Linking words inspite of/despite/ although/...

'in spite of', 'despite', 'although', 'even though' and 'though'

Do you know how to connect two contrasting ideas with words like although and despite? Test what you know with the following exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Multiple Choice

_____ they'd only known each other for two months, they got engaged.

• despite

• in spite of

• even though

Multiple Choice

She passed her driving test, _____ she made a lot of mistakes.

• despite

• in spite of

• even though

Multiple Choice

_____ the fact that I'm allergic to dogs, my parents are getting a puppy.

• in spite of

• although

• even though

Multiple Choice

_____ I love sweets and cakes, I try not to eat them during the week.

• although

• despite

• in spite of

Multiple Choice

I'm a terrible singer, _____ having two parents who are good musicians.

• in spite of

• even though

• althoughgi

Multiple Choice

I completely forgot to post the letter, _____ him reminding me in the morning.

• in spite of

• although

• even though

Multiple Choice

_____ I'm a nurse, I can't stand the sight of blood.

• despite

• in spite of

• even though

Multiple Choice

I would move to Australia if I got a job offer, _____ the distance from my family.

• despite

• even though

• although

​ Grammar explanation

​Although, even though, in spite of and despite are all used to link two contrasting ideas or show that one fact makes the other fact surprising. They can all be used at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence. 

Despite the rain, we enjoyed the festival.
We enjoyed the festival, despite the rain.

The main difference between although, even though, in spite of and despite is that they are used with different structures. 

​After in spite of and despite, we use a noun, gerund (-ing form of a verb) or a pronoun.

• They never made much money, in spite of their success.

• In spite of the pain in his leg, he completed the marathon.

• Despite having a headache, I had a great birthday.

• The train was cancelled. In spite of that, we arrived on time.

​After although and even though, we use a subject and a verb. Even though is slightly stronger and more emphatic than although.

• 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.

​ -->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.