wasn't warm.
I didn't recognise her __________ .
We're not very good friends __________ .

113.2 Complete the sentences with although / in spite of / because / because of.

⁽¹⁾ it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday.
a) ⁽²⁾ __________ all our careful plans, a lot of things went wrong.
b) ⁽³⁾ __________ we'd planned everything carefully, a lot of things went wrong.
a) I went home early ⁽⁴⁾ __________ I was feeling unwell.
b) I went to work the next day ⁽⁵⁾ __________ I was still feeling unwell.
a) She only accepted the job ⁽⁶⁾ __________ the salary, which was very high.
b) She accepted the job ⁽⁷⁾ __________ the salary, which was rather low.
a) I managed to get to sleep ⁽⁸⁾ __________ there was a lot of noise.
b) I couldn't get to sleep ⁽⁹⁾ __________ the noise.

Use your own ideas to complete the following sentences:

a) He passed the exam although ⁽¹⁰⁾ __________ .
b) He passed the exam because ⁽¹¹⁾ __________ .
a) I didn't eat anything although ⁽¹²⁾ __________ .
b) I didn't eat anything in spite of ⁽¹³⁾ __________ .

113.3 Make one sentence from two. Use the word(s) in brackets in your sentences.

I couldn't sleep. I was very tired. (despite)
.
They have very little money. They are happy. (in spite of)
In spite __________ .
My foot was injured. I managed to walk home. (although)
__________ .
I enjoyed the film. The story was silly. (in spite of)
__________ .
We live in the same street. We hardly ever see each other. (despite)
__________ .
I got very wet in the rain. I was only out for five minutes. (even though)
__________ .

113.4 Use the words in brackets to make a sentence with though at the end.

The house isn't very nice. (like / garden)
.
It's warm today. (very windy)
__________ .
We didn't like the food. (ate)
__________ .
Liz is very nice. (don't like I husband)
I __________ .

Answer Key

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