Although/even though/despite/in spite of/though

When we want to say something positive and something negative in the same sentence, we can use one of the following forms:

Although and even though have exactly the same meaning and have exactly the same grammatical construction.

although/ even though	subject	verb	subject + verb
Although	I	am poor,	I am happy.
Although	they	played well,	they lost.
Even though	she	was tired,	she went out.
Even though	he	eats a lot,	he is thin.

In spite of and despite have exactly the same meaning and have exactly the same grammatical construction.

despite/ in spite of	-ing form	subject + verb
Despite	being poor	I am happy.
Despite	playing well	they lost.
In spite of	being tired	she went out.
In spite of	eating a lot	he is thin.

despite/ in spite of	the fact (that)	subject	verb	subject + verb
Despite	the fact that	I	am poor,	I am happy.
Despite	the fact	they	played well,	they lost.
In spite of	the fact that	she	was tired,	she went out.
In spite of	the fact that	he	eats a lot,	he is thin.

This form is less common but possible:

despite/ in spite of	noun	subject + verb
Despite	my poverty,	I am happy.
Despite	their good play,	they lost.
In spite of	her tiredness,	she went out.
In spite of	his great appetite,	he is thin.

Though is more informal and we use it more in conversation than written English.

I’m poor. I’m happy though.
They lost. They played well though.
She was tired. She went out though.
He’s thin. He eats a lot though.

Category: Grammar Reference