Conjunctions and Prepositions: Although/though/even though, Inspite of/despite

English/Inglês
Conjunctions and Prepositions: Although/though/even though Inspite of/despite

Explanation/Explicação
Conjunctions are words that connects words, phrases or clauses. Prepositions usually indicate relations between words in a sentence and usually come before a noun.

Sometimes we may want to link two sentences or situations and we can use both conjunctions and prepositions. Of course the structure of the sentence will need to change in both cases.

• Although
  We use although when we want to link two situations in which one didn’t affect the other. After although we use a subject + verb
  Examples: Although it rained all day, we still enjoyed our day out.
  Anne didn’t get the job although she had all the necessary qualifications.
  
  NOTE: when we have two situations in which one affects the other we use the conjunction because instead.
  Example: We didn’t go out today because it was raining.
  
  
• In spite of / Despite
  We use these two prepositions to also to link situations that do not affect each other. After these conjunctions we use a noun or a pronoun (this/that/what etc…) or a verb –ing
  Examples: In spite of the rain, we still enjoyed our day out.
  Despite the rain, we still enjoyed our day out.
  Inspite of what happened yesterday, he still helped us finish the project.
  
  
  1. We can also say in spite of the fact and despite the fact
     Examples: Ann didn’t get the job in spite of the fact that she had all the necessary qualifications.
     Ann didn’t get the job despite that she had all the necessary qualifications.
     
     NOTE: Again when one of the situations affect the other we use because.
     Examples: We didn’t go out because of the rain.
  
  
  
• Although and in spite of/despite
  We can use both conjunctions for situations that don’t affect each other however we will have to change the structure of your sentence, depending on which conjunction you use.
  Examples: Although it rained, we still enjoyed our day out.
  Despite the rain we still enjoyed our day out. (not despite it rained)
  
  
• Though and although
  Sometimes we use though instead of although
  Example: Ann didn’t get the job though she had the all necessary qualifications
  
  
• We often use though at the end of the sentence in spoken English:
  Example: I don’t like that Sarah’s dress, looks good on her though. (I don’t like Sarah’s dress but I like how she looks with it)
  
  
• We can also use even though. This is a stronger form of although.
  Example: Even though there was an accident in the motorway, we still managed to arrive on time.

Kangas