Grammar: Though / In spite of / despite

Read the rules:

After although we use a subject + verb:

·       Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday.

·       I didn't get the job although I had the necessary qualifications.

Compare the meaning of although and because:

·       We went out although it was raining.

·       We didn't go out because it was raining.

After in spite of or despite, we use a noun, a pronoun (this/that/what etc.) or -ing:

·       In spite of the rain, we enjoyed our holiday.

·       I didn't get the job in spite of having the necessary qualifications.

·       She wasn't well, but in spite of this she went to work.

·       In spite of what I said yesterday, I still love you.

Despite is the same as in spite of. We say in spite of, but despite (without of):

·       She wasn't well, but despite this she went to work. (not despite of this)

You can say in spite of the fact (that) ... and despite the fact (that) ...:

·       I didn't get the job in spite of the fact (that) / despite the fact (that) I had the necessary qualifications.

Compare in spite of and because of:

·       We went out in spite of the rain. (or ... despite the rain.)

·       We didn't go out because of the rain.

Compare although and in spite of / despite:

·       Although the traffic was bad, / In spite of the traffic, we arrived on time. (not In spite of the traffic was bad)

·       I couldn't sleep although I was very tired. / despite being very tired. (not despite I was tired)

Sometimes we use though instead of although:

·       I didn't get the job though I had the necessary qualifications.

In spoken English we often use though at the end of a sentence:

·       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. (= but I've never spoken to them)

Even though (but not "even" alone) is a stronger form of although:

·       Even though I was really tired, I couldn't sleep. (not Even I was really tired ...)