Companion slides for class.

1. Despite / In spite of
Introducing contrasts

2. Like although, we use despite or in spite of to show that one
fact makes another fact surprising. They are used in exactly
the same way.
Despite/In spite of the rain, we enjoyed the concert.
We enjoyed the concert, despite/in spite of the rain.
You might think that we wouldn’t enjoy a concert in the rain,
but we actually did.

3. -ing form: Despite studying for hours, he failed the test.
noun phrase: Despite hours of study, he failed the test.
pronoun: He studied for hours. Despite this, he failed the test.

4. Despite/In spite of are often used with the fact that
In spite of the fact that he studied for hours, he failed the
test.
Not In spite of that he studied for hours, he failed the test.
In spite of is always three separate words. Despite never
takes an of.
In spite this, he failed the test.
Despite of this, he failed the test.

5. He had no legs, but he was still able to climb Mt. Everest.
In spite of having no legs, he was still able to climb Mt. Everest.
How could we change this to use a noun phrase?
Although there is a severe drought, Sabria and her family have some
water to drink
Despite the severe drought , Sabira and her family have some water to
drink
How could we change this to use a pronoun?
Although they have problems, they remain positive.
In spite of having problems, they remain positive.
How could we change this to use the -ing form?

6. Examples
He had a lack of experience. He became a successful businessman.
Despite a lack of experience, he became a successful businessman.
It rained a lot. I enjoyed the holiday.
In spite of the fact that it rained a lot, I enjoyed the holiday.
She had two broken collarbones. She survived in the jungle for 18 days.
Despite having two broken collarbones, she survived in the jungle for 18 days.
He was 4’2” tall. He was the school’s star basketball player.