Do you know the difference between “despite”, “in spite” and “even though”? Confused between when to use each one? For adult English students studying business English, understanding the differences between these three words is essential for acing their exams. In this blog post, we will look at the usage differences between “despite”, “inspite” and “even though” and provide tips on how to use them correctly in business English.
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Despite vs. In spite
Despite and inspite are both conjunctions used to express contrast or opposition, often in the form of an unexpected result. Despite is the most common of the two and is more widely accepted in both spoken and written English.
Despite implies a stronger contrast between two ideas than in spite does. It suggests a stronger relationship between two situations, implying that one situation still has an effect on the other despite the other’s contrary nature.
For example, “Despite the bad weather, she still attended the picnic.” Here, the bad weather is the contrary nature and yet it did not stop her from going to the picnic.
On the other hand, in spite is used less commonly and is seen more in spoken English. In spite does not imply as strong a contrast as despite, instead conveying an idea of tolerance or mildness. For example, “In spite of his gruff attitude, we still invited him over for dinner.” Here, his gruff attitude is something that they have to tolerate but still they invite him over.
In summary, despite is the more widely accepted conjunction to use and implies a stronger contrast between two situations, while in spite implies a milder contrast and is used more in spoken English
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Even Though
Even though is a powerful conjunction that adds emphasis and can also introduce an unexpected element. It expresses an idea contrary to expectation or the current situation, implying that something still holds true in spite of certain conditions. It can be used to express contrast, contrariness, opposition, or defiance in English.
For example: Even though it was raining heavily, the family went on a picnic.
When using even though, it is important to remember that it introduces a subordinate clause in the sentence. This means that the verb used in the subordinate clause must be conjugated accordingly, taking into consideration the person and number of the subject of the main clause.
In business English, even though can be used in formal contexts to emphasize the importance of a point or explain why a decision was made despite certain conditions. For instance, if your company decided to launch a new product despite the current economic situation, you could say “Even though the economy is weak right now, our company has decided to launch a new product.”
Even though is also useful for expressing agreement with an opinion that is different from your own. For example, if someone suggested a course of action that you disagreed with, but you still supported their opinion, you could say “Even though I think it’s a bad idea, I’ll go along with your plan.”
Finally, even though can be used to soften a criticism or statement that might otherwise sound too direct or harsh. For example, instead of saying “Your proposal is terrible,” you could say “Even though I don’t think your proposal is great, I understand why you chose this direction.”
Overall, even though is a powerful conjunction that can add emphasis to your sentences and help you express complex ideas in English. With practice and an understanding of how it works in English sentences, you can use even though confidently in business settings and ace your English exams!
Which One to Use When
The usage of the words “despite,” “inspite” and “even though” can be confusing when speaking or writing in English. It is important to understand the difference between these three words and use them correctly in order to ace your business English exam.
Despite: Despite means to do something in spite of, or contrary to, something else. It is used to emphasize a point and is usually followed by a noun or gerund. For example: “Despite the difficult situation, he kept going.”
Inspite: Inspite has the same meaning as despite, but it is not used as often. It can sound awkward in some sentences, so it is better to stick with “despite”.
Even Though: Even though also has the same meaning as “despite” but it is used to express a stronger contrast between two actions. It is usually followed by a clause. For example: “He kept going even though it was a difficult situation.”
It is important to know when to use these words and how to use them correctly in order to ace your business English exam. To sum up, “despite” should be used when you want to emphasize a point, while “even though” should be used when you want to express a stronger contrast between two actions.
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