CONTRASTING STRUCTURES

Let's have a look to some tools for working with contrasting structures.

FLASHCARDS

Sentence connectors showing contrast

As their name itself suggests sentence connectors are used to combine sentences. They also express the relationship between ideas. We can add variety and sophistication to our writing by using appropriate sentence connectors.

To show the contrast between two ideas we can use the following sentence connectors.

But, although, despite the fact that, however, nevertheless, despite, in spite of, yet

His rope was thin but it was strong.

He is fat but he runs fast.

Although the boy was injured, he didn’t give up.

Nevertheless is very formal. In a less formal style, we can use conjunctions like but or yet.

Nevertheless and however don’t combine two clauses. They are used to emphasize the fact that the point expressed by the second clause contrasts with the first. In writing, they are separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.

He says that he is a socialist. However, he owns three houses and four luxury cars.

There was little chance of success. Nevertheless, we didn’t give up.

We went out in spite of the rain.

In spite of having a headache, I enjoyed the film.

Despite working hard, she failed the exam.

Grammar notes

In spite of is written as three words. It is the opposite of because of.

She got good marks in spite of her teacher. (= She had a bad teacher.)

She got good marks because of her teacher. (= She had a good teacher.)

How to express contrast

 CONJUNCTIONS
BUT
      It's very strange, but I like it

(AL)THOUGH
      Although/though it's very strange, I like it
This connector may be emphasized by putting "even" before: EVEN THOUGH
     Even though it's very strange, I like it
ALTHOUGH and THOUGH mean exactly the same and are used the same, but THOUGH is more informal and more common when talking, and ALTHOUGH is more formal and more common when writing. Notice that (AL)THOUGH and BUT are both conjunctions and mean the same, but they go with different sentences:
A but B  (BUT can never go at the beginning of the sentence)
B although A / Although B, A

 PREPOSITIONS
IN SPITE OF  (followed by a noun phrase or -ing)
      She's sleeping like a log in spite of the noise
      He was elected president in spite of his young age

If we want a sentence with a verb then we can’t use the preposition "in spite of", we need a conjunction like "(al)though".
      Although he is very young, he was elected president
 But we can use IN SPITE OF + ING (because -ing can be the noun-form of a verb)
      In spite of loving her, he thought it was best to leave
      We didn't want to buy the house in spite of having enough money

Compare:
He stayed in bed in spite of feeling better (in spite of + ing)
He stayed in bed although he felt better (although + subject + verb)