Although / though / despite

這些詞表示轉折：第二件事的發生出乎第一件事帶來的預期（下雨了，但我們還是出去了）。關鍵在於每個詞後面接什麼。

although 從句可以放在句子開頭（後面加逗號），也可以放在句子中間。Though 意思相同，但更口語化。Even though 語氣更強——“儘管……確實如此”。Even 單獨用不能連線兩個從句。

• Although the flat is small, it's very comfortable.

  雖然公寓很小，但住著很舒服。

• We kept walking even though our feet hurt.

  儘管腳很疼，我們還是繼續往前走。

• Even though I've lived here for ten years, I still get lost in the Old Quarter.

  儘管我在這裡住了十年，在老城區還是會迷路。

• I like my job. The pay isn't great, though.

  我喜歡我的工作。不過工資不怎麼樣。（though 放在句末 = but，口語）

💡中文習慣說“雖然……但是……”。英語只用一個連線詞：要麼用 although，要麼用 but，不能兩個一起用。Although it was late, we kept talking. / It was late, but we kept talking.

Despite 和 in spite of 意思相同。後面接名詞、代詞（this、that、everything……）或 -ing。記住：despite 後面沒有 of；in spite 一定要帶 of。如果後面想接完整的從句，就加上 the fact that。

• Despite the traffic, we got to the airport on time.

  儘管路上堵車，我們還是準時到了機場。

• In spite of his age, my grandfather still plays badminton every morning.

  儘管年紀大了，我爺爺每天早上還打羽毛球。

• She failed the test despite studying all week.

  儘管她學了一整週，考試還是沒及格。（-ing 的主語和主句的主語相同）

• Minh was exhausted, but despite this he finished the report.

  阿明累壞了，但儘管如此，他還是把報告寫完了。

• Despite the fact that it was a public holiday, the shop was open.

  儘管那天是公共假日，商店還是開著門。

同一個意思可以用 although（+ 從句）或 despite（+ 名詞 / -ing）來表達。這一對和表示原因的一對正好對應：because / because of。

• Although I was very tired, I couldn't sleep.

  雖然我很累，但就是睡不著。

• Despite being very tired, I couldn't sleep.

  儘管很累，我還是睡不著。（despite + -ing）

• We went out in spite of the rain.

  儘管下著雨，我們還是出去了。

• We stayed in because of the rain.

  因為下雨，我們待在家裡。

💡快速判斷：如果空格後面跟的是謂語動詞（was、is、had、can……）→ 用 although / even though。如果只跟名詞或 -ing → 用 despite / in spite of。

But 在一個句子裡連線兩個意思。However 用來開始一個新句子（後面通常加逗號），或者放在分號後面，比 but 更正式。在規範的書面語中，不要只用逗號 + however 來連線兩個從句。

• The hotel was lovely. However, the food was disappointing.

  酒店很漂亮。不過，飯菜令人失望。

• The hotel was lovely, but the food was disappointing.

  酒店很漂亮，但飯菜令人失望。

• The hotel was lovely; however, the food was disappointing.

  酒店很漂亮；然而，飯菜令人失望。（正式）

💡Even though 說的是事實（儘管確實如此），even if 說的是可能性（不管會不會發生）：Even though it's raining, I'll go（確實在下雨）。Even if it rains, I'll go（可能下，也可能不下）。

• ✗Although it was late, but we kept talking.

  ✓Although it was late, we kept talking. / It was late, but we kept talking.

  只用一個連線詞。

• ✗Despite of the noise, the baby slept well.

  ✓Despite the noise / In spite of the noise, the baby slept well.

  Despite 後面沒有 of。

• ✗We had fun in spite the rain.

  ✓We had fun in spite of the rain.

  In spite 後面要有 of。

• ✗Despite it was cold, we went swimming.

  ✓Although it was cold, we went swimming. / Despite the cold, we went swimming.

  Despite 後面不能接從句。

• ✗Although the bad weather, the match went ahead.

  ✓Despite the bad weather, the match went ahead.

  Although 後面要接從句。

• ✗Even I was tired, I couldn't sleep.

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

  Even 單獨用不能連線從句。