Although, however, despite: great view, tiny room – contrast exercises with although, but and despite

This B1 drill lesson gives although, however and despite exercises for two facts that don't match: what follows each linker, where it sits and how to punctuate it.

Grammar: Although and even though + subject + verb, but after a comma, However, after a period or semicolon, and despite or in spite of + a noun, -ing or the fact that.
Topic: Selkie House, a small Edinburgh hotel with no elevator: four guest reviews, the owner's reply, its “Good to know” page, Darnell's texts and a chat with Folake.
Activities: Sorting, choices, gap-fills, matching, tables, word order, rewrites, find-the-mistake quizzes, a memory game, drag-and-drop texts, a chat and a test, each marked automatically.

What's inside

Chapter 1The rule
- PictureUnlock
- Study the scheme: although, however, despiteGrammar schemeTry it
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Sort the phrases: although … or despite …?Sort into columnsTry it
- Choose the right wordChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the missing wordsFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 2Although or but?
- Choose the right option: although and butChoose the optionTry it
- Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock
- Fill in the table: the same idea with although and butFill in the tableUnlock
- Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock
- Choose the right endingQuizUnlock
Chapter 3Despite the rain
- Choose despite or althoughChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: despite + -ingFill in the gapsTry it
- Rewrite the sentences with despiteFill in the gapsUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: although and despiteMemory gameUnlock
- Drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Find the mistake: despite and in spite ofQuizUnlock
- Read the news item and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 4However: a new sentence
- Choose the right option: one sentence or two?Choose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: let the punctuation decideFill in the gapsUnlock
- Rewrite the sentences: same meaning, new wordFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
- Read Fenna's message and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropTry it
- Match the beginnings and the endings: one sentence or two?MatchUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: all togetherUnjumbleUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: Five floors, no elevator
- Read the guest reviews of Selkie HouseReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the reviews again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read Elspeth's reply to Graciela and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read the hotel's “Good to know” page and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Read Darnell's messages to his sister and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Folake asks about your hotelChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right word: at workChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: -ing after despite and in spite ofFill in the gapsUnlock
- Sort the sentences: correct or wrong?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: sentencesUnjumbleUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endings: everyday lifeMatchUnlock
- Fill in the table: although and despiteFill in the tableUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: the same meaningMemory gameUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the correctionQuizUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: check the punctuation firstFill in the gapsUnlock
- Rewrite the sentences with despite or in spite ofFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read the sentences and choose the correct oneQuizUnlock
- Read the forum thread and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Read Kasia's postcard and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read Lorenzo's email and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Ayesha's review of a cooking class and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock

Grammar: although, however and despite for contrast

All six words join two facts when the second one is a surprise: The hotel was old, but the rooms were modern. The choice depends on what comes next: a subject and verb after although and but, a noun or -ing after despite, and a whole new sentence after however.

Although, however, despite: two ideas that don't match

Say that two things are true, and the second one is a surprise: although, even though, but, however, despite, in spite of.

Although and even though + subject + verb

Although takes a full clause. It can open the sentence, with a comma after that part, or sit in the middle: I love this town although it's very quiet in winter. Even though marks a bigger surprise, and though is the everyday form.

Although + subject + verb, main clause

Although / Even thoughsubject + verb, main clause

Although the room was small, it was very clean.

Even though I was tired, I couldn't sleep.

I love this town although it's very quiet in winter.

Even though and though

Even though = although, but stronger: the surprise is bigger. Even though Kai can't swim, he loves boats. Though = although, in everyday English: Though it's small, our kitchen is my favorite room.

Despite and in spite of + noun or -ing

Both mean the same and take a noun, an -ing form or the fact that + clause: despite the rain, despite not having a map, in spite of the fact that I was tired. A subject and verb never follow despite directly.

although / even though + subject + verb

although it rained · although I was tired
even though the hotel was full
Although it rained all weekend, the festival was a hit.

despite / in spite of + noun, -ing or the fact that

despite the rain · in spite of the price
despite being tired · despite not having a map
despite the fact that it rained · in spite of the fact that I was tired
Despite the rain, the festival was a hit.

But, however and the punctuation

But joins two clauses in the middle, after a comma: It was late, but we went for a walk. However opens a new sentence or follows a semicolon, with a comma after it: It was foggy; however, we drove home.

Which word? What comes next?

Word	What comes next	Where it goes	Example
although · even though	subject + verb	at the start or in the middle	Although it was late, we went for a walk.
but	subject + verb	in the middle, after a comma	It was late, but we went for a walk.
however	a comma + a full sentence	at the start of a new sentence, or after ;	It was late. However, we went for a walk.
despite	a noun, -ing, or the fact that + subject + verb	at the start or in the middle	Despite the cold, we went for a walk.
in spite of	the same as despite	at the start or in the middle	We went for a walk in spite of the cold.

Commas, periods and semicolons

Although / despite first: a comma after that part: Although it was foggy, we drove home. In the middle: usually no comma: We drove home although it was foggy. But: a comma before it: It was foggy, but we drove home. However: a period or ; before it and a comma after it: It was foggy. However, we drove home. · It was foggy; however, we drove home.

Traps to avoid

Never pair although with but. Write despite without of but in spite of with it, and don't use However like although: However it was late, we stayed becomes It was late. However, we stayed.

Although the room was tiny, but it was clean.
Although the room was tiny, it was clean.
although or but, never both
Despite of the storm, the ferry left.
Despite the storm, the ferry left.
despite (no of) or in spite of (not: in spite the storm)
Despite it was cold, we swam.
Although it was cold, we swam.
despite + noun or -ing; although + subject + verb
However it was late, we stayed.
It was late. However, we stayed.
however starts a new sentence (or comes after ;)

Examples

Although the hotel was old, the rooms were modern.although + subject + verb
Even though the bus was empty, he stood the whole way.even though: a bigger surprise
The jacket was cheap, but it was really warm.but: in the middle
The beach was rocky. However, the water was perfect.however: a new sentence
Despite the long drive, the kids were happy.despite + noun
In spite of feeling sick, Lina went to work.in spite of + -ing

More lessons on this grammar: Linking words lessons and exercises

Try the although, however and despite exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

What's in the lesson

40 auto-checked exercises
5 games
1 real-life document
1 grammar scheme
1 picture

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

join two ideas with although or but, never both: Although the room was tiny, it was clean, not Although the room was tiny, but it was clean
follow despite and in spite of with a noun or -ing: Despite the rain, we had a picnic. In spite of feeling nervous, Ana gave a great speech.
start a new sentence with However and a comma: The museum is free. However, you need to book a ticket online.
say one idea with although or with despite: Although it was foggy, the race started on time. Despite the fog, the race started on time.

Grammar:: although / even though · however · despite / in spite of · contrast linkers
Topic:: grammar practice · hotels · reviews · travel

Teaching tips

Turn plain facts into balanced reviews: students note one good and one bad thing about a café or hotel they know, then join them three ways, with although, with despite and with however.
Let the next word decide: before each gap, students underline what follows it. A noun or -ing points to despite; a subject and verb, to although or but; a period or semicolon before the gap, to however.
Dictate without punctuation: read out pairs like it was foggy we drove home, and students write each one with but, with However, and with a semicolon, putting every comma and period in place.

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English Grammar Practice · B1 has 28 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the present perfect continuous, narrative tenses, future forms, modals of deduction, the second conditional, the passive, relative clauses, reported speech, question tags and linkers. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course

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