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.

1. The café was crowded, but we found a table.

2. Benjamin has a car, but he doesn’t often drive it.

We can also use ALTHOUGH.

1. Although the café was crowded, we found a table.

2. Although Benjamin has a car, he doesn’t often drive it.

The clause with ALTHOUGH can come at the end.

We found a table, although the café 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.

1. I liked the sweater. I decided not to buy it, though

2. Even though is stronger, more emphatic than although.

3. Lazar looked quite fresh, even though he had been playing squash.

4. 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 ing–form 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.

1. She wanted to go despite the danger.

2. He went on working despite feeling unwell.

IN SPITE OF and ALTHOUGH :

1. I’m no better in spite of taking the pills.

2. Johnshy wants to fly in spite of her fear / in spite of his feeling afraid.

3. I’m no better, although I’ve taken the pills.

4. Johnshy wants to fly, although she feels afraid.

We can use IN SPITE OF THE FACT (that) in the same way as ALTHOUGH.

I’m no better in spite of the fact that I’ve taken the pills.

They are similar in meaning, yes. They all serve to record something thatis surprising or unexpected. But the difference in usage is thatalthough, thoughand even though are all conjunctions, whilst inspite ofand despite are both prepositions. So usage requires:in spite of + nounalthough + clausedespite + nounthough + clauseeven 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.http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-lesson-concessions.php