CONTRAST CONNECTORS

10th grade
BUT + CLAUSE
HOWEVER / NEVERTHELESS + CLAUSE
ALTHOUGH / THOUGH / EVEN THOUGH +
CLAUSE
DESPITE / IN SPITE + OF THE FACT THAT
+ NOUN
+ -ING FORM OF THE VERB
WHILE / WHEREAS + CLAUSE (ALTERNATIVE
IDEAS)
(BUT) ON THE OTHER HAND (ALTERNATIVE
IDEAS) + CLAUSE

He didnt have much time but he tried to help me.

He didnt have much time. However
(nevertheless) he tried to help me. He didnt have
much time. He tried to help me, however.
Although he didnt have much time, he tried to
help me.
He tried to help me, although he didnt have much
time.
Despite the fact that he didnt have much time, he
tried to help me.
Despite his lack of time, he tried to help me.
Despite not having much time, he tried to help
me.
He is quite friendly, while his brother is very
insensitive.
I think fishing is quite boring. On the other hand,
its a good way to relax.

Rewrite the following sentences starting them as suggested below.

1. Robots are just machines but they have the potential to change our standard of living.
Although ___________________________________________________________________________
Despite _____________________________________________________________________________
In spite of ___________________________________________________________________________
2. Unfortunately robots take human jobs. However, they are indispensable because they do difficult and
unsafe tasks.
In spite of ___________________________________________________________________________
Despite _____________________________________________________________________________
Although ____________________________________________________________________________
3. A robot is just a machine but it can be programmed to handle a variety of jobs.
(however) __________________________________________________________________________
Although ___________________________________________________________________________
Despite ____________________________________________________________________________

In spite of ___________________________________________________________________________
4. A robot can work 24 hours a day. However, it cant learn from mistakes.
(but) _______________________________________________________________________________
Despite _____________________________________________________________________________
In spite of ___________________________________________________________________________
Although ____________________________________________________________________________
but

In spite of/despite

(followed by noun or gerund)

CContrasting Ideas

however

(has punctuation
before and after)

although / though / even though

(subject + verb+objects)

John was sick.

However, he went to
work.

A. Fill in the gaps with some of the conjunctions and other expressions above.
1.

In the future more computers will be used in classrooms. __________________ blackboards, books, pens
and pencils will be around for quite a while.

2.

_______________ his initial shyness, John soon got used to his computer.

3.

_______________ he did a course on internet use, Paul still feels his knowledge is limited.

4.

The worldwide web is a very useful tool ___________ it is time consuming.

5.

________________ finding computers useful, some people still resent them as possible cause of
unemployment.

B. Match the sentences on the left with the endings on the right.
1. Education is the best asset, anyone can get.

they are wary of anything that goes against their

However,

traditional values.

2. The Amish favour education, but

the interactive network will make it possible for

students to assess themselves periodically.

3. Bill Gates is aware of the importance of teachers

not everybody has access to it.

in spite of
4. Test will continue although

believing that new technologies will radically

change their role.

C. Rewrite the following sentences, according to the way they start, without changing their
primitive meaning.
1.

Although we do all these things, we dont like to tell people what to do.
In spite of _____________________________________________________________________________

2.

Even though most of our technological garbage is thrown away daily, it doesnt disappear daily.

Despite ________________________________________________________________
3.

Despite my warning not to do it, they went on buying useless items.

Though ______________________________________________________________________________

4.

The computer was very expensive but he preferred to buy it cash.

In spite of _____________________________________________________________________________

5.

Despite being rich, he isnt very happy.

Even though __________________________________________________________________________

6.

Although their ancestors are American-born, they suffer discrimination in America.

Their ________________________________; however________________________________________
In spite of ____________________________________________________________________________

Put in these words: although, because, but, if, while, in case, in order to, in spite of, so, so that,
unless, as soon as.
1. ___________________ it was late, Alex didnt seem in a hurry to leave.
2. They put video cameras in shops __________________ stop people from stealing things.
3. I decided not to go out for a meal ___________________ I couldnt afford it.
4. _________________ youre ready, we can start now.
5. Our room was very small, ____________ we didnt mind at all.
6. No one was watching television, ___________________ I switched it off.
7. You cant drive a car __________________ youve got a licence.

8. _____________________ having absolutely no talent, the man became a popular TV

personality.
9. Vicky sent us a map _____________________ wed be able to find her house.
10. I think my answers are right, but I can check them with yours _______________Ive made a
mistake?
11. He fell in love ____________________ they met.
12. He has been ill ____________________ you left.
13. Do the job __________________ I am away.

Choose the right linking word.

A: We hadnt any bread, ____________________ I went to the shop.
I needed some __________________ make sandwiches. I got there just

because / so
so that / to

___________ the shop closed and luckily they had some left.

after / before

B: Does the little shop stay open ___________________ the supermarket has

after / before

closed?
A: Yes, it stays open till 10 oclock. Its very convenient _________________ its

but / in spite of

rather expensive. I always go there ______________ I need just one or two things. I

if / since

dont go to the supermarket _______________ I need a lot.

if / unless

B: The shop must have done much less business __________________ the

since / until

supermarket has been there.

A: I dont like the supermarket ________________ the fact that theres a much bigger
choice. I go there _______________ its cheaper.

although / in spite of
because / so

Rewrite the following sentences as indicated below and make the necessary changes.
1. I dropped the dish. It didnt break.
Although _____________________________________________________________________________
2. Phil explained the system. I still dont understand it.
Although ____________________________________________________________________________

3. Joe is a millionaire. He hates spending money.

Despite _____________________________________________________________________________
4. A few trains were running. There was a strike.
In spite of ____________________________________________________________________________
5. We couldnt get a seat. We arrived early.
In spite of ___________________________________________________________________________
6. The people he worked with werent entirely trustworthy. Despite this, he was fond of them.
Even though _________________________________________________________________________
7. I rang the airport; they might have changed the time of the flight.
I rang the airport in case ________________________________________________________________
8. You are allowed into the club only if you wear a tie.
Unless ______________________________________________________________________________
9. If you pay the phone bill, they wont cut off your phone.
Unless ______________________________________________________________________________
10. Ill call the police unless you go away.
If __________________________________________________________________________________
11. Someone made arrangements. It was Karen.
The person ___________________________________________________________________________
12. A road leads to the farm. It is not suitable for cars.
The road ____________________________________________________________________________
13. I wish I had a better job.
If only _______________________________________________________________________________