in spite of and despite; but, although and though; even though and even if; participle clauses; before and after + -ing; when, while and since + -ing
CONTEXT LISTENING
You are going to hear an interview with a young woman. Look at the newspaper headlines
from two years earlier. One of the headlines has the correct facts, the rest are wrong.
Listen to the interview and tick the correct headline.
Listen again and fill in the gaps. Stop the recording when you need to.
You’ve been world famous since making the film Starshine two years ago.
I got the part ______________ no film experience.
The director chose me to play the part ______________ several schools.
I had a long talk with my parents ______________ it.
I was offered two more films ______________ Starshine …
… but ______________ far from home, I sometimes felt very lonely.
I’d be happy to do another film later, ______________ booked up for the next few months.
It’s actually a comedy, ______________ called Dark Days.
What form of the verb follows since, in spite of, despite, after, before and while in the sentences?
Log into Learnclick to do the exercise and check your answers.
GRAMMAR
in spite of and despite
These words:
are used to explain an unexpected event:
I got the part in spite of having no experience.
We enjoyed the trip despite the bad weather.
go at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence:
In spite of / Despite having little money, we were very happy.
We were very happy in spite of / despite having little money.
If they go at the beginning, there is usually a comma in the middle of the sentence.
In spite of / Despite having little money, we were very happy. (notice the comma)
We were very happy in spite of / despite having little money.
are followed by -ing or a noun:
He continued to work in spite of / despite being ill.
He continued to work in spite of / despite his illness.
are often followed by the fact that + subject + verb:
I got the part in spite of the fact that I had no experience.
Despite the fact that I had no experience, I got the part.
In spite of is more common in speaking than despite.
I got the part in spite of the fact that I had no experience.
Despite the fact that I had no experience, I got the part.
but, although and though
These words contrast two events or ideas. Though is more common than although in speaking.
But usually goes in the middle of the sentence:
I like making films but I’m really a stage actor.
Although and though can go in the middle or at the beginning of the sentence:
I like making films though/although I’m really a stage actor.
Although/Though I’m really a stage actor, I like making films.
(notice the comma)
We can’t use though/although and but in the same sentence:
(not Though / Although I’m really a stage actor, but I like making films.)
We sometimes use though at the end of a sentence:
I like making films. I’m really a stage actor, though.
even though and even if
Even though makes a stronger contrast than although/though. It emphasises the speaker’s surprise that two facts are both true:
She was given the part even though she had no experience.
(= it’s surprising she got the part in these circumstances)
We use even if when we are not certain about our facts:
I’ll support my team even if they don’t win the Cup. (= I don’t know whether they’ll win the Cup, but I’ll support them anyway)
Participle clauses
We use even if when we are not certain about our facts:
I’ll support my team even if they don’t win the Cup. (= I don’t know whether they’ll win the Cup, but I’ll support them anyway)
The -ing form or the past participle:
I work far from home. + I sometimes feel lonely.
➞ Working far from home, I sometimes feel lonely.
Ali was asked about the play. + Ali said it was great.
➞ Asked about the play, Ali said it was great.
These structures are more common in writing than in speaking.
The -ing form:
He refused to apologise. + He left the room
➞ Refusing to apologise, he left the room.
The girl used all her strength. + The girl pushed open the heavy doors.
➞ Using all her strength, the girl pushed open the heavy doors.
She writes a blog. + She uses her experiences at work.
➞ She writes a blog using her experiences at work.
The past participle:
The boys were refused entry to the club. + The boys walked slowly home.
➞ Refused entry to the club, the boys walked slowly home.
‘Greensleeves’ was written in the 16th century. + ‘Greensleeves’ is still a famous song.
➞ Written in the sixteenth century, ‘Greensleeves’ is still a famous song.
before and after + -ing
I had a long talk with my parents. (= first event) + I accepted the part. (= second event)
➞ I had a long talk with my parents before accepting the part.
or ➞ I accepted the part after having a long talk with my parents.
Before and after + -ing can go at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.
If they go at the beginning, there is usually a comma before the main clause:
Before accepting the part, I had a long talk with my parents.
After having a long talk with my parents, I accepted the part.
when, while and since + -ing
We can use when, while and since + -ing in a similar way to before and after + -ing.
When + -ing links two actions happening at the same time:
When leaving the train, passengers should ensure that they have all their possessions with them.
You must try to make a good impression when starting a new job.
While + -ing links a longer action to an action which happens in the middle of it:
I was offered two more films while making ‘Starshine’.
While making ‘Starshine’, I was offered two more films.
Since + -ing links an ongoing situation or action to the event or action when it began:
She hasn’t been in touch once since moving to New York.
Since leaving school, she’s completely changed.
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