Linkers of Contrast

Although Despite

However
SILVANA CABRERA

These connectors are used to express CONTRAST. This means that when you want to state an idea that is DIFFERENT from another related to it, you need to use one of these 3 connectors.

Although

Even though

Despite

In spite of

However

Although
Although is used with a full clause (Subject + verb)
ALTHOUGH

he had worked

very hard on the project,

use a comma

he was not promoted.

Full clause
You can change the order of the ideas without altering the meaning of the sentence.

he is the subject

had worked is the verb

He was not promoted

ALTHOUGH he had worked very hard on the project.

do not use a comma

Despite
Despite is used with a gerund (V-ing form) or a noun.
DESPITE

working

very hard on the project,

he was not promoted.

use a comma

Gerund
DESPITE

his hard work

on the project,

he was not promoted.

Adj and Noun

He was not promoted
DESPITE working

very hard/ his hard work on the project.

do not use a comma

However
However starts a new sentence and it is followed by a comma.
He had worked very hard on the project.
use a stop
HOWEVER,

he was not promoted.

use a comma

With HOWEVER you cannot change the order of the ideas . If you do that, you alter the meaning of the sentence.

He was not promoted.

However, he had worked very hard on the project.

WRONG!!

Practice
1) Choose the correct word/phrase. I think horoscopes are silly, although/in spite of I know most people read them. However/Although, I can't believe that twelfth of the population are really so similar. For example, my brother and my cousin are completely different although/despite both being Gemini. And my sister is relaxed and good at making decisions in spite of/although as Pisces she should be anxious, and indecisive. However/In spite of this, she reads her horoscope every day. My father has never believed in fortune telling, although/despite a fortune teller once told him he would become manager of his company. And he did. However/In spite of my opinions I still read my horoscope anxiously. But then I'm a Pisces.

Practice
2) Transformations
1. I do not like Jack but he seems a friendly person. 2. Despite loving each other, they have broken up. 3. In spite of his wealth, he wasnt married. 4. Despite his injury, he went on playing. 5. He lived in Japan for 10 years but he never learned Japanese. 6. Despite the bad reviews, the movie was a success. 7. I like you even though you have a strange sense of humor. 8. I ate an hour ago. Still, Im very hungry. 9. He doesnt like sports but he doesnt mind watching football. 10. The flat was comfortable. It was very expensive. 11. She got very low grades. She was admitted at University. 12. He wrote to her four times but she never replied. However Although Although Although Despite Although Despite Despite However Although Despite However

SILVANA CABRERA