They are used to explain that we grant there is a difficulty for something to happen, but it comes true anyway. This applies to the past or the future, too.

See the example: Although Tom is an excellent driver, he has had several accidents.

DIFFICULTY but FACT

These are the main conjunctions you can use to express concession / contrast.

AlthoughEven thoughThoughIn spite ofDespiteNo matter howHowever

Here’s what you can do with them to express the same idea in different ways. Look at the easy form and pay attention to the changes when the expression becomes more complex.

Susan is really beautiful, but she’s not a good model.

I accept this but this is a fact

Although Susan is really beautiful, she’s not a good model.Even though Susan is really beautiful, she’s not a good model.Though Susan is really beautiful, she’s not a good model.Susan is really beautiful. She’s not a good model, though.In spite of being really beautiful, Susan is not a good model.Despite being really beautiful, Susan is not a good model.No matter how beautiful Susan is, she’s not a good model.Susan is really beautiful. However, she’s not a good model.However beautiful Susan is, she’s not a good model.

It’s your turn now! Rewrite the first idea in different ways:

George has a lot of friends but he never goes out1. Although …2. Even though …3. … , though.4. In spite of …5. No matter how …6. … . However, …

Notice that THOUGH can go at the end of the sentence, but it’s not possible to do the same with EVEN THOUGH.If a pronoun follows DESPITE or IN SPITE OF, you can’t use a personal pronoun: it must be an object pronoun or a possessive adjective. That’s because a personal pronoun cannot be the subject of a gerund. Example:

In spite of / Despite having lots of money, your friends are unhappy.

But you could perfectly say: Despite Tom having lots of money, he is unhappy.

their

them

REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING THE WORDS GIVEN. REMEMBER TO MAINTAIN THEIR ORIGINAL MEANING.1. Tom was very afraid but he agreed to go for a dive.Even though: …2. The weather was terrible but they went for a walk.In spite of: …

3. He hasn’t got a job but he’s always busy. However: …

4. Pam buys a lot of books but she never reads them.No matter how: …5. They live together but they hardly ever talk.Despite: …

George has a lot of friends but he never goes out1. Although George has a lot of friends he never goes out2. Even though George has a lot of friends he never goes out.3. George has a lot of friends, he never goes out though.4. In spite of having a lot of friends he never goes out.5. No matter how many friends George has, he never goes out.6. George has a lot of friends. However, he never goes out.

REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING THE WORDS GIVEN. REMEMBER TO MAINTAIN THEIR ORIGINAL MEANING.1. Tom was very afraid but he agreed to go for a dive.Even though: Even though Tom was very afraid…2. The weather was terrible but they went for a walk.In spite of: In spite of the terrible weather, they went …3. He hasn’t got a job but he’s always busy.However: Tom hasn’t got a job. However, he’s always busy.4. Pam buys a lot of books but she never reads them.No matter how: No matter how many books Pam buys, she never reads them.5. They live together but they hardly ever talk.Despite: Despite living together, they hardly ever talk.