• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

IELTS with Fiona

IELTS Made Easier

Members Academy
Log in

  • Home
  • IELTS Resources
    • Writing Task 1 Academic
    • Writing Task 1 General Training
    • Writing Task 2
    • Listening
    • Reading
    • Speaking
  • Freee IELTS Lessons
  • IELTS courses
  • FAQs
  • About me
  • What’s New
You are here: Home / Grammar / How to use ‘despite’ and ‘in spite of’

How to use ‘despite’ and ‘in spite of’

By ieltsetc on December 3, 2020 0

‘Despite’ ‘In spite of’ ‘Although’ ‘Even though’ ‘Though’ and ‘Whereas’ are all linking words that express contrast, comparison and concession.

But they are not all the same. Find out how they differ and how to use them for IELTS Writing and Speaking.

This lesson is Day 4 of the free Advent Challenge: ‘D’ is for ‘Despite’.

how to use despite and in spite of
Click on the image for the YouTube video

1. The meaning of 'despite'

Look at the 4 sentences below. Is the meaning the same or different?

  • IELTS is difficult, but I enjoy it.
  • IELTS is difficult. However I enjoy it.
  • Although IELTS is difficult, I enjoy it.
  • Despite the fact that IELTS is difficult, I enjoy it.
Answer 1

The meaning is the same.

Each sentence shows the CONTRAST between the difficulty of IELTS on the one hand, and the fact that you enjoy it on the other hand.

The only difference is the linking words and punctuation.

PRACTICE (hide the model sentences above!)

  1. The exam was difficult, ______ I passed.
  2. The exam was difficult. _________, I passed.
  3. ________ the exam was difficult, I passed.
  4. Despite ___ ____ _____ the exam was difficult, I passed.
Practice Answers and Band Score
  1. The exam was difficult, but I passed. (Simple Band 5)
  2. The exam was difficult. However, I passed. (More formal Band 5.5)
  3. Although the exam was difficult, I passed. (More complex Band 6)
  4. Despite the fact that the exam was difficult, I passed. (More difficult Band 6.5)

So what about Band 7? Read on.

2. Grammar

Look at the sentences below. 

What is the difference in terms of grammar?

  1. Despite the fact that IELTS is difficult, I enjoy it.
  2. Despite IELTS being difficult, I enjoy it.
  3. Despite the difficulty of IELTS, I enjoy it.
Answer 2

1. Despite the fact that IELTS is difficult, I enjoy it.

Despite the fact that + Subject + Verb + Object (SVO) sentence

2. Despite IELTS being difficult, I enjoy it.

Despite + ing verb

3. Despite the difficulty of IELTS, I enjoy it.

Despite + noun

These are the 3 ways of using ‘Despite’, in order of complexity.

PRACTICE:

Check the grammar in Answer 2, and transform this sentence using ‘Despite’:

‘The exam was difficult but I passed’.

Practice Answers and Band Score

1. Despite the fact that the exam was difficult, I passed.

Despite the fact that + Subject + Verb + Object (SVO) sentence

Band 6.5 – it’s quite easy to memorise ‘Despite the fact that’ and add a full sentence.

2. Despite the exam being difficult, I passed.

Despite + ing verb

Band 7 – this is more sophisticated.

3. Despite the difficulty of the exam, I passed.

Despite + noun

Band 7+ – this is more difficult because you need to know the noun form.

3. Common Mistakes

1. What’s wrong with this sentence?

‘Despite the exam was difficult, I passed’.

Common Mistakes 1

You cannot put a ‘normal sentence’ (SVO) after ‘Despite’.

You must either put

  • ‘the fact that’
  • -ing verb
  • noun

2. What’s wrong with this sentence?

‘Despite of the exam was difficult, I passed’.

Common Mistakes 2

A synonym of ‘Despite’ is ‘In spite of’.

But you cannot mix them up!

In spite of works exactly the same as ‘Despite’ but it is a 3-word fixed expression.

Correct Answers:

  • Despite/In spite of the fact that the exam was difficult…
  • Despite/In spite of the exam being difficult…
  • Despite/In spite of the difficulty of the exam…

4. Although, even though, though

Look again at these sentences:

  • Despite the fact that IELTS is difficult, I enjoy it.
  • Although IELTS is difficult, I enjoy it.
  • Even though IELTS is difficult, I enjoy it.
  • Though IELTS is difficult, I enjoy it.

Is there any difference in meaning? NO.

Is there any difference in grammar or level or formality? NO.

All of these options must be followed by S-V-O sentences (Subject – Verb – Object).

In less formal, spoken English, ‘though’ comes at the end of the phrase.

‘IELTS is difficult. I enjoy it though‘.

Watch the video lesson

Learn more

How to use concession in Writing Task 2.

How to write complex sentences for IELTS.

Coherence and Cohesion for IELTS Task 2.

‘Not only but also’ and inversion

How to use ‘the former, the latter’

How to correct your grammar mistakes in IELTS

How else can I study by myself?

Check out my links to more free resources that can help you study at home.

Want to know what’s new?

If you want to hear all about my new lessons, podcasts, YouTube videos, challenges and courses, get your name on my email list (oh you’ll also get my free 28-Day Planner).

Sign up for the free 28-Day Planner.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Would you like to support my website?

In order to make sure you get a fantastic experience on my website I don’t use any advertising, and all the costs are paid for out of my own pocket.

If you’d like to help me keep these materials free for everyone, you are more than welcome to buy me a coffee! Many many thanks in advance.

Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee

RSS My latest podcasts

  • IELTS Reading: What is exploration? April 11, 2021
  • IELTS Listening: 'Street Play Scheme' ⛹️‍♂️⛹🏻‍♀️🚗 March 29, 2021
  • IELTS Writing: 9️⃣ tips for a Band 9️⃣ essay March 14, 2021

Categories

  • Academic Writing Task 1
  • Grammar
  • GT Writing Task 1
  • IELTS Advice
  • IELTS General Training
  • IELTS Listening
  • IELTS Reading
  • IELTS Speaking
  • IELTS Vocabulary
  • IELTS Writing Task 2

Tags

Academic Reading P1 Academic Reading P2 Academic Reading P3 academic task 2 Agriculture Animals Buildings choosing from list Civilisation Crime education Finance gap-fill listening gap fill reading Gap Fill with answers grammar GT letters GT Reading GT Task 1 Health History ielts tips informal writing Inventions labelling a diagram Matching Headings matching people Matching Statements multiple choice listening multiple choice reading Nature Research Speaking Tables Technology TFNG The Arts The environment The Future Transport travel Water work writing task 2 YNNG

Work out your current score

IELTS Band Score Calculator

Recent posts

  • What is a band 9 model essay?
  • IELTS Writing Band 9 Task 2 model essay
  • 15 Conditional Grammar tips you’ll never forget
  • How to use ‘willing to’ vs ‘want to’
  • How to use ‘It’s (not) worth it’

Come and see what’s going on

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Products

  • IELTS Writing Feedback IELTS Writing and Speaking Assessment $99.00
  • IELTS Writing Feedback, Assessment and Correction Get 8 IELTS Writing Feedback Videos $200.00
  • IELTS Speaking Course syllabus Speaking Course and Mock Test $99.00
  • IELTS WRITING FEEDBACK IELTS Writing Assessment and Feedback Task 1 and Task 2 $50.00

Looking for something specific?

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube
  • About me
  • Contact me
  • IELTS Band Score Calculator
  • IELTS Test 28-Day planner
  • IELTS Resources
  • IELTS 10-minute lessons

Copyright © 2021 — IELTS Exam Training Courses • Privacy Policy • Disclaimer • All rights reserved

This site uses cookies: Find out more.