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Unit 30: Linking words of contrast
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  30. 30 Linking words of contrast

Session 1

Despite having only 90 seconds, Finn explains linking words of contrast such as 'though', 'although' and 'even though'.

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Activity 1

English Class

Despite only having 90 seconds, Finn teaches linking words of contrast

Would you like to know how to use words like despite, in spite of, though, although and even though? Finn has a lesson which takes you through these words and explains how the grammar changes after using them.

Watch the video and complete the activity

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Finn
Hi, this is Finn with another BBC English Class. And today we're looking at linking words of contrast. What are they? Things like despite and although – they're really just fancy ways of saying but! So, let's look at a few of these and the differences between how to use them in just 90 seconds.

Look this way. Here are our lovely linking words of contrast. How do we use them? Well, look at these sentences:


He earns a small salary. He loves to wear expensive clothes. They're actually clauses, yeah? They function as clauses. And only one group of these linking words can go with clauses. Which are they? This group here [though, although, even though]. Let's move that to one side... 

So, we can put these either at the beginning or the middle - in front of this clause or this clause. So have a look:

Though he earns a small salary, he loves to wear expensive clothes. Or...

Although, or even though he earns a small salary, he loves to wear expensive clothes. Why not? OK...

Or we could put them in the middle:

He earns a small salary, although he loves to wear expensive clothes. 

Right, now, what about the other two? Despite and in spite of. Well, these go in front of a noun or in front of a gerund. So, we've got a couple of those here: 'his small salary' and 'having a small salary'. So, let's have a look at it this time. 

He loves to wear expensive clothes despite or in spite of having a small salary. Or, despite or in spite of his small salary. And we have just run out of time. I did that very quickly so do go to our website bbclearningenglish.com to find this programme and look at the grammar in a bit more detail and do a test to test yourself. I've been Finn, you've been fantastic and we did it despite having only 90 seconds. See you!

 

Summary

We use words and phrases like though, although and even though to link two clauses together. We call them linking words of contrast. We use despite and in spite of in front of nouns and gerunds.

Marta broke her leg a year ago. Marta ran a marathon last weekend.

  • Despite breaking her leg a year ago, Marta ran a marathon last weekend.

Binh loves football. Binh has never been to a professional football match.

  • Though Binh loves football, he's never seen a professional match.

Where to use them

Although, even though and though go in front of a clause. They can go at the beginning or middle of a sentence.

  • Although Endang worked hard, she failed her exams.
  • Endang failed her exams, although she worked hard.
  • Though it was cold, Katya only wore a t-shirt.
  • Katya only wore a t-shirt, though it was cold.

Despite and in spite of go in front of nouns or gerunds. They can also go at the beginning or middle of sentences.

  • Despite smoking 40 cigarettes a day, my grandfather lived to 100.
  • My grandfather lived to 100, despite smoking 100 cigarettes a day.
  • In spite of the terrible weather, they had a nice holiday.
  • They had a nice holiday, in spite of the terrible weather.

To do

Time to test yourself with a simple quiz. 

Despite being busy, can you do this quiz?

5 Questions

Choose the right word or phrase to complete the sentences

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End of Session 1

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Session Grammar

  • Linking words of contrast

    though, although and even though are used to link two clauses.

    use despite and in spite of in front of nouns and gerunds.

    Marta broke her leg a year ago. Marta ran a marathon last weekend.

    • Despite breaking her leg a year ago, Marta ran a marathon last weekend.

    Where in a sentence?

    In front of a clause: although, even though, though. Beginning or middle of a sentence.

    • Although Endang worked hard, she failed her exams.
    • Endang failed her exams, although she worked hard.

    Despite and in spite of go in front of nouns or gerunds. They can also go at the beginning or middle of sentences.

    • In spite of the terrible weather, they had a nice holiday.
    • They had a nice holiday, in spite of the terrible weather.
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