CONTRAST WORDS:When we want to make two points, and emphasize that one of them contrasts with the other, there are a number of different words and expressions that we can use.

•Probably the most common and simplest word to use is the conjunction but.

•It comes between the two clauses that you wish to contrast:

 

The team was beaten, but Paul scored three goals.

 

I don't like most sweet food, but I love chocolate.

•Although is also a conjunction, and can come either at the beginning of a sentence, or between the two clauses that you wish to contrast:

 

Although it was raining, they went on a picnic.

 

They went on a picnic although it was raining.

•Though can be used in exactly the same way, and is more common in informal speech:

 

Though /Although it was raining, they went on a picnic. They went on a picnic though/ although it was raining.

 

 

 

•Even though has the same meaning as although, but the word ‘even’ stresses that what follows is surprising:

 

Even though he's almost ninety, he's entered the marathon.

•Though can also be used as an adverb, to mean however (see below).

This use is very similar to ‘però’ in Catalan

 

Frogs, though, are amphibians and not reptiles.

 

"Strange place, isn't it?" "Yes. Very interesting, though."

However and nevertheless emphasize the fact that the second thing that you are saying contrasts with the first. Nevertheless is more formal.

However and Nevertheless are always followed by a COMMA

 

The children had a lovely day. However, they arrived home very sunburnt.

 

The government vowed to reduce inflation. Nevertheless, one year later, the rate has increased by 3 percent.

In spite of + noun is very similar to although + clause

 

He looks very fit in spite of his age (=although he's very old)

 

He went to the gym in spite of his broken leg (=although he had a broken leg)

In spite of and despite can be followed by an -ing form.

 

In spite of not being able to swim, she survived for almost an hour in the sea.

We went to the party despite being tired.

We can also use despite + noun in the same way as in spite of in more formal English:

 

We went to the party despite the rain.

The main difference between ALTHOUGH and DESPITE or IN SPITE OF is that:

•ALTHOUGH is followed by SUBJECT + VERB

Although he is tired he is going to finish the report.

•DESPITE and IN SPITE OF are followed by a NOUN or a VERB in –ING FORM

He is going to finish the report despite being tired.

He is going to sinish the report in spite of being tired.