Although / though / despite

这些词表示转折：第二件事的发生出乎第一件事带来的预期（下雨了，但我们还是出去了）。关键在于每个词后面接什么。

although 从句可以放在句子开头（后面加逗号），也可以放在句子中间。Though 意思相同，但更口语化。Even though 语气更强——“尽管……确实如此”。Even 单独用不能连接两个从句。

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

  虽然公寓很小，但住着很舒服。

• We kept walking even though our feet hurt.

  尽管脚很疼，我们还是继续往前走。

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

  尽管我在这里住了十年，在老城区还是会迷路。

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

  我喜欢我的工作。不过工资不怎么样。（though 放在句末 = but，口语）

💡中文习惯说“虽然……但是……”。英语只用一个连接词：要么用 although，要么用 but，不能两个一起用。Although it was late, we kept talking. / It was late, but we kept talking.

Despite 和 in spite of 意思相同。后面接名词、代词（this、that、everything……）或 -ing。记住：despite 后面没有 of；in spite 一定要带 of。如果后面想接完整的从句，就加上 the fact that。

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

  尽管路上堵车，我们还是准时到了机场。

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

  尽管年纪大了，我爷爷每天早上还打羽毛球。

• She failed the test despite studying all week.

  尽管她学了一整周，考试还是没及格。（-ing 的主语和主句的主语相同）

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

  阿明累坏了，但尽管如此，他还是把报告写完了。

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

  尽管那天是公共假日，商店还是开着门。

同一个意思可以用 although（+ 从句）或 despite（+ 名词 / -ing）来表达。这一对和表示原因的一对正好对应：because / because of。

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

  虽然我很累，但就是睡不着。

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

  尽管很累，我还是睡不着。（despite + -ing）

• We went out in spite of the rain.

  尽管下着雨，我们还是出去了。

• We stayed in because of the rain.

  因为下雨，我们待在家里。

💡快速判断：如果空格后面跟的是谓语动词（was、is、had、can……）→ 用 although / even though。如果只跟名词或 -ing → 用 despite / in spite of。

But 在一个句子里连接两个意思。However 用来开始一个新句子（后面通常加逗号），或者放在分号后面，比 but 更正式。在规范的书面语中，不要只用逗号 + however 来连接两个从句。

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

  酒店很漂亮。不过，饭菜令人失望。

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

  酒店很漂亮，但饭菜令人失望。

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

  酒店很漂亮；然而，饭菜令人失望。（正式）

💡Even though 说的是事实（尽管确实如此），even if 说的是可能性（不管会不会发生）：Even though it's raining, I'll go（确实在下雨）。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.

  只用一个连接词。

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

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

  Despite 后面没有 of。

• ✗We had fun in spite the rain.

  ✓We had fun in spite of the rain.

  In spite 后面要有 of。

• ✗Despite it was cold, we went swimming.

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

  Despite 后面不能接从句。

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

  ✓Despite the bad weather, the match went ahead.

  Although 后面要接从句。

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

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

  Even 单独用不能连接从句。