although / though / in spite of / despite
Concessive Conjunctions · Contrast · even though — Complete Guide
although / though / in spite of / despite
Conjonctions concessives · Contraste · even though — Guide Complet
Learn to express contrast using although/though/even though (+ subject + verb) and in spite of / despite (+ noun / -ing). Master the difference and avoid the most common errors.
Apprenez à exprimer un contraste avec although/though/even though (+ sujet + verbe) et in spite of / despite (+ nom / -ing). Maîtrisez la différence et évitez les erreurs les plus fréquentes.
The key distinction in this unit: although / though / even though are conjunctions — always followed by a subject + verb. In spite of / despite are prepositions — always followed by a noun, pronoun or -ing form. Mixing these structures is one of the most common B1–B2 errors.
La distinction clé de cette unité : although / though / even though sont des conjonctions — toujours suivies d’un sujet + verbe. In spite of / despite sont des prépositions — toujours suivies d’un nom, pronom ou d’une forme en -ing. Mélanger ces structures est l’une des erreurs B1–B2 les plus fréquentes.
although — + Subject + Verb
although — + Sujet + Verbe
Use although + subject + verb to introduce a contrasting fact. The clause can come first or second in the sentence.
Utilisez although + sujet + verbe pour introduire un fait contrastant. La proposition peut venir en première ou deuxième position.
I didn’t apply for the job, although I had the necessary qualifications.
Compare although and because:
We went out although it was raining. (contrast — we went despite rain)
We didn’t go out because it was raining. (reason — rain stopped us) Although it rained a lot, they had a good time.
I didn’t apply for the job, although I had the qualifications.
Comparez although et because :
We went out although it was raining. (contraste)
We didn’t go out because it was raining. (raison)
in spite of / despite — + Noun / Pronoun / -ing
in spite of / despite — + Nom / Pronom / -ing
After in spite of or despite, use a noun, pronoun (this/that/what…) or an -ing form. Never use subject + verb directly.
Après in spite of ou despite, utilisez un nom, pronom (this/that/what…) ou une forme en -ing. Jamais directement sujet + verbe.
She wasn’t well, but in spite of this she continued working. (pronoun)
In spite of what I said, I still love you. (pronoun clause)
I didn’t apply in spite of having the qualifications. (-ing)
Despite = same meaning as in spite of — but NO “of”:
Despite the rain, we had a good time. ✓
Despite of the rain… ✗ WRONG
“In spite of the fact that…” allows subject + verb after:
I didn’t apply in spite of the fact that I had the qualifications. In spite of the rain, we had a good time. (nom)
She wasn’t well, but in spite of this she continued. (pronom)
In spite of what I said, I still love you.
I didn’t apply in spite of having the qualifications. (-ing)
Despite = même sens que in spite of — mais SANS “of” :
Despite the rain, we had a good time. ✓
Despite of the rain… ✗ FAUX
although vs in spite of / despite — Key Comparison
although vs in spite of / despite — Comparaison Clé
although + subject + verb
although + sujet + verbe
in spite of / despite + noun/-ing
in spite of / despite + nom/-ing
We went out in spite of the rain. (contrast)
We didn’t go out because of the rain. (reason) Comparez in spite of et because of :
We went out in spite of the rain. (contraste)
We didn’t go out because of the rain. (raison)
though = although · though at the End of a Sentence
though = although · though en Fin de Phrase
Though can replace although in all positions. In spoken English, it is also very common at the end of a sentence to add a contrast.
Though peut remplacer although dans toutes les positions. À l’oral, il est aussi très courant en fin de phrase pour ajouter un contraste.
Though at the END (spoken English):
The house isn’t very nice. I like the garden, though. (= but I like the garden)
I see them every day. I’ve never spoken to them, though. I didn’t apply though I had the qualifications. (= although)
Though en FIN de phrase (oral) :
The house isn’t very nice. I like the garden, though. (= mais j’aime le jardin)
I see them every day. I’ve never spoken to them, though.
even though — Stronger than although
even though — Plus Fort que although
Even though is like although but expresses a stronger surprise or contrast. Always followed by subject + verb. Note: even alone cannot replace even though.
Even though ressemble à although mais exprime une surprise ou un contraste plus fort. Toujours suivi d’un sujet + verbe. Note : even seul ne peut pas remplacer even though.
She passed the exam even though she hadn’t studied at all.
He came to work even though he was seriously ill.
✓ Even though she can’t drive, she has a car.
✗ Even she can’t drive, she has a car. (WRONG — ‘even’ alone ≠ ‘even though’) Even though I was really tired, I couldn’t sleep. (plus fort que ‘although’)
She passed the exam even though she hadn’t studied at all.
✓ Even though she can’t drive, she has a car.
✗ Even she can’t drive, she has a car. (FAUX)
Complete with although / in spite of / because / because of.
Complétez avec although / in spite of / because / because of.
Combine sentences using the word(s) in brackets.
Combinez les phrases avec le(s) mot(s) entre parenthèses.
Rewrite using the alternative structure (although ↔ despite/in spite of).
Réécrivez avec la structure alternative (although ↔ despite/in spite of).
Add though at the end to express contrast.
Ajoutez though en fin de phrase pour exprimer un contraste.
Frequently Asked Questions — although / in spite of / despite
Questions fréquentes — although / in spite of / despite
Same meaning (contrast), different grammar. Although + subject + verb: Although it was cold, we went out. In spite of + noun/-ing: In spite of the cold, we went out. Never mix them.
Même sens (contraste), grammaire différente. Although + sujet + verbe. In spite of + nom/-ing. Ne jamais les mélanger.
Always despite — NEVER despite of. It is in spite of (two words, with “of”) but despite (one word, no “of”): ✓ Despite the rain… ✗ Despite of the rain…
Toujours despite — JAMAIS despite of. C’est in spite of (avec “of”) mais despite (sans “of”).
Both are conjunctions followed by subject + verb, and both express contrast. Even though is stronger — it emphasises that the contrast is more surprising: Although she was tired, she came. (ordinary contrast) vs Even though she was exhausted, she came. (more surprising).
Les deux sont des conjonctions suivies de sujet + verbe. Even though est plus fort — il souligne que le contraste est plus surprenant.
Yes — this is a feature of spoken English. Though at the end adds a contrast to the previous statement: The house isn’t very nice. I like the garden, though. Although and even though cannot be used this way.
Oui — c’est typique de l’anglais oral. Though en fin de phrase ajoute un contraste. Although et even though ne peuvent pas s’utiliser ainsi.
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