How to use DESPITE/IN SPITE OF correctly
Welcome to this online training!We are going to look at the use of despite/in spite of in sentences.
A lot of students make mistakes with these, especially with sentence construction.
If you study this lesson carefully, you won’t be making mistakes any more.
You can do this training many times.
Please type in your name below before you continue.
‘Despite’ and ‘in spite of’ are synonyms. They are both close in meaning to "although".
They are both quite formal but ‘in spite of’ is slightly more formal than ‘despite’.
Generally, you can use either of them without changing the meaning. Just remember to use ‘of’ after ‘in spite’ and not to use ‘of’ after ‘despite’
She completed the marathon in spite of the pain in her foot.
Despite the pain in her foot, she completed the marathon.
( NOT *despite of the pain)
Now let’s do a little recap:
‘Despite’ and ‘in spite of’ are synonyms. They are both close in meaning to "although".
They are both quite formal but ‘in spite of’ is slightly more formal than ‘despite’.
Generally, you can use either of them without changing the meaning. Just remember to use ‘of’ after ‘in spite’ and not to use ‘of’ after ‘despite’
She completed the marathon in spite of the pain in her foot.
Despite the pain in her foot, she completed the marathon.
( NOT *despite of the pain)
Now let’s do a little recap:
Select the sentences which are CORRECT ( 'of' or not?)
Their company is doing extremely well despite all the recent problems.
He got the job in spite his prison record.
They stayed inside despite of nice weather.
We enjoyed the walk, in spite of the rain.
Despite of having made many mistakes, he still managed to pass.
In spite of the long ticket queue, we managed to catch the train.
Now let's look at sentence construction:
DESPITE and IN SPITE OF are close in meaning to “although”/ ‘even though”
However, because they are prepositions and not conjunctions, the sentences with In spite of and Despite are constructed differently.
Compare the following sentences:
She had difficulty communicating in English despite all her years of study.
She had difficulty communicating in English in spite of studying it for years.
She had difficulty communicating in English although she studied it for years.
You can see that the part starting with DESPITE/IN SPITE OF is not a complete clause: it doesn’t have a subject+verb.
(There is a verb + ing in the second example, but there is no subject)
In contrast, the clause starting with ALTHOUGH/EVEN THOUGH always has both a subject and a verb.
You can swap these clauses around, but the rule remains the same:
Despite all her years of study, she had difficulty communicating in English.
In spite of studying English for years, she had difficulty communicating in it.
Even though she studied English for years, she had difficulty communicating in it.
Here, again, the part starting with DESPITE/IN SPITE OF is not a complete clause and doesn’t have a subject+verb, whereas the clause starting with ALTHOUGH/EVEN THOUGH has a subject and a verb.
Let’s do a little recap.
Now let's look at sentence construction:
DESPITE and IN SPITE OF are close in meaning to “although”/ ‘even though”
However, because they are prepositions and not conjunctions, the sentences with In spite of and Despite are constructed differently.
Compare the following sentences:
She had difficulty communicating in English despite all her years of study.
She had difficulty communicating in English in spite of studying it for years.
She had difficulty communicating in English although she studied it for years.
You can see that the part starting with DESPITE/IN SPITE OF is not a complete clause: it doesn’t have a subject+verb.
(There is a verb + ing in the second example, but there is no subject)
In contrast, the clause starting with ALTHOUGH/EVEN THOUGH always has both a subject and a verb.
You can swap these clauses around, but the rule remains the same:
Despite all her years of study, she had difficulty communicating in English.
In spite of studying English for years, she had difficulty communicating in it.
Even though she studied English for years, she had difficulty communicating in it.
Here, again, the part starting with DESPITE/IN SPITE OF is not a complete clause and doesn’t have a subject+verb, whereas the clause starting with ALTHOUGH/EVEN THOUGH has a subject and a verb.
Let’s do a little recap.
Sentence constructions with "despite" and "in spite of" differ from constructions with "although"
Yes
No
After 'despite" and "in spite of" you need to use a complete clause ( subject+verb)
Yes
No
After "although" and "even though" you always need a complete clause (subject + verb)
Yes
No
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
We enjoyed the walk ___________ the heat.
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
___________trying very hard, she still failed.
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
___________ he came to every lesson, he still didn’t pass the exam.
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
______________ it cost a lot, the quality was poor.
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
He enjoys his job ________________the low salary.
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
You put sugar in my tea __________________I asked you not to.
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
We had a great time _________________ it rained.
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
_______________ having lived in Norway for ten years, he never got used to the cold.
What can we use after Despite/In spite of?
Typically, we use a pronoun, a noun or a noun phrase after Despite/In spite of:
Despite this...
In spite of them...
Despite the pain...
Despite the cold climate...
Despite all the problems...
In spite of all their heroic efforts....
In spite of his colleagues’ fantastic and timely help ..... ( note the “colleagues’ is not a subject here! It just answers the question Whose help? )
If we want to use a verb after DESPITE/IN SPITE OF, we need to use is in the form of a gerund ( -ing form). The gerund acts as a noun in a sentence.
Despite failing, she remains confident.
The gerund can be followed or preceded by other elements:
Despite failing the test, she remains confident.
Despite failing her first test, she remains confident.
Despite spectacularly failing her first driving test, she remains confident.
We can also use a gerund in its 'perfect' form:
having + past participle
Despite having failed the first time, she went on and eventually succeeded.
In spite of having cooked this ten times before, I still need to check the recipe.
I recognise this place, despite never having been here before.
Note that we CANNOT say:
*Despite she failed the first time,...
*In spite I cooked it 10 times before, ...
Now let’s do a little recap.
What can we use after Despite/In spite of?
Typically, we use a pronoun, a noun or a noun phrase after Despite/In spite of:
Despite this...
In spite of them...
Despite the pain...
Despite the cold climate...
Despite all the problems...
In spite of all their heroic efforts....
In spite of his colleagues’ fantastic and timely help ..... ( note the “colleagues’ is not a subject here! It just answers the question Whose help? )
If we want to use a verb after DESPITE/IN SPITE OF, we need to use is in the form of a gerund ( -ing form). The gerund acts as a noun in a sentence.
Despite failing, she remains confident.
The gerund can be followed or preceded by other elements:
Despite failing the test, she remains confident.
Despite failing her first test, she remains confident.
Despite spectacularly failing her first driving test, she remains confident.
We can also use a gerund in its 'perfect' form:
having + past participle
Despite having failed the first time, she went on and eventually succeeded.
In spite of having cooked this ten times before, I still need to check the recipe.
I recognise this place, despite never having been here before.
Note that we CANNOT say:
*Despite she failed the first time,...
*In spite I cooked it 10 times before, ...
Now let’s do a little recap.
Choose the sentences that are correct.
Despite not have an umbrella, I decided to walk home.
Despite the heat, the match went ahead.
We lost the game, despite having practised all week.
He was very fast in spite of he is overweight.
Despite studying for hours, they still weren’t ready.
They arrived late despite leave in plenty of time.
They enjoyed the rides in spite of the long queues.
I chose to study Art, in spite of my parents’ wishes.
And now you are going to learn a little trick!
If you find all these nouns and gerunds confusing, there is a way to just to use a whole clause (with a subject and verb) after DESPITE/IN SPITE OF:
Just add the phrase 'the fact that' between DESPITE/IN SPITE OF and the subject!
Despite the fact that Anthony studied really hard, the teacher never praised him.
Note that you if you choose to use “the fact that”, you need to write the whole clause, with the subject (Anthony) and the verb (studied).
Can you find the subject and the verb in the sentence below?
In spite of the fact that it was -20 outside, we went out.
‘It’ is the subject and ‘was’ is the verb.
Avoid errors: make sure you always have a subject after "the fact that":
*In spite of the fact that was -20 outside, we ventured out. - This sentence is wrong as the subject (it) is missing.
Look at some more examples. Can you identify the subject and verb in every clause starting with Despite/In spite of ?
Despite the fact that we left well in advance, we arrived late.
The weather was hot, in spite of the fact that it was only the end of April.
The snow has not melted, despite the fact that the sun has been shining all day.
In spite of the fact that his parents wanted him to study law, he chose to become a doctor.
Finally, make sure you keep all the three words together: the fact that
Now let’s do a recap!
And now you are going to learn a little trick!
If you find all these nouns and gerunds confusing, there is a way to just to use a whole clause (with a subject and verb) after DESPITE/IN SPITE OF:
Just add the phrase 'the fact that' between DESPITE/IN SPITE OF and the subject!
Despite the fact that Anthony studied really hard, the teacher never praised him.
Note that you if you choose to use “the fact that”, you need to write the whole clause, with the subject (Anthony) and the verb (studied).
Can you find the subject and the verb in the sentence below?
In spite of the fact that it was -20 outside, we went out.
‘It’ is the subject and ‘was’ is the verb.
Avoid errors: make sure you always have a subject after "the fact that":
*In spite of the fact that was -20 outside, we ventured out. - This sentence is wrong as the subject (it) is missing.
Look at some more examples. Can you identify the subject and verb in every clause starting with Despite/In spite of ?
Despite the fact that we left well in advance, we arrived late.
The weather was hot, in spite of the fact that it was only the end of April.
The snow has not melted, despite the fact that the sun has been shining all day.
In spite of the fact that his parents wanted him to study law, he chose to become a doctor.
Finally, make sure you keep all the three words together: the fact that
Now let’s do a recap!
Choose the sentences that are correct. Read the sentences carefully: every little word or verb form is important.
Despite the rain, he continued his jogging session.
Despite of the rain, he continued his jogging session.
He continued his jogging session despite the rain.
Despite that it rained he continued his jogging session
Despite the fact that it was raining, he continued his jogging session.
Despite it was raining, he continued his jogging session.
Choose the sentences that are correct. Read the sentences carefully: every little word or verb form is important.
In spite the recession, our company has survived.
In spite of the recession, our company has survived.
Our company has survived in spite of the recession.
In spite of experiencing the recession, our company has survived.
In spite of having been affected by the recession, our company has survived.
In spite of affected by the recession, our company has survived.
In spite of that the recession has affected us, our company has survived.
In spite of the fact that the recession has affected us, our company has survived.
Choose the sentences that are correct. Read the sentences carefully: every little word or verb form is important.
People continue to use mobile phones while driving, despite the law.
People continue to use mobile phones while driving, despite of the law.
Despite the law, people continue to use mobile phones while driving.
People continue to use mobile phones while driving, despite prohibited by the law.
People continue to use mobile phones while driving, despite not being allowed to do so by law.
People continue to use mobile phones while driving, despite that is prohibited.
People continue to use mobile phones while driving, despite the fact is prohibited.
Despite the fact that it is prohibited, people continue to use mobile phones while driving.
What about punctuation?
When the sentence starts with Despite/In spite of , we use a comma to separate that clause from the other clause in the sentence:
In spite of my parents’ wishes, I chose to study Art.
Despite the fact that my parents wanted me to study law, I chose to study Art.
If the clause with 'despite/in spite of' is the second one in the sentence, you can use a comma before it or you can leave it without a comma; the rules are quite flexible on this:
I chose to study Art, in spite of my parents’ wishes.
I chose to study Art in spite of my parents’ wishes.
I chose to study Art, despite the fact that my parents wanted me to study law.
I chose to study Art despite the fact that my parents wanted me to study law.
Most importantly, don't put a comma immediately after the words Despite/In spite of ;
and don't put a full stop in between the two clauses!
*Despite, the fact that my parents wanted me to study law...-This punctuation is wrong. Never do this!
*In spite of my parents’ wishes. I chose to study Art. -This punctuation is wrong. Never do this!
*I chose to study Art. In spite of my parents’ wishes. - This punctuation is wrong! Never do this!
What about punctuation?
When the sentence starts with Despite/In spite of , we use a comma to separate that clause from the other clause in the sentence:
In spite of my parents’ wishes, I chose to study Art.
Despite the fact that my parents wanted me to study law, I chose to study Art.
If the clause with 'despite/in spite of' is the second one in the sentence, you can use a comma before it or you can leave it without a comma; the rules are quite flexible on this:
I chose to study Art, in spite of my parents’ wishes.
I chose to study Art in spite of my parents’ wishes.
I chose to study Art, despite the fact that my parents wanted me to study law.
I chose to study Art despite the fact that my parents wanted me to study law.
Most importantly, don't put a comma immediately after the words Despite/In spite of ;
and don't put a full stop in between the two clauses!
*Despite, the fact that my parents wanted me to study law...-This punctuation is wrong. Never do this!
*In spite of my parents’ wishes. I chose to study Art. -This punctuation is wrong. Never do this!
*I chose to study Art. In spite of my parents’ wishes. - This punctuation is wrong! Never do this!
Please retype this sentence using correct punctuation (capital letters, commas, full stops)
despite the fact that we left well in advance we arrived late
Please retype this sentence using correct punctuation (capital letters, commas, full stops)
the weather was hot in spite of the fact that it was only the end of april
Please retype this sentence using correct punctuation (capital letters, commas, full stops)
the snow has not melted despite the fact that the sun has been shining all day
Please retype this sentence using correct punctuation (capital letters, commas, full stops)
in spite of the fact that his parents wanted him to study law he chose to become a doctor
Hopefully, you used the punctuation as below:
Despite the fact that we left well in advance, we arrived late.
The weather was hot, in spite of the fact that it was only the end of April.
The snow has not melted, despite the fact that the sun has been shining all day.
In spite of the fact that his parents wanted him to study law, he chose to become a doctor.
If not, you can go back and correct it!
Hopefully, you used the punctuation as below:
Despite the fact that we left well in advance, we arrived late.
The weather was hot, in spite of the fact that it was only the end of April.
The snow has not melted, despite the fact that the sun has been shining all day.
In spite of the fact that his parents wanted him to study law, he chose to become a doctor.
If not, you can go back and correct it!
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