Practice
Despite or although: linking contrasting ideas
The weather was cold, but the runners finished the race. You can say, "Despite the cold weather, the runners finished the race," or "Although the weather was cold, the runners finished the race." Both sentences show contrast. The words after despite and although have different grammar.
Show contrast by choosing despite before a noun phrase or verb ending in -ing, and although before a clause with a subject and verb.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
despite, although /dɪˈspaɪt, ɔːlˈðoʊ/
The short answer
Use despite before a noun phrase or an -ing form: Despite the traffic, we arrived early. Use although before a clause: Although the traffic was heavy, we arrived early.
Despite feeling tired, Jamal finished the presentation.
Why it works: Feeling is an -ing form, so despite fits before it.
5 more examples
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Despite the rain, the market stayed open.
The rain is a noun phrase, so it can follow despite.
Not this:
Although it rained, the market stayed open. What changes: Although introduces a clause with the subject it and the verb rained. -
Despite missing the bus, Elena reached work on time.
Missing is an -ing form. It names the earlier action without making it a full clause.
Not this:
Although Elena missed the bus, she reached work on time. What changes: The clause has a subject, Elena, and the verb missed, so although is needed. -
Despite his limited experience, Arman answered the questions clearly.
His limited experience is a noun phrase. It does not contain a verb.
Not this:
Although Arman had limited experience, he answered the questions clearly. What changes: Although can introduce the full clause about Arman's experience. -
The team kept practicing despite losing the first match.
Despite can appear after the main clause. Losing is still an -ing form.
Not this:The team kept practicing
although it lost the first match. What changes: Although introduces a clause with it as the subject and lost as the verb. -
Despite the instructions, Marcus used the wrong form.
The instructions are a thing, so this is a noun phrase after despite.
Not this:
Although Marcus read the instructions, he used the wrong form. What changes: The full clause gives an action, so it follows although.
Read the full guide
Start with the words after the contrast marker. A noun phrase such as the noise or her fear can follow despite. A clause such as the noise was loud or she was afraid needs although because it has a subject and a verb.
Check what comes next
Both words introduce a fact that did not change the result. The form after the word tells you which one to use. Despite needs a noun phrase, a pronoun, or an -ing form. Although needs a clause with a subject and a verb.
Despite the broken elevator, we reached the office.
The broken elevator is a noun phrase. It has no subject and verb, so despite is correct.
Which word fits before the phrase the broken elevator?
Use despite: Despite the broken elevator, we reached the office.
Use despite with a noun phrase
A noun phrase can name a person, thing, event, or condition. It may have extra words, but it does not contain the subject and verb pattern of a full clause. Place despite before that phrase.
Despite her busy schedule, Rina attended the workshop.
Her busy schedule names a condition. It does not say that Rina was busy in a full clause.
Does the phrase his apology need despite or although before it?
Use despite because his apology is a noun phrase.
Use despite with an -ing form
Despite can also come before a verb ending in -ing. Here, the -ing form acts like the name of an action. It is not a full clause because it does not state who performed the action in that phrase.
Despite studying every evening, Lee felt unprepared.
Studying every evening names an activity. The main clause tells us that Lee felt unprepared.
Which word fits before working late every night?
Use despite: Despite working late every night, Noor met the deadline.
Use although with a full clause
A full clause has a subject and a verb. Use although before it when you want that clause to introduce the contrast. If the although clause comes first, put a comma before the main clause.
Although the room was small, it had enough chairs.
The room is the subject and was is the verb. That makes the words after although a full clause.
Which word fits before the room was small?
Use although: Although the room was small, it had enough chairs.
Fix common sentence patterns
Do not put despite directly before a clause with a subject and a verb. Change the clause to a noun phrase or an -ing form, or use although instead. Also avoid although before a noun phrase alone.
Although the road was blocked, the delivery arrived.
The road was blocked is a full clause, so although works. You could also write Despite the blocked road, the delivery arrived.
How can you repair Despite the road was blocked, the delivery arrived?
Write Although the road was blocked, the delivery arrived, or Despite the blocked road, the delivery arrived.
Before you go
Remember this
Use despite before a noun phrase or an -ing form. Use although before a clause with a subject and a verb. Both can appear at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma before the main clause.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Despite or although: linking contrasting ideas"
What is the main difference between despite and although?
Despite comes before a noun phrase, a pronoun, or an -ing form. Although comes before a clause with a subject and a verb. Both can introduce a contrast, but the grammar after each word is different.
Despite the rain, the market stayed open.
Can I use despite before a verb?
Use despite before a verb ending in -ing, such as despite working late. Do not put it directly before a complete clause such as despite she worked late. Use although before that clause instead.
Although it rained, the market stayed open.
Can despite and although start a sentence?
Yes. An opening despite phrase or although clause is usually followed by a comma before the main clause. You can also place the contrast phrase later in the sentence when the meaning stays clear.
Despite missing the bus, Elena reached work on time.
Is despite the same as in spite of?
Despite and in spite of have the same basic meaning. Both can come before a noun phrase or an -ing form. Despite is one word, while in spite of is a three-word phrase.
Although Elena missed the bus, she reached work on time.
How can I correct despite she was tired?
Use although before the full clause: Although she was tired, she continued working. Or change the clause to a noun phrase: Despite her tiredness, she continued working.
Despite his limited experience, Arman answered the questions clearly.