Concessive Clauses : BUT and ALTHOUGH If the conjunction word is any of these THOUGH, ALTHOUGH, EVEN THOUGH andEVEN

IF, that clause is called Concessive Clause. BUT and ALTHOUGH : We can join two sentences with BUT.

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The caf was crowded, but we found a table. Benjamin has a car, but he doesnt often drive it.

We can also use ALTHOUGH.

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Although the caf was crowded, we found a table. Although Benjamin has a car, he doesnt often drive it.

The clause with ALTHOUGH can come at the end. We found a table, although the caf was crowded.

THOUGH and EVEN THOUGH : THOUGH is informal. It means the same as although. Though / Although I liked the sweater, I decided not to buy it. We can also use THOUGH at the end of a sentence.

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I liked the sweater. I decided not to buy it, though Even though is stronger, more emphatic than although. Lazar looked quite fresh, even though he had been playing squash. Even though you dislike Johns, you should try to be nice to her.

IN SPITE OF and DESPITE : We use IN SPITE OF before a noun or before the ingform of a verb. Princy wanted to report on the war in spite of the danger. Kannan went on working in spite of his feeling unwell. We use DESPITE in exactly the same way as in spite of and with the same meaning.

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She wanted to go despite the danger. He went on working despite feeling unwell.

IN SPITE OF and ALTHOUGH :

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Im no better in spite of taking the pills. Johnshy wants to fly in spite of her fear / in spite of his feeling afraid. Im no better, although Ive taken the pills. Johnshy wants to fly, although she feels afraid.

We can use IN SPITE OF THE FACT (that) in the same way as ALTHOUGH. Im no better in spite of the fact that Ive taken the pills.

They are similar in meaning, yes. They all serve to record something that is surprising or unexpected. But the difference in usage is that although, thoughand even though are all conjunctions, whilst in spite ofand despite are both prepositions. So usage requires: in spite of + noun although + clause despite + noun though + clause even though + clause

Althoughand though can be used in the same way. Thoughis perhaps more common in informal speech and writing, whereas although can be used in a wide variety of styles. Compare:

'Our new neighbours are quite nice,though their dog is a bit of a nuisance.'

'She insisted on keeping her coat on,although it was extremely warm in the house as the central heating was on.'

'Although she was commended for completing the Millennium Dome project on time and within budget, management felt that it was now time for a new person with different talents to take over.' Though is often used with even in order to give emphasis:

'I managed to get good results in my exams, even though I went out four times a week when I was supposed to be revising.' Whilstdespite might be thought more formal than in spite of it is, after all, one word rather than three - there is really very little difference in usage between the two:

'Despite the appalling weather, they succeeded in walking to the top of Ben Nevis.'

'They decided to get married in spite of the huge

differences in their ages

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