Exercise

1. My grandmother is very old. She can still read without glasses.

2. He was very tired. He completed the work.

3. The policemen ran fast. They couldn’t catch the thief.

4. They gave him the best medical care. They could not save his life.

5. He left home early. He arrived late.

6. She had the required qualifications. She did not get the job.

7. They are rich. They lead simple lives.

8. She was ill. She went to work.

9. Our team played well. They could not win the championship.

10. My grandmother can’t read or write. She is wiser than most people.

11. It was raining. We went to the beach.

12. We were tired. We continued working.

13. It was getting late. We decided to stay and talk a little longer.

14. She has to drive twenty minutes to get to his house. She gave him a ride home, which was very nice of
her.

15. It was very cold out. We decided to go for a walk in the park.

16. She was getting impatient and wanted to leave. He stayed at the computer for a little while longer.

17. The roads were really bad, and many people decided not to drive that night. We went to the market
anyway.

18. The prices are a little higher at that supermarket. We like to go shopping there anyway.

19. He's extremely afraid of traveling by areoplane. We were able to convince him to go with us.

20. They said they were on a diet. They had chocolate cake for dessert.
Although/even though and despite/in spite of are used 
to combine or link two contrasting statements.

 Although/even though are followed by a subject and a verb :

 Although/even though it was raining, he walked to the station.
 Although/even though he had enough money, he refused to buy a new car.

 Despite/in spite of are followed by a noun, a pronoun or a verb ending in -ing.

 Despite/in spite of the rain he walked to the station.
 He noticed the rain but he walked to the station in spite of it.
 Despite being wet and tired, he walked to the station.

 Despite/in spite of have the same meaning, but despite is used without 'of'.

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Example : He had enough money. He refused to buy a new car.

The above two statements can be combined as follows :

 Although/even though he had enough money, he refused to buy a new car.

 Despite/In spite of having enough money he refused to buy a new car.
 He had enough money, but despite/in spite of that he refused to buy a new car.

Choose from Despite / In spite of / although / even though / though / despite the fact that. (more than one
correct answer is possible)

1. the bad weather, we went on a school picnic.

2. his illness, Benny went to school because he had an important exam.
3. she was very busy, my mother cooked a great meal for us.
4. I studied hard for my English test. I still got a low grade .
5. My mother is never pleased with my grades I get nothing less than a 'B'.
6. I have so many cavities I brush my teeth regularly.
7. the heavy fog, we managed to get to the meeting on time.
8. we played well, we couldn't win the game.
9. The elevator was out of order so I had to use the stairs being exhausted.
10. She still loves her husband they broke up.
11. He is very unhappy he is very rich.
12. I lived in France for two years, I can hardly speak any French.
13. He's decided to go on a vacation all the financial problems they are going through.
14. I can't let you go out with him I know how kind he is.
15. I am not going to eat fast food I am starving.
16. his sickness he attended the class yesterday.
17. he didn't feel well, he went fishing.
18. We arrived at the meeting on time heavy traffic.
19. I failed in my chemistry exam I studied all night.
20. all my effort, I couldn't convince my parents to let me go out.
21. his anger, he apologized to his friend for shouting.
22. Claudia has many friends she is very shy.
23. I was afraid of dark, I had to walk home alone yesterday night.
24. We finished the race as the first many difficulties.
25. she can't see well, she prefers to sit in the back.
26. we are a small company, we sell almost a hundred machines a month.
27. all the difficulties, the project started on time and was a success.
28. we were warned against doing so, we went ahead with the project.
29. his lack of experience, he became a successful businessman.
30. being by far the oldest player, he scored three goals.
31. he's a millionaire, he drives a second-hand car.
32. it rained a lot, I enjoyed the holiday.
33. working for the company for six months now, he never seems to know what to do.

Complete the following sentences.

1. ……………………. I don’t agree with him, I think he is honest.
a) although b) despite c) either could be used here
2. I would like to go out, ……………………… it is a bit late.
a) although b) despite c) either could be used here
3. ……………………….. the rain, we went out.
a) in spite of b) despite c) either could be used here
4. She went on working ……………………. she was tired.
a) though b) despite c) either could be used here
5. …………………… he is fat, he runs fast.
a) though b) despite c) either could be used here
6. She went on working, ………………………… the fact that she was tired.
a) despite b) though c) either could be used here
7. ……………………. I was angry, I kept quiet.
a) though b) despite c) either could be used here
8. ……………………. it was a bit expensive, I decided to buy it.
a) though b) although c) either could be used here
9. ……………………. she is poor, she is happy.
a) though b) despite c) either could be used here
10. I managed to do it, …………………….. he didn’t help me.
 a) though b) despite c) either could be used here
11. We went out ………………………….. the rain.
a) in spite of b) however c) although
12. We went out …………………………. it rained.
a) despite b) although c) however
13. She went on working ……………………….. she was tired.
a) although b) despite c) either could be used here
14. She went on working ………………………….. the fact that she was tired.
a) despite b) however c) although
15. …………………….. she is a nice girl, I don’t quite like her.
a) although b) despite c) however
16. ………………………. expensive, it was a good watch.
a) however b) although c) despite
17. I didn’t like the film. …………………………., everybody else seemed to enjoy it.
a) however b) despite c) either could be used here
18. ………………………. I didn’t like the film, everybody else seemed to enjoy it.
a) although b) however c) either could be used here
19. We managed to do it …………………………….. he wasn’t there.
a) however b) although c) either could be used here
20. We managed to do it, ………………………….. the fact that he was not there.
a) although b) despite c) however