This document discusses ways to express contrast in English using linking words and phrases like "in spite of", "despite", "although", "even though", and "though". It provides examples of how to use these terms to link two clauses that contrast each other, such as using "despite" or "in spite of" followed by a noun phrase or "-ing" clause. It also explains that "even though" is stronger than the other terms and is used when the second event is unexpected. Form structures are given for each linking term.

1. Expressing contrast
Integrated Writing Task

2. • In spite of / despite
• Although / even though /
though

3. in spite of / despite
We use them to express
contrast. They are synonyms.

4. Remember! In spite is followed by “of”
• In spite of/ despite + v-ing,
clause (subject +verb)
• Example: In spite of/despite
revising for hours, I didn’t do
well in the test.

5. • In spite of/ despite + noun
phrase, clause (subject
+verb)
• Example: Despite my
revision, I didn’t do well in
the test.

6. • We can also put in spite of /
despite in the middle of a
sentence (use commas)
• I didn’t do well in the test,
despite revising for hours.

7. Although/ even though / though
• We use them to express that the result
of something was unexpected
• Even though is stronger than
although/though.
• I enjoyed the party, even though/
although/though I didn’t like the
music.
• (My not liking the music was not
expected at first)

8. • FORM
• ALTHOUGH + CLAUSE (subject +
verb), CLAUSE (subject + verb)
• Although it was cloudy, we went
to the beach.

9. Use the appropriate linker:
• ……. my warnings, he went
to North Korea.
• Despite/ in spite of my
warnings, he went to North
Korea.

10. • … she didn’t feel like going to the cinema, she
enjoyed the film in the end.
• Even though/although she didn’t feel like
going to the cinema, she enjoyed the film in
the end.

11. • They visited Paris, ………. they didn’t
have time to visit the Eiffel Tower.
• They visited Paris, even
though/although they didn’t have
time to visit the Eiffel Tower.

12. • She decided to go abroad for a
year, ……… not speaking the
language very well.
• She decided to go abroad for a
year, despite/in spite of not
speaking the language very well.