IN SPITE OF, DESPITE AND ALTHOUGH

IN SPITE OF, DESPITE, THOUGH AND ALTHOUGH

-ALL used to show CONTRAST

-ALL used for the same meaning

The only difference is the WAY THEY ARE USED; the STRUCTURE in which they are used.

‘despite’ does NOT have ‘of’ after it:

Despite the rough weather they still set sail.

NOT, Despite of the bad weather...X

‘in spite of’ and ‘despite’ are placed in front of a noun or pronoun:

We had a great time in spite of the rain.

We had a great time despite the rain.

He got the job in spite of his prison record.

Despite studying very hard, he still didn’t pass the exam.

‘studying’ is the noun form of the verb ‘study’

If ‘in spite of’ and ‘despite’ are used in front of the phrase ‘the fact that’ then they can be used with a subject and a verb:

In spite of the fact that he studied very hard, he still didn’t pass the exam.

Despite the fact that it rained we still had a great time.

We can also use in spite of and despite with -ing:

He was very fast in spite of being terribly overweight.

They arrived late despite leaving in plenty of time.

We don’t use a that-clause after in spite of or despite. Note that it is common to use in spite of and despite with the expression the fact that, followed by a subject and verb. We use in spite of the fact that or despite the fact that:

When they arrived at Malaga it was hot, in spite of the fact that it was only the end of April.

In spite of the fact that he worked very hard, he didn't pass the exam.

Despite the fact that he worked very hard, he didn't pass the exam.

‘even though’ can be used the same way as ‘although’. For most native speakers ‘even though’ is slightly stronger and more emphatic than ‘although’:

Even though we were in a terrible hotel, we had a great time.

After although and even though, we use a subject and a verb. 

I enjoyed the course, although I would have liked more grammar practice.

Although we saw each other every day, we didn't really know each other.

Even though she spoke very quietly, he understood every word.

She didn't get the job, even though she had all the necessary qualifications.

‘although’ is used in front of a subject and a verb:

We had a great time although it rained.

Although he studied very hard, he still didn’t pass the exam.

Though can be used in the same way as although. 

Though I wasn't keen on the film, I thought the music was beautiful.

Though can also go at the end of the second phrase. This way of expressing contrasting ideas is most common in spoken English.

We waited ages for our food. The waiter was really nice, though.