One word for despite the fact that

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A very useful phrase for fluency and articulacy is the fact that. This can be used to add a clause in a sentence where the grammar forces you to use a noun, for example, after linking words such as despite or in spite of, which are both followed by a noun. 

Despite / in spite of + noun + contrasting clause

For example:

  • Despite the sunshine, the snow has not yet melted.
  • In spite of the sunshine, the snow has not yet melted.

Despite and in spite of have the same meaning.

However, you can add a clause to despite or in spite of by adding the fact that and then a clause.

Despite / in spite of + the fact that + clause + contrasting clause.

For example:

  • Despite the fact that the sun has been shining all day, the snow has not yet melted.

This allows you to be more flexible with your sentences, but also makes your English sound more articulate and fluent.

Here are more examples:

It was raining, but the football team continued their training session.

  • Despite the fact that it was raining, the football team continued their training session.
  • The football team continued their training session despite the fact that it was raining.

The economy has gone into recession, but our company is surviving.

  • In spite of the fact that the economy has gone into recession, our company is surviving.
  • Our company is surviving in spite of the fact that the economy has gone into recession.

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Posted: 16 August 2017

Categories: Communication skills

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Synonyms for Despite the fact that. (2016). Retrieved 2023, April 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/synonyms/despite_the_fact_that

Synonyms for Despite the fact that. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Apr. 2023. <https://thesaurus.plus/synonyms/despite_the_fact_that>.

Synonyms for Despite the fact that. 2016. Accessed April 14, 2023. https://thesaurus.plus/synonyms/despite_the_fact_that.

Even better, if the word indicates that you’re the one who ultimately suffers.

Ex: I leave a suitcase in the middle of the hall, knowing someone might trip on it but ignoring that fact. Then I trip on it later on.

Or: I leave keys on a desk, though if I put them in the proper spot I won’t have to look for them later. Later on I can’t find them.

I’m thinking German might be a better bet for finding a single word, more specific to the outcome as well as the disregard for better judgement.

Edit:

Trying to come up with a sentence. In the case of the word only describing the intentional disregard for a potential bad outcome for the sake of laziness: This morning’s — led to small disaster when, forgetting he’d left them out, he stubbed his toe on the weights.

I guess I’m trying to get something like the term schadenfreude, where it’s more conceptual. So: Greg, being lazy and perhaps masochistic, had a habit of being — / creating — situations. (One’s wherein he knows what he’s doing will cause issue for himself, but goes through with it anyway and ultimately suffers.)

Edit:

This is different from the previously asked question regarding idioms as I’m not looking for an idiom and am also in search of a term that indicates a sort of laziness on the part of the do-er.


На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать грубую лексику.


На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать разговорную лексику.

Предложения


And all these people, despite the fact that their immigration conditions and personal qualities are different, faced similar problems.



И все эти люди, несмотря на то что их условия иммиграции и личностные качества различны, сталкиваются со схожими проблемами.


This is true despite the fact that in practice this guideline is extremely difficult to follow when training soldiers who are not bodhisattvas.



Это справедливо, несмотря на то что на практике очень сложно следовать этому руководству, когда готовят солдат, не являющихся бодхисаттвами.


Certain topics are strictly taboo, despite the fact that they may be fine within the United States or other nations.



Определенные темы строго табу, хотя они могут быть хорошими в Соединенных Штатах или других странах.


But we did it, despite the fact that we were constantly sweating and transported nearly 140 kilograms of various cargos.



Но мы сделали это, несмотря на то что постоянно потели и везли почти 140 килограммов различного груза.


We work without mistakes, despite the fact that we make very difficult elements.


But, despite the fact that books seven films about the young wizard — eight.


Such large differences occur despite the fact that these assumptions usually come from well-known international studies.



Такие различия возникают, несмотря на тот факт, что эти допущения обычно делаются на основе хорошо известных международных исследований.


Even despite the fact that this company has recently appeared.


Even despite the fact that all manipulations are painless.


Dickinson never married despite the fact that he had associates.


But also there are contraindications despite the fact that it is completely natural.


This is despite the fact that 11 ICE Ex.



Это подтверждается тем фактом, что здесь находится одиннадцать бывших госдач.


And this is despite the fact that China has 8 gastronomic areas.


Even despite the fact that the information given was still very brief, almost every catalogue presented some new names and works.



И несмотря на то, что приводимые сведения по-прежнему оставались очень краткими, почти в каждом из них появлялось что-то новое о художниках и произведениях.


No doctor has examined the child despite the fact that it remained so unwell.



Детей врачи взяли под наблюдение, несмотря на то, что их состояние оказалось не столь тяжелым.


This is despite the fact that initially the project was listed in 2018.



Это притом, что изначально в проекте значился 2018 год.


His name for unknown reasons disappeared from the materials of criminal proceedings, despite the fact that he had been searched.



Его фамилия, несмотря на то, что у него были проведены обыски, по непонятным причинам, исчезла из материалов уголовного производства.


It’s sold-out every week, despite the fact that there is no advertising.



Популярность сервиса возрастала с каждым днем, несмотря на отсутствие какой-либо рекламы.


This despite the fact that he has never


There is very little educational television despite the fact that there is demand for it.



Образовательного телевидения очень мало, между тем есть на него спрос.

Ничего не найдено для этого значения.

Предложения, которые содержат despite the fact that

Результатов: 24382. Точных совпадений: 24382. Затраченное время: 425 мс

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Индекс слова: 1-300, 301-600, 601-900

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icon forward

here’s what I’m gonna do.

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Акрыва€ глаза на то, что ты пь€ н, вот что€ сделаю.

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the

valley and delta of

the

Nile River provides agricultural products for

the

70 million of population.

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долина и дельта реки Нил обеспечивает сельскохозяйственной продукцией 70 миллионное население.

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of social life does not stop promoting it today.

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не

прекращается его популяризация и сегодня.

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as

the

main source of information on financial services, Russians do not trust bankers.

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являются главным источником информации о финансовых услугах, в справедливость банкиров россияне не верят.

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rice can successfully compete with

the

best world samples.

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Невзирая на то, что культура риса в нашей стране насчитывает всего лишь несколько десятилетий,

отечественный рис может с успехом конкурировать с лучшими мировыми образцами.

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flash games remain popular Fast and Furious,

the fact

there are some reasons.

icon https://st.tr-ex.me/img/material-icons/svg/open_in_new/baseline.svg

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флеш игры Форсаж остаются популярными,

на то

есть некоторые причины.

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He’s still connected and let oxygen, despite the fact that it is accompanied by changes in

the

three-dimensional structure of

the

polypeptide

and requires significant intra-molecular motions.

icon https://st.tr-ex.me/img/material-icons/svg/open_in_new/baseline.svg

context icon

Он по-прежнему связывал и отпускал кислород, не смотря на то, что это сопровождается изменениями в трехмерной структуре полипептида и

требует значительных внутримолекулярных движений.

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still it is a very significant factor in acquiring this very experience.

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все-таки оно является очень важным фактором, чтобы был приобретен сам опыт.

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able to experience

the

full range of emotions, despite the fact that they seem very down-to-earth from

the

outside.

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Знаки земли способны переживать весь спектр эмоций, не смотря на то, что внешне они кажутся очень приземленными.

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As you will obtain

the

necessary driving skills, gameplay

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По мере

того

как вы будете получать необходимые навыки вождения,

игровой процесс вас будет затягивать все сильнее и сильнее, даже невзирая на то, что сюжет предельно прост.

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It is covered with unique violin greatest masters of Stradivari,

and is extremely expensive.

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Как раз им покрыты уникальные скрипки величайших мастеров Страдивари, Амати,

и Гварнери, не смотря на то, что в Италии янтарь крайне редкостный камень и чрезвычайно дорогой.

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In addition,

the

dollar is under pressure from

the

fact that

inflation remains at a low level, despite the fact that in

the

second quarter was

the

growth of US GDP.

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Кроме

того,

доллар находится под давлением

того,

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and it was a natural component of

the

brain.

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и

что

он является естественным компонентом мозга.

938 complaints were being investigated, with 1,117 persons involved.

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предметом рассмотрения стали лишь 938 жалоб в отношении 1 117 лиц.

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Comparatively speaking, despite the fact that my nation has one of

the

largest subregional country programmes, relations continue

to be micromanaged from abroad.

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По сравнению с другими ситуациями следует заметить, что, несмотря на то,

что

в нашем государстве проводится одна из крупнейших субрегиональных страновых программ,

наши взаимоотношения по-прежнему детально контролируются из-за рубежа.

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and how people used to be expressed, certain knowledge in

the

field of construction.

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большой площади и, как люди привыкли выражаться, определенных познаний в области строительства.

Noticing

that

they were being

filmed 6-7 police officers attacked Yeghiazaryan despite the fact that he showed his press badge and repeatedly mentioned

being a Radio Liberty representative.

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Заметив,

что

их снимают, 6-

7 полицейских набросились

на

Егиазаряна, несмотря на то, что тот показал редакционное удостоверение и несколько раз предупредил,

что

является представителем Радио» Свобода.

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and it will grow, while in Russia conditions for agriculture are extreme.

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И это притом что в Африке палку воткни- растет, а в России

как раз экстремальные условия для сельского хозяйства.

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it still provides a great excuse to have fun.

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Не смотря на то, что для нас этот праздник не имеет особого символического значения,

он все же дает отличный повод для веселого времяпровождения.

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How has

the

British police

not been called by federal media; and this despite the fact that they did nothing much, they were just upholding

the

law.

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Как только не называли федеральные СМИ британских полицейских; и это притом, что ничего особенного они не делали, просто защищали закон.

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continues to provide

the

framework for joint efforts to appropriately address

the

special needs of

the

least developed countries LDCs.

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она по-прежнему служит основой для коллективных усилий по надлежащему рассмотрению особых потребностей наименее развитых стран НРС.

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И это так, несмотря на то, сколько бы рубах не порвали бы

на

себе теоретики несогласные с этим.

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they disproportionately carry

the

burden of poverty, inequality and injustice.

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они непропорционально несут бремя нищеты, неравенства и несправедливости.

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Even despite the fact that

the

majority of our bankers are cheaters and there are almost none of reliable attorneys.

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Даже если опустить тот факт, что большинство наших финансистов мошенники и почти нет надежных адвокатов.

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И, не смотря на то, что всегда говорила« никогда не буду работать в ИТ сфере….

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Company does not plan to

reduce ticket prices in

the

nearest future despite the fact that

the

price for jet fuel significantly decreased,

the management of the company informs.

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Авиакомпания Air Astana не будет

снижать стоимость авиабилетов в ближайшее время, вопреки тому, что цены на авиатопливо значительно снизились, сообщает руководство компании.

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to the health of organs and tissues, as opposed to biotherapeutics.

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И это все притом, что химиотерапевтические средства чрезвычайно опасны для здоровых органов и тканей,

в отличие от биотерапевтических.

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И это притом, что ни одно из признанных ними лекарств не в состоянии решить проблему.

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Results: 5617,
Time: 0.0301


notwithstanding that

despite what

English

Russian

Russian

English

Tenacious Learner


  • #1

Hello teachers,
I believe, despite is used to link two situations and show a contrast between them. In other words, we use it to introduce a fact which makes the other part of the sentence surprising.
Examples:
1. Despite she’s a millionaire, she lives in a small house.
2. Despite he was an old person, he won the race.
3. Trains are still running despite the snow.
4. He got the job despite his prison record.

Let’s take sentence #1:
Which is the fact in sentence # 1? She’s a millionaire.
Which is the surprise in sentence # 1? She lives in a small house.

Please, could you tell what do you think about the following assumptions and conclusion?
I’ve read that «Apart from» is a poor choice of words to explain «despite». What about «Apart from the fact that»? Is that a wordy expression?
To me «apart from the fact that» sounds good to explain the meaning. Please keep in mind that my idea is just to explain the meaning, not to use «despite» instead of «apart…».

My conclusion about sentence #1:
Then, apart from the fact that she’s a millionaire, she lives in a small house.
I link two situations or ideas and I show a contrast between them (the fact and the surprise), don’t I?

Thanks in advance.

  • se16teddy


    • #2

    1. Despite she’s a millionaire, she lives in a small house.
    2. Despite he was an old person, he won the race.

    Examples 1 and 2 are wrong because despite is a preposition not a conjunction.

    «Apart from» introduces an exception, not a surprise. You can say All millionaires live in large houses, apart from her. She is the only one who does not comply with the stated rule.

    Last edited: Jul 7, 2017

    Tenacious Learner


    • #3

    Examples 1 and 2 are wrong because despite is a preposition not a conjunction.

    Thanks for your help. Why are they wrong, se16teddy? Isn’t «despite» followed by a noun phrase?
    1. Despite she’s a millionaire, she lives in a small house.
    2. Despite he was an old person, he won the race.

    «Apart from» introduces an exception, not a surprise.

    Hmm.. it’s really difficult to find a phrase that explains the meaning, despite the ones that can be found in dictionaries which don’t help the students at all.
    My question arose by a desire to explain it in a much better way to my students.

    TL

    Last edited: Jul 7, 2017

    Tenacious Learner


    • #4

    Hi again,
    What do you think about my reasoning?
    3. Trains are still running despite the snow. (The situation «trains are still running» is surprising because of the fact of «the snow»)
    4. He got the job despite his prison record. (The situation «he got the job» is surprising because of the fact of «his prison record»)
    The result in both of them «trains are still running/he got the job» are opposed to the expected logic, aren’t they? Then that’s why they are surprising.

    TL

    Cenzontle


    • #5

    Your (3) and (4) are good, but not (1) and (2).
    «Despite» needs a noun phrase after it.
    «She’s a millionaire» is an independent clause. To use it with «despite» you would have to say «Despite the fact that she’s a millionaire,…»

    Tenacious Learner


    • #6

    «Despite» needs a noun phrase after it.
    «She’s a millionaire» is an independent clause.

    Got it, Cen. Noun phrases are always dependent words.
    A phrase is a collection of words that may have nouns or verbals, but it does not have a subject doing a verb.

    TL

    Cenzontle


    • #7

    A phrase is a

    collection

    string, ordered series of words that may have nouns or verbals, but it

    does not have a subject doing a verb

    .

    Well, the «subject doing a verb» makes it a clause, and some clauses do the work of a noun phrase, so you can call them noun clauses.
    In «He told me the news«, «the news» is obviously a noun phrase.
    In «He told me that she’s a millionaire«, «that she’s a millionaire» has the same function as «the news», so it also is a noun phrase.
    Since it has a subject and a predicate, it is also a noun clause.
    For me, a noun clause is one kind of noun phrase.

    kentix


    • #8

    «Despite» in your sentences 1 & 2 needs «the fact that».

    The best substitute for «despite the fact that» is «even though«.

    1. Despite the fact that [Even though] she’s a millionaire, she lives in a small house.
    2. Despite the fact that [Even though] he was an old person, he won the race.

    Even though it is the case that this one fact would lead you to believe <some particular thing> is true, surprisingly, it’s not true.

    1. Even though (it’s true that) she’s a millionaire (and therefore you would expect her to live in a big house), she lives in a small house.

    Last edited: Jul 8, 2017

    lentulax


    • #9

    also possible : ‘Despite being a millionaire…’ ; Despite being an old man …’

    Well, the «subject doing a verb» makes it a clause, and some clauses do the work of a noun phrase, so you can call them noun clauses.
    In «He told me the news«, «the news» is obviously a noun phrase.
    In «He told me that she’s a millionaire«, «that she’s a millionaire» has the same function as «the news», so it also is a noun phrase.
    Since it has a subject and a predicate, it is also a noun clause.
    For me, a noun clause is one kind of noun phrase.

    Sorry , but this seems confusing : your first sentence distinguishes (correctly) between a phrase and a clause, and your last suggests that the latter is simply a sub-class of the former! A phrase is several words without a finite verb which fulfil the function of a single word ((pro-)noun,adjective,adverb), a (subordinate) clause is several words including a finite verb (verb with subject) which do the same (I simplify a little) : ‘He told me the facts’ (noun) ; ‘He told me the bare facts of the matter’ (noun phrase); ‘He told me what he knew’ (noun clause) . In general, a noun, noun phrase or noun clause have the same grammatical functions — e.g. subject of a verb, object of a verb, object of a preposition etc. It is quite logical, TL, to suppose that if you can say ‘Despite the snow’ and ‘ Despite his appalling employment record’, you should be able to say ‘Despite (that) she’s a millionaire’ — but you can’t. The fact is (someone else may be able to explain it) that noun clauses that begin with ‘What’ can be used as subject or object of a verb , or object of a preposition, but noun clauses beginning with ‘that’ , whilst they can be subject or object of a verb, don’t function as object of a preposition.

    • #10

    Noun phrases are noun phrases, and noun clauses are noun clauses.
    (It reminds me of the poem «Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.»)

    The fact that a that-noun clause can appear in the same place as a noun phrase doesn’t mean that the that-clause is a kind of noun phrase. It simply means that both noun clause and noun phrase can function as argument («direct object») of a verb in sentence structure: He told me the news/that she’s a millionaire.

    Yes, I’ve also read that clauses beginning with «that» can’t follow a preposition, but this view (quite prevalent in traditional grammar) is questioned by (some? many? most?) modern linguists. For them, several words that are labeled as «conjunctions» in traditional grammar are actually prepositions, and some can indeed be followed by noun phrases and that-clauses:

    (a) He’s not a bad tennis player, considering his handicap
    (b) He’s not a bad tennis player, considering that he is blind

    Traditional grammar says considering is a preposition in (a) and a conjunction in (b); the distinction being that there’s a clause in (b). Linguists argue that having two explanations/labels for the use of the same word in the same sentence is problematic; it’s like syntax by hocus pocus: now you see a preposition, now you see a conjunction. More to the point, a word doesn’t change from preposition to conjunction just because the complement that follows changes (from a noun phrase to a that-clause). A simpler view is that considering is a preposition, and it can take a noun phrase and a that-clause as complement. Other such prepositions include except, supposing, providing, etc.

    So, yes, a that-clause can function as the object of a preposition, but to come to this conclusion you have to look past traditional grammar.

    Tenacious Learner


    • #11

    Thank you all for your replies and teaching. I do appreciate them.
    Could anyone tell me if my reasonings in post # 4 are correct, please?

    TL

    • #12

    Hi again,
    What do you think about my reasoning?
    3. Trains are still running despite the snow. (The situation «trains are still running» is surprising because of the fact of «the snow»)
    4. He got the job despite his prison record. (The situation «he got the job» is surprising because of the fact of «his prison record»)
    The result in both of them «trains are still running/he got the job» are opposed to the expected logic, aren’t they? Then that’s why they are surprising.

    TL

    Yes, in (3) and (4) despite point to the idea of «surprise.» «Despite» means that what follows is not an obstacle for what was previously mentioned; so, in (3), «the snow» does not interfere with the «trains running,» as might be expected (and the unfulfilled expectation is how we get the idea of «surprising»).

    Tenacious Learner


    • #13

    Yes, in (3) and (4) despite point to the idea of «surprise.» «Despite» means that what follows is not an obstacle for what was previously mentioned; so, in (3), «the snow» does not interfere with the «trains running,» as might be expected (and the unfulfilled expectation is how we get the idea of «surprising»).

    Thanks for your help and explanations.
    I just found this phrase «without being affected by» to explain «despite» and so far, to me, it is the easiest and most understandable one I have found to my students.
    What do you think?

    Examples:
    1. Despite (without being affected by) his cold words, he’d left a present for her on the nightstand near her bed.
    2. Our vacation was a lot of fun, despite (without being affected by) the cold weather.
    3. He still loves her, despite (without being affected by) the fact that her bad habits drive him crazy.
    4. Carol felt no pity for him, despite (without being affected by) the circumstances.

    TL

    • #14

    Thanks for your help and explanations.
    I just found this phrase «without being affected by» to explain «despite» and so far, to me, it is the easiest and most understandable one I have found to my students.
    What do you think?

    Examples:
    1. Despite (without being affected by) his cold words, he’d left a present for her on the nightstand near her bed.
    2. Our vacation was a lot of fun, despite (without being affected by) the cold weather.
    3. He still loves her, despite (without being affected by) the fact that her bad habits drive him crazy.
    4. Carol felt no pity for him, despite (without being affected by) the circumstances.

    TL

    Sure, that works; without being affected by = not an obstacle.

    Florentia52


    • #15

    «Without being affected by» changes the meaning of your sentences, and cannot be substituted for «despite.» The cold weather probably affected our vacation very much, but it was still a lot of fun.

    [Cross-posted with SevenDays. «Not an obstacle» is better, to my mind, than «without being affected by.»]

    Tenacious Learner


    • #16

    Sure, that works; without being affected by = not an obstacle.

    Got it, SevenDays. :) I was looking for days for one that makes sense and I suddenly found this phrase.

    TL

    «Without being affected by» changes the meaning of your sentences, and cannot be substituted for «despite.» The cold weather probably affected our vacation very much, but it was still a lot of fun.

    [Cross-posted with SevenDays. «Not an obstacle» is better, to my mind, than «without being affected by.»]

    Thanks for your opinion and interest, Florentia. :)
    Does «without being affected by» change that much the meaning of my sentences?

    TL

    Last edited: Jul 9, 2017

    wandle


    • #17

    ‘Despite’ does not mean ‘apart from’ and it does not mean ‘without being affected by’.

    I believe, despite is used to link two situations and show a contrast between them. In other words, we use it to introduce a fact which makes the other part of the sentence surprising.

    ‘Surprising’ is too weak an expression.
    ‘Despite’ means ‘in spite of’ and that means ‘notwithstanding’: it expresses a sense of direct opposition between the two ideas.

    ‘Despite his tiredness, he crossed the finishing line first’.

    In other words: ‘Directly contrary to what you would expect from someone so tired, he crossed the finishing line first’.

    Last edited: Jul 9, 2017

    Tenacious Learner


    • #18

    Despite’ does not mean mean ‘without being affected by’.

    Hi wandle,
    I found that definition on an online dictionary.
    Improve Your Writing skills

    ‘Surprising’ is too weak an expression.
    ‘Despite’ means ‘in spite of’ and that means ‘notwithstanding’: it expresses a sense of direct opposition between the two ideas.

    Right. But those two are impossible to be understood to my students.
    That’s why I had decided to use «without being affected by» along with the explanations in my post #4.
    Are they that bad?
    TL

    Last edited: Jul 9, 2017

    wandle


    • #19

    I found that definition on an online dictionary.
    Improve Your Writing skills

    It is quite wrong as a definition. It might work as a substitute phrase in a particular context, but it is not a definition because it does not give a basic meaning applicable in all or a range of cases.

    I would strongly advise against telling students, if they do not grasp the true definition, that it means something else instead.

    If they do not understand the true definitions, ‘in spite of’ or ‘notwithstanding’, there would seem to be three options: (1) teach them the meaning of those expressions first; (2) without attempting to do option (1), give them those expressions nevertheless, but with examples and explanations and let them learn the definition from the examples ; (3) give them the Spanish translation (according to WR English Spanish Dictionary it is a pesar de).

    Last edited: Jul 10, 2017

    • #20

    1. Despite being a millionaire, she lives in a small house.
    2. Despite being an old person, he won the race.
    Are these sentences OK?

    Tenacious Learner


    • #21

    If they do not understand the true definitions, ‘in spite of’ or ‘notwithstanding’, there would seem to be three options: (1) teach them the meaning of those expressions first

    I believe, the following explanations make sense:
    1. Despite his cold words, he’d left a present for her on the nightstand near her bed. (The situation «he’d left a present for her on the nightstand near her bed» is surprising because of the fact of «his cold words»)
    2. Our vacation was a lot of fun, despite the cold weather. (The situation «Our vacation was a lot of fun» is surprising because of the fact of «the cold weather»)
    3. Trains are still running despite the snow. (The situation «trains are still running» is surprising because of the fact of «the snow»)
    4. He got the job despite his prison record. (The situation «he got the job» is surprising because of the fact of «his prison record»)

    (2) without attempting to do option (1), give them those expressions nevertheless, but with examples and explanations and let them learn the definition from the examples ; (3) give them the Spanish translation (according to WR English Spanish Dictionary it is a pesar de).

    Thanks for the advice.

    TL

    wandle


    • #22

    I believe, the following explanations make sense …. is surprising …

    I would only say again that ‘surprising’ is a definite understatement.

    Tenacious Learner


    • #23

    I would only say again that ‘surprising’ is a definite understatement.

    OK. It is a definite understatement, but I believe, it may grasp somehow an understanding. Translation is always my last option.

    I believe the humble «but» also works as an explanation.
    Example:
    Their vacation was a lot of fun, despite the cold weather.
    Explanation:
    They had a vacation by the sea. It rained a lot, but they had a lot of fun.

    TL

    wandle


    • #24

    ‘Despite’ is also stronger than ‘but’.

    It is a definite understatement, but I believe, it may grasp somehow an understanding.

    Given that ‘surprising’ is an understatement, why not use the stronger expression offered in post 17?

    Directly contrary to what you would expect

    Translation is always my last option.

    It is still better than something misleading, is it not?

    Last edited: Jul 10, 2017

    Tenacious Learner


    • #25

    ‘Despite’ is stronger than ‘but’.

    OK. Thanks for all your help and time.

    TL

    Tenacious Learner


    • #26

    Given that ‘surprising’ is an understatement, why not use the stronger expression offered in post 17?

    Too difficult to the students.

    Translation is still better than something misleading, is it not?

    It is, it sure is. I just want to try something else before arriving to that point.

    TL

    wandle


    • #27

    Too difficult to the students.

    ‘Directly contrary to what you would expect’ is too difficult? That was my idea of something obvious.

    I avoided saying ‘directly contrary to expectation’, but the abstract noun may in fact be easier for speakers of a Romance language.

    Tenacious Learner


    • #28

    ‘Directly contrary to what you would expect’ is too difficult? That was my idea of something obvious.

    I avoided saying ‘directly contrary to expectation’, but the abstract noun may in fact be easier for speakers of a Romance language.

    Despite’ means ‘in spite of’ and that means ‘notwithstanding’

    So sorry, what I took from post 17 was the part above.
    I should have taken this explanation:

    ‘Directly contrary to what you would expect’ is too difficult? That was my idea of something obvious.

    I avoided saying ‘directly contrary to expectation’, but the abstract noun may in fact be easier for speakers of a Romance language.

    It is easier, without a doubt. Will it also work for «although» + subject + verb?

    TL

    Last edited: Jul 10, 2017

    wandle


    • #29

    Will it also work for «although» + subject + verb?

    I hesitate to recommend transferring such a formula from one expression to another.
    Apart from anything else, ‘although’ is less strong. ‘Despite’ creates the sense that one thing works directly against the other. ‘Although’ creates a contrast.

    Florentia52


    • #30

    1. Despite being a millionaire, she lives in a small house.
    2. Despite being an old person, he won the race.
    Are these sentences OK?

    We can’t review entire sentences for errors, and you haven’t given us any context that would help us tell you whether the sentences mean what you want them to mean, but your use of «despite» appears to be grammatically correct.

    Tenacious Learner


    • #31

    I hesitate to recommend transferring such a formula from one expression to another.
    Apart from anything else, ‘although’ is less strong. ‘Despite’ creates the sense that one thing works directly against the other. ‘Although’ creates a contrast.

    Thanks for this one too, wandle.

    TL

    1. Despite the fact that she was wearing a seat belt, she was thrown sharply forward.

    2. She’s taking her children on holiday, despite the fact that school starts tomorrow.

    3. She went to Spain despite the fact that her doctor had told her to rest.

    4. Despite the fact that she is short, she is an excellent basketball player.

    5. He refused to help me, despite the fact that I asked him several times.

    6. She was good at physics despite the fact that she found it boring.

    7. All three diabetic patients had a satisfactory outcome despite the fact that one of them has severe autonomic neuropathy.

    8. A 15,000 crowd created a soccer-style atmosphere despite the fact that the tourists fielded essentially their second team.

    8. Sentencedict.com try its best to gather and build good sentences.

    9. This despite the fact that the eventual outcomes, nationalism and defence of territory, are quite similar.

    10. He refused to help me despite the fact that I’ve done many things for him.

    11. Despite the fact that Johannesburg is situated some 5,000 feet above sea level, I felt comfortable.

    12. Despite the fact that I was petrified with fear, I was st ill their leader.

    13. Adams expressed her preference for New York, despite the fact that she’s lived in California for six years.

    14. Not very, despite the fact that gas can substitute 50-80% of diesel oil.

    15. McGee made his decision despite the fact that no one has been seriously injured since the range opened 44 years ago.

    16. He did better junior year, despite the fact that he spent nearly all of it arguing with the priests.

    17. Despite the fact that the conclusions are wrong, we can interpret this as the product of a scientific mind at work.

    18. She took the opportunity despite the fact that many of her colleagues let her know that they judged her disloyal.

    19. Similarly, all feelings should be considered valid, despite the fact that they may upset other group members.

    20. The first half looks like an even match, despite the fact that Oregon is not playing well.

    21. First, how is successful communication possible despite the fact that many utterances produced are incomplete, elliptical or linguistically ill-formed?

    22. She felt suddenly more secure despite the fact that she was flanked by men with knives.

    23. Almost 13,000 flocked to the rain-soaked Gloucestershire course, despite the fact that outdated Sunday trading laws kept the bookmakers at home.

    24. She and Charles worked hard and, despite the fact that they were pursuing the same course, without rivalry.

    25. The interview had gone well and, despite the fact that there had been three other candidates, the job was hers.

    26. The government remains reluctant actively to support or encourage women’s employment despite the fact that women’s employment is growing steadily.

    27. Lorin said he and his sister make a good team, despite the fact that they sometimes argue.

    28. It is a well-documented fact that guys will not ask for directions. This is a biological thing. This is why it takes several million sperm cells… to locate a female egg, despite the fact that the egg is, relative to them, the size of Wisconsin. Dave Barry 

    29. Truman was not prepared to do so as yet, despite the fact that in general he fully supported Acheson.

    30. In the second, nervous disorders have no effect on absenteeism, despite the fact that they are caused by poor jobs.

    What’s the difference between despite, in spite of and although?

    The meaning is basically the same, but you need to think about the words which come after them.

    I went to work although I didn’t feel very well.

    I went to work despite / in spite of feeling a bit sick.

    I went to work despite / in spite of my headache.

     is a preposition. It is always followed by a noun or verb+ing (the noun form of a verb).

     is a conjunction. It is used in a sentence with two clauses (subject + verb + conjunction + subject + verb).

    After despite and in spite of, you can use just one noun (e.g. winning), or a longer noun phrase (e.g. his team winning the match for the third time). There is no difference between despite and in spite of.

    Despite winning, Fred still didn’t feel happy.

    Despite his team winning the match for the third time, Fred still didn’t feel happy.

    Despite the fact that … and in spite of the fact that … are used in the same way as although:

    Many people still smoke, despite the fact that it is known to cause cancer.

    Many people still smoke, although it is known to cause cancer.

    You can use although, despite and in spite of in the middle of the sentence or at the start. If you use them at the beginning, put a comma (,) in the middle.

    In spite of his age, he is very fit.

    He’s very fit in spite of his age.

    Practice 1

    Choose the best word(s) to complete these sentences. You will need to decide if it’s a noun phrase (after despite) or a clause (after although).


    Practice 2

    Choose the best word to complete these sentences.

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