1. Linkers of Contrast
Although Despite
However
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2. These connectors are used to express CONTRAST. This means that when you want to
state an idea that is DIFFERENT from another related to it, you need to use one of
these 3 connectors.
Although = Even though
Despite = In spite of
However

3. Although
Although is used with a full clause (Subject + verb)
ALTHOUGH he had worked very hard on the project, he was not promoted.
use a comma
Full clause
You can change the order of the
ideas without altering the
meaning of the sentence.
he is the subject had worked is the verb
He was not promoted ALTHOUGH he had worked very hard on the project.
do not use a
comma

4. Despite
Despite is used with a gerund (V-ing form) or a noun.
DESPITE working very hard on the project, he was not promoted.
use a comma
Gerund
DESPITE his hard work on the project, he was not promoted.
Adj and Noun
He was not promoted DESPITE working very hard/ his hard work on the project.
do not use a
comma

5. However
However starts a new sentence and it is followed by a comma.
He had worked very hard on the project. HOWEVER, he was not promoted.
use a use a comma
stop
With HOWEVER you cannot
change the order of the ideas .
If you do that, you alter the
meaning of the sentence.
He was not promoted. However, he had worked very hard on the project.
WRONG!!

6. Practice
1) Choose the correct word/phrase.
I think horoscopes are silly, although/in spite of I know most people read them.
However/Although, I can't believe that twelfth of the population are really so similar. For
example, my brother and my cousin are completely different although/despite both being
Gemini. And my sister is relaxed and good at making decisions in spite of/although as Pisces
she should be anxious, and indecisive. However/In spite of this, she reads her horoscope
every day.
My father has never believed in fortune telling, although/despite a fortune teller once told
him he would become manager of his company. And he did. However/In spite of my
opinions I still read my horoscope anxiously. But then I'm a Pisces.

7. Practice
2) Transformations
1. Jack seems a friendly person – but I don’t like him. However
2. Despite loving each other, they have broken up. Although
3. In spite of his wealth, he wasn’t married. Although
4. Despite his injury, he went on playing. Although
5. He lived in Japan for 10 years – but he never learned Japanese. Despite
6. Despite the bad reviews, the movie was a success. Although
7. I like you even though you have a strange sense of humor. Despite
8. I ate an hour ago. Still, I’m very hungry. Despite
9. He doesn’t like sports but he doesn’t mind watching football. However
10. The flat was comfortable. It was very expensive. Although
11. She got very low grades. She was admitted at University. Despite
12. He wrote to her four times but she never replied. However
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