Contrast clauses are used to contrast two statements. They begin with words like "although", "though", or "even though" to introduce the contrasting part of the statement. Additional emphasis can be added to the contrast by using words like "still", "nevertheless", or "just the same" in the main clause. Contrasts can also be expressed using "despite" or "in spite of" followed by a noun or "-ing" verb form. Phrases like "despite the fact" or "in spite of the fact" can introduce a contrasting clause.

1. Contrast Clauses

2. Contrast Clauses
When you simply want to contrast two
statements, you use ’although’, ‘though’, or
‘even though’.

3. Contrast Clauses
Although he was late, he stopped to buy a
sandwich.
Though he has lived in London for years, he
writes in French.
I used to love listening to her, even though I
could only understand about half of what she
said.

4. Contrast Clauses
Sometimes you use words like ‘still’,
‘nevertheless’, or ‘just the same’ in the main
clause to add emphasis to the contrast.

5. Contrast Clauses
Although I was shocked, I still couldn’t blame
him.
Although his company is profitable, it
nevertheless needs to face up to some serious
problems.
Although she hated them, she agreed to help
them just the same.

6. Contrast Clauses
When the subject of the contrast clause and
the main clause are the same, you can often
omit the subject and the verb ‘be’ in the
contrast clause.
Although poor, we still have our pride.
(Although we are poor …)

7. Contrast Clauses
Another way of making a contrast is to use
‘despite’ or ‘in spite of’, followed by a noun
group.
Despite the difference in their ages they were
close friends.
In spite of poor health, my father was always
cheerful.

8. Contrast Clauses
WARNING: You say ‘in spite of’ but ‘despite’
without ‘of’.

9. Contrast Clauses
You can also use an ‘-ing’ form after ‘despite’
or ‘in spite of’.
Despite working hard, I failed my exams.
Conservative MPs are against tax rises, in
spite of wanting lower inflation.

10. Contrast Clauses
You can also use ‘despite the fact that’ or ‘in
spite of the fact that’, followed by a clause.
Despite the fact that it sounds like science
fiction, most of it is technically possible at
this moment.
They ignored this order, in spite of the fact
that they would probably get into trouble.

11. Contrast Clauses
It is possible to omit ‘that’, especially in
spoken English.
He insisted on playing, in spite of the fact he
had a bad cold.