B1Grammar

Understanding ‘Although,’ ‘Despite,’ and ‘In Spite Of’ in English: A B1 Grammar Lesson

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Welcome back to our English grammar lesson! Today, we’re going to tackle three words that often confuse English learners: although, despite, and in spite of. These words are super useful for expressing contrast and showing unexpected results, which is really important for clear and natural English speaking. If you’re aiming for a B1 level in English, understanding and using these conjunctions and prepositions of contrast correctly will significantly improve your fluency and confidence. Let’s dive in and make it easy!

What are ‘Although,’ ‘Despite,’ and ‘In Spite Of’?

Although, despite, and in spite of are all used to show a contrast or something unexpected. They tell us that something happened or is true even though there was a reason for the opposite to happen or be true. Think of them as saying “even though” or “however.” They are essential conjunctions of contrast and prepositions that help you build more complex and nuanced sentences in English.

Let’s break down each one:

Although

Although is a conjunction. This means it joins two clauses (parts of a sentence). It always introduces a contrast clause, which has a subject and a verb. It’s very similar in meaning to “though” and “even though.”

Structure: Although + Subject + Verb, Main Clause

Examples:

  • Although it was raining, we went for a walk in the park. (Unexpected action: going for a walk in the rain)
  • Although she is tired, she always finishes her work on time. (Unexpected action: finishing work despite tiredness)
  • Although he didn’t study much, he passed the exam. (Unexpected result: passing without studying)
  • Although the traffic was heavy, we arrived on time. (Unexpected result: arriving on time despite traffic)

You can also put the ‘although’ clause at the end of the sentence. The meaning stays the same.

Structure: Main Clause + although + Subject + Verb

Examples:

  • We went for a walk in the park although it was raining.
  • She always finishes her work on time although she is tired.
  • He passed the exam although he didn’t study much.
  • We arrived on time although the traffic was heavy.

Despite

Despite is a preposition. This means it is followed by a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund (verb + -ing). It cannot be followed directly by a subject and verb like ‘although’.

Structure: Despite + Noun/Pronoun/Gerund, Main Clause

Examples:

  • Despite the rain, we went for a walk in the park. (Rain is a noun)
  • Despite her tiredness, she always finishes her work on time. (Tiredness is a noun)
  • Despite not studying much, he passed the exam. (Not studying is a gerund phrase)
  • Despite the heavy traffic, we arrived on time. (Heavy traffic is a noun phrase)

Similar to ‘although’, you can also put the ‘despite’ phrase at the end of the sentence.

Structure: Main Clause + despite + Noun/Pronoun/Gerund

Examples:

  • We went for a walk in the park despite the rain.
  • She always finishes her work on time despite her tiredness.
  • He passed the exam despite not studying much.
  • We arrived on time despite the heavy traffic.

In Spite Of

In spite of is very similar to ‘despite’. It is also a preposition and is followed by a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund. The meaning is exactly the same as ‘despite’!

Structure: In spite of + Noun/Pronoun/Gerund, Main Clause

Examples:

  • In spite of the rain, we went for a walk in the park. (Rain is a noun)
  • In spite of her tiredness, she always finishes her work on time. (Tiredness is a noun)
  • In spite of not studying much, he passed the exam. (Not studying is a gerund phrase)
  • In spite of the heavy traffic, we arrived on time. (Heavy traffic is a noun phrase)

And just like ‘despite’ and ‘although’, you can move the ‘in spite of’ phrase to the end of the sentence.

Structure: Main Clause + in spite of + Noun/Pronoun/Gerund

Examples:

  • We went for a walk in the park in spite of the rain.
  • She always finishes her work on time in spite of her tiredness.
  • He passed the exam in spite of not studying much.
  • We arrived on time in spite of the heavy traffic.

Key Differences and Similarities: Although, Despite, In Spite Of

Let’s summarize the main points to remember about although, despite, and in spite of:

  • Meaning: They all have the same basic meaning: to show contrast or something unexpected. They are all conjunctions and prepositions of contrast.
  • Although: Is a conjunction. Followed by a subject + verb (a clause).
  • Despite and In Spite Of: Are prepositions. Followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund.
  • Interchangeable Meaning: ‘Despite’ and ‘in spite of’ are completely interchangeable in meaning. You can use either one, and the sentence will mean the same.

Think of it this way: If you want to use a full sentence (subject + verb) to show the contrast, use although. If you want to use just a noun or -ing form, use despite or in spite of.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using ‘Although,’ ‘Despite,’ and ‘In Spite Of’

Learners sometimes make a few common mistakes with these words. Let’s make sure you avoid them!

  1. Using ‘despite’ or ‘in spite of’ with a clause (subject + verb): This is incorrect. Remember, ‘despite’ and ‘in spite of’ are prepositions and need to be followed by nouns, pronouns, or gerunds, not full clauses.
    Incorrect: Despite it was raining, we went out.
    Correct: Although it was raining, we went out. OR Despite the rain, we went out.
  2. Forgetting ‘of’ in ‘in spite of’: It’s a small word, but important! ‘In spite’ is not correct; you must say ‘in spite of‘.
    Incorrect: In spite rain, we enjoyed our walk.
    Correct: In spite of the rain, we enjoyed our walk.
  3. Using ‘but’ or ‘so’ with ‘although,’ ‘despite,’ ‘in spite of’: You don’t need to use ‘but’ or ‘so’ after these words to show the contrast. They already show the contrast.
    Incorrect: Although it was cold, but we went swimming.
    Correct: Although it was cold, we went swimming. OR It was cold, but we went swimming.

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s time to put what you’ve learned into practice! Complete the following exercises to test your understanding of although, despite, and in spite of. This practice will help you to use these words confidently in your own English speaking.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the best word (although, despite, or in spite of) to complete each sentence.

  1. _________ the fact that he was tired, he finished the marathon.
  2. _________ it was late, we decided to go out for dinner.
  3. She went to work _________ feeling unwell.
  4. _________ all our warnings, he went skiing on his own.
  5. _________ having a lot of money, he’s not happy.
  6. He decided to go for a swim _________ the cold water.
  7. _________ she studied hard, she didn’t pass the exam.
  8. _________ the noise, I managed to sleep.
  9. _________ being very expensive, the car is very popular.
  10. They lost the game _________ playing very well.

Exercise 2: Combine the Sentences

Combine each pair of sentences using although, despite, or in spite of. Try to use each word at least once.

  1. It rained heavily. We enjoyed our picnic. (Use ‘although’)
  2. She has a good job. She is not satisfied. (Use ‘despite’)
  3. He is very rich. He lives in a small house. (Use ‘in spite of’)
  4. The exam was difficult. Many students passed. (Use ‘although’)
  5. She was very busy. She helped me with my homework. (Use ‘despite’)
  6. The weather was bad. We had a great time on holiday. (Use ‘in spite of’)

Answers

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks Answers
  1. In spite of (or Despite)
  2. Although
  3. despite (or in spite of)
  4. Despite (or In spite of)
  5. Despite (or In spite of)
  6. despite (or in spite of)
  7. Although
  8. Despite (or In spite of)
  9. Despite (or In spite of)
  10. Despite (or In spite of)
Exercise 2: Combine the Sentences Answers
  1. Although it rained heavily, we enjoyed our picnic.
  2. Despite having a good job, she is not satisfied.
  3. In spite of being very rich, he lives in a small house.
  4. Although the exam was difficult, many students passed.
  5. Despite being very busy, she helped me with my homework.
  6. In spite of the bad weather, we had a great time on holiday.

Speaking Practice with Lingofrnd

Great job working through that grammar lesson and practice! Now, the best way to really master although, despite, and in spite of is to use them in your own spoken English. But how can you get speaking practice?

That’s where Lingofrnd.com comes in! Lingofrnd is your AI spoken English teacher, ready to help you practice using these conjunctions of contrast and improve your overall English speaking skills. You can practice making sentences with although, despite, and in spite of in real conversations, getting instant feedback and building your confidence.

Here’s how Lingofrnd can help you:

  • Practice Speaking: Talk to Lingofrnd about different topics and situations where you can naturally use ‘although,’ ‘despite,’ and ‘in spite of.’ For example, discuss unexpected events, challenges you’ve overcome, or surprising situations.
  • Get Instant Feedback: Lingofrnd provides feedback on your grammar and pronunciation, helping you to use these words correctly in spoken English.
  • Boost Your Confidence: The more you practice speaking, the more comfortable and confident you’ll become using these and other English grammar structures.

Ready to take your English speaking to the next level? Visit Lingofrnd.com and start practicing today! You can also Download App and practice on the go. Start speaking English fluently and confidently with Lingofrnd!