CONNECTORS: ALTHOUGH, DESPITE/ IN SPITE OF/ HOWEVER/ NEVERTHELESS

A. LÝ THUYẾT
1. Cụm từ và mệnh đề chỉ sự tương tác: in spite of/ despite và although
a. Cụm từ chỉ sự tương phản: in spite of/ despite ( mặc dù/ bất chấp)
- Chúng ta sử dụng cụm từ in spite of hoặc despite trước một danh từ hoặc một cụm danh từ
In spite of/ despite+ N/ cụm danh từ/ V-ing.
Ví dụ:
Despite/ in spite of being so young/ his young age, he performs excellently
( Mặc dù còn rất trẻ nhưng cậu ấy biển diễn rất xuất sắc)
b. Mệnh đề chỉ sự tương phản: though/ although/even though
Chúng ta sử dụng although/ though ( mặc dù) trước một mệnh đề mang nghĩa tương phản đối
lập.
Although/ Though/ Even though+ S+ V ( mệnh đề)
Ví dụ:
Although the weather was bad, we had a wonderful holiday
( Mặc dù thời tiết xấu, chúng tôi vẫn có một kì nghỉ hết sức tuyệt vời)
Even though I don’t like her, I try my best to help her
( Mặc dù không thích cô ấy, tôi vẫn cố gắng hết sức để giúp đỡ)
2. Từ chỉ sự tương phản: However/ nevertheless ( tuy nhiên)
However/ Nevertheless, S+ V
- However/ Nevertheless đứng ở giữa mệnh đề được ngăn cách với hai mệnh đề bởi dấu “,” và
dấu “;” hoặc giữa dấu “.”và “,”
VD
She is young. However, she is very talented
( Cô ấy còn trẻ. Tuy nhiên cô ất rất tài năng)
It rained very hard; nevertheless, I went to school on time
( Trời mưa rất to, tuy nhiên, tôi đi học đúng giờ)
Ngoài ra, để nhất mạnh ý tương phản, đối nghicgh chúng ta có thể sử dụng như một trạng từ bổ
sung cho một tính từ hoặc trạng từ khắc
However + adj+ S+ be, mệnh đề
However + adv+ S+ V, mệnh đề
VD:
However cold the weather is, I will go out now.
( Dù thời tiết lạnh thế nào đi nữa, tôi vẫn đi ra ngoài)
However quickly he ran, he didn’t go to school on time
( Dù có chạy nhanh thế nào thì anh ấy vẫn không đến trường đúng giờ)
3. Chuyển đổi câu dùng Although/ Even though/ Though sang Despite/ In spite of
Cách 1: Sử dụng cụm ‘‘the fact that’’
Cấu trúc: Although/ Even though/ Though + S + V.
→ Despite/ In spite of + the fact that + S + V.
Ví dụ:
Although it was raining, he went for a walk.
→ Despite the fact that it was raining, he went for a walk. (Mặc dù trời đang mưa, anh ấy vẫn đi
dạo.)
Cách 2: Sử dụng Ving khi 2 mệnh đề có chủ ngữ giống nhau
Cấu trúc: Although/ Even though/ Though + S + V.
→ Despite/ In spite of + the fact that + Ving.
Ví dụ:
Even though she had an early morning meeting the next day, she went to the party.
→ In spite of having an early morning meeting the next day, she went to the party. (Mặc dù có
cuộc họp vào sáng sớm ngày hôm sau nhưng cô ấy vẫn đến dự bữa tiệc.)
Cách 3: Sử dụng danh từ/ cụm danh từ
Cấu trúc: Although/ Even though/ Though + S + V.
→ Despite/ In spite of + Noun/ Noun phrase.
Ví dụ:
Even though it was raining, they decided to have a picnic.
→ In spite of the rain, they decided to have a picnic. (Bất chấp trời mưa, họ quyết định đi dã
ngoại.)
Bổ sung : Although + The + N + Be + Adj
→ In spite of/Despite + The + Adj + N

⇒ Despite / in spite of the dirty car, he didn’t wash it.

Ví dụ: Although the car was dirty, he didn’t wash it.

*Nếu chủ ngữ là đại từ + be + tính từ thì ta đổi đại từ thành sở hữu, đổi tính từ thành danh từ,
bỏ be
Although + S + Be + Adj
→ In spite of/ Despite + His /her/ their + N

B. BÀI TẬP VẬN DỤNG

Ex 1: Complete the sentences, using although, despite/in spite of. Sometimes, two answers
are possible.
1.______ the story of the film was good, I didn’t like the acting.
2.I went to see the film ______ feeling really tired.
3.I really enjoyed the Water War______ most of my friends said it wasn’t a very good film.
4.______ careful preparation, they had a lot of difficulties in making the film.
5.______ the film was gripping, Tom slept from beginning to end.
6. ________________ she has a good look, everybody hates her.
7. Jane seldom sees Jim ________________ they go to the same school.
8. ________________ her illness, Jane went to work yesterday.
9. ________________ it was chilly outside, we went fishing.
10. ________________ working hard, Peter failed the test.
11. ________________ the difficulties, Sarah managed to solve the problem.
12. My grandfather was very strong ________________ his old age.
13. The children slept deeply ________________ the noise.
14. ________________ the high salary, Mary refused the job offer.
15. ________________ earning a high salary, Sara never wastes her money.
16. I find the film boring________________ many people like it.
17. ________________the bad weather, we went on our school picnic.
18. ________________the congestion, we weren’t late for the meeting.
19. ________________ he’s rich, he is always upset.
20. I couldn’t sleep________________ I was exhausted.
21. He enjoyed the concert, __________ it was too loud at time.
22. They went for a swim, _________ the water was quite cold.
23. She passed the exam ___________ not studying much.
24. They completed the project ___________ facing many challenges.
25. She smiled ___________ feeling sad inside.
26. ___________ the water was quite cold, they went for a swim.
27. ___________ he had an early meeting the next day, he stayed up late.
28. She wore her old coat, ___________ she had a new one.
29. He kept trying, ___________ he failed several times.
30. He arrived on time ___________ the heavy traffic.
Ex 2: Complete the sentences. Use although + a sentence from the box.
it was getting late he hadn't studied much
they had little time she was nervous
he had studied all night the restaurant was crowded
she didn't know many people it was cold outside
there.
it was expensive they were tired
1. They decided to stay __________________.
2. ___________________, she gave an excellent presentation.
3. ____________________, he didn't feel ready for the exam.
4. _____________________, they kept working until the project was finished.
5. She enjoyed the party _____________________.
6. She bought the dress ______________________.
 7. _______________________, they managed to find a table.
8. He passed the exam, ________________________.
9. _______________________, they managed to complete the task.
10. ____________________________, they decided to have a picnic.
Ex 3: Find one error in each of the following sentences.
1. Despite(A) it was raining(B) heavily, they decided(C) to go on their planned(D) hike.
2. Although(A) the fact that the lecture was intellectually(B) stimulating, the complexity(C) of
the concepts left many students(D) bewildered.
3. He completed(A) the marathon in spite(B) suffering from severe(C) cramps
midway through(D) the race.
4. She excelled(A) in her studies(B), in spite of she faced(C) numerous personal challenges(D).
5. Despite(A) she had reservations(B) about the plan, she decided(C) to give it a
try nonetheless(D).
Ex 4: Rewrite the sentences without changing its
meaning.

1. Although there was a traffic jam, he managed to arrive at the train station on
time. (despite)
.........................................................................................................................
2. I don’t want to buy a new computer although I have enough money. (having)
.........................................................................................................................
3. Both of them usually go to school late although they don’t live far away from
school. (spite)
.........................................................................................................................
4. My brother still went to school yesterday although he was sick. (sickness)
.........................................................................................................................
5. Although he looks healthy, he has a weak heart. (looking)
.........................................................................................................................
6. Despite the fact that Louis is not so rich, he often does charity. (although)
.........................................................................................................................
7. In spite of the awful weather, we enjoyed our party last night. (although)
.........................................................................................................................
8. She goes shopping every week although she has many clothes. (having)
.........................................................................................................................
9.It was late. He insisted on finishing his work before going to bed. (although)
→ __________________________________.
10.They decided to go for a walk in the park. There was a heavy rain. (in spite of)
→___________________________________.
11.He picked it up quickly. It was his first time skiing. (even though)
→ ___________________________________.
12.They faced criticism. They continued with their innovative approach. (despite)
→____________________________________.
13.The test was challenging. He scored well. (though)
→____________________________________.
Ex 5: Rewrite sentence.
1. Although it was his first time driving in the city, he navigated through traffic successfully.
→ Despite __________________________________.
2. Although he had studied hard, he didn't perform well in the exam.
→ In spite of __________________________________.
→ In spite of __________________________________.
3. Although it was raining heavily, they still went for a hike in the mountains.
→ Despite __________________________________.
→ Despite __________________________________.
4. Although she had a sore throat, she sang beautifully in the choir concert.
→ In spite of __________________________________.
→ Inspite of __________________________________.
5. Although he didn't win the competition, he was proud of his performance.
→ Despite __________________________________.
→ Despite __________________________________.
6. Despite having little experience, she excelled in her new job.
→ Although __________________________________.
7. Despite the fact that he was injured, he insisted on playing in the soccer match.
→ Even though __________________________________.
8. Despite the heavy rain, they decided to go camping.
→ Though __________________________________.
9. Despite having limited resources, they were able to complete the renovation.
→ Even though __________________________________.
10. Despite the fact that she was nervous, she delivered a confident speech.
→ Though __________________________________.
11. In spite of Lee’s Sadness at losing the contest, she managed to smile.
→ Although _______________________________________.
12. Although Tom was a poor student, he studied very well.
→ In spite of _______________________________________.
13. Although the weather was bad, she went to school on time.
→ In spite of _______________________________________.
14. My mother told me to go to school although I was sick.
→ In spite of _______________________________________.
15. Although Nam is not a smart student, he learns very hard.
→ In spite of _______________________________________.
16. Although he has a physical handicap, he has become a successful business man.
→ In spite of _______________________________________.
17. Although it was raining heavily, we still went to school.
→ In spite of _______________________________________.
18. Although his friend was sick, she still went to work yesterday.
→ In spite of _______________________________________.
19. In spite of the dirty room, Salim didn’t clean it.
→ Although ________________________________________.
20. In spite of her unkind behavior, we still love her.
→ Although ________________________________________.

Ex 6 Choose the best answer to complete these sentences.

1. Mr. Ba was late for the meeting though he took a taxi.
A. Even though taking a taxi, Mr. Ba was late for the meeting.
B. In spite of taking a taxi, but Mr. Ba was late for the meeting.
C. Mr. Ba was late for the meeting despite the fact he took a taxi.
D. Mr. Ba was late for the meeting although having taken a taxi.
2. We came to the meeting on time though the traffic was heavy.
A. Despite the traffic was heavy; we came to the meeting on time.
B. In spite of the heavy traffic, we came to the meeting on time.
C. Even though the heavy traffic, we came to the meeting on time.
D. Although the traffic was heavy, but we came to the meeting on time.
3. Although he took a taxi, Bill still arrived late for the concert.
A. Bill arrived late for the concert whether he took a taxi or not.
B. Bill arrived late for the concert because of the taxi.
C. In spite of taking a taxi, Bill arrived late for the concert.
D. Bill took a taxi to the concert, but he couldn’t catch it.
4. Although she is rich, she can’t afford to buy the car.
A. She doesn’t have enough money to buy the car she likes.
B. Rich as she is, she can’t afford to buy the car.
C. The car is too expensive for her to buy.
D. She wants to buy the car but it costs a lot.
5. Although Sue felt tired, she stayed up late talking to Jill.
A. Despite feeling tired, Sue stayed up late talking to Jill.
B. In spite feeling tired, Sue stayed up late talking to Jill.
C. Sue wouldn’t feel tired despite staying up late talking to Jill.
D. Sue stayed up late talking to Jill. As a result, she was tired.