but/(al)though; in spite of; despite; both … and; either … or
CONTEXT LISTENING
Selina has phoned Mr Smart to ask him about his holiday. Look at this brochure and the photo Mr Smart took.
What was Mr Smart’s problem?
Listen and check if you were right.
Which hotel did Mr Smart and his wife prefer?
Listen again and complete the sentences below.
I enjoyed most of the holiday, but I didn’t enjoy the first night.
______ I asked for a quiet hotel, your company put me in the Concordia.
My wife and I ______ work very hard.
Unfortunately the ______ manager his ______ assistant were out.
______ I left several messages, he didn’t phone me back until the second day.
______ the bad start, we had a good holiday.
I’m going to tell our bookings manager about your problems ______ she comes into the office.
Will you phone me ______ you find out what went wrong?
I’ll ______ phone ______ email you.
Look at your answers and mark these sentences T for True or F for False.
In sentences 1, 2 and 5 but and although are used when the same idea is repeated.
In sentences 3 and 4 both is used before a noun and before a verb.
In sentence 6 in spite of is used before a noun.
In sentences 7 and 8 the will-future tense is used after as soon as and when.
In sentence 9 either and or are used before verbs.
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GRAMMAR
Linking words connect (link) different ideas.
But, although and though
But and although (or though) contrast two ideas and are followed by noun + verb:
We can’t use although (or though) and but in the same sentence:
not Although the food was boring, but the hotel was excellent.
Although (or though) is stronger than but.
But is always in the middle of a sentence
The hotel was excellent but the food was boring.
Although(or though)is sometimes at the beginning of a sentence and sometimes in the middle.
Although/though the food was boring, the hotel was excellent.
The hotel was excellent although/though the food was boring.
In spite of / despite
In spite of / despite + noun contrasts two ideas.
We can’t use noun + verb after in spite of / despite:
not The hotel was excellent in spite of the food was boring.
Both ... and, ... and ... both, either .... or
We use both … and and either … or to connect two people or things:
Both my wife and I work very hard.
Either the bookings manager or her secretary made a mistake.
We often use noun and noun + both + verb:
Mr Smart and Mrs Smart both work very hard.
Both goes after the verb to be and auxiliary verbs:
My wife and I were both looking forward to a rest.
We often use either ... or to connect two verbs:
Either phone me or send me an email.
You can either eat out or have dinner in your hotel.
When, until, before, after, as soon as, while
We use when, until, before, after, as soon as and while to connect two actions in time:
When we arrived in Florida, we hired a car.
We waited with our friends until their bus arrived.
When we talk about the future, we use a present tense after these words:
When we arrived in Florida, we hired a car.
We waited with our friends until their bus arrived.
When we talk about the future, we use a present tense after these words:
We’ll hire a car, when we arrive in Florida. (not will arrive)
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