CLAUSES OF CONTRAST
(MỆNH ĐỀ TƯƠNG PHẢN)
Clauses of contrast are used to express a contrast. They are introduced with:
but – although / even though / though – in spite of / despite – however
yet – while / whereas – nevertheless, etc.
♦ but e.g. She had a cold, but she went to work.
♦ although / even though / though + clause
Even though is more emphatic than although.
Though is usually used in everyday speech and can also be put at the end of a sentence.
e.g. – Although / Even though /Though she had a cold, she went to work.
- She went to work although / even though / though she had a cold.
- She had a cold. She went to work, though.
♦ in spite of / despite + noun /-ing form
e.g. - In spite of / Despite the bad weather, they sat in the garden. (NOT: Despite of the bad ...)
- They sat in the garden in spite of / despite the weather being bad.
♦ in spite of / despite the fact that + clause
e g. In spite of / Despite the fact (that) the weather was bad, they sat in the garden.
♦ however / nevertheless A comma is always used after however / nevertheless.
e.g. - He was well-qualified for the job. However / Nevertheless, he didn't get it.
♦ while / whereas
e g. - Your flat is big, while/whereas mine is small.
♦ yet (formal) e.g. - Tom ran well, yet he lost.
PRACTICE
I. Sue and Jane have just returned from a party. They are discussing what happened. Make
sentences using the prompts below, as in the example.
Sue: The music was brilliant.
Jane: (it / be / a bit loud)
1) It was a bit loud, though.
Sue: Tracy looked wonderful.
Jane: (I / not like / her dress)
2) ..........................................................
Sue: There were so many people there!
Jane: (they / not be / very friendly)
3) ...........................................................
Sue: We had wonderful food.
Jane: (it / be a bit cold)
4) ..........................................................
Sue: The atmosphere was fantastic.
Jane: (it / be / too dark)
5) ...........................................................
II. Rewrite the sentences using the word(s) in brackets.
1. Your car is new and fast. My car is old and slow. (while)
Your car is new and fast, while my car is old and slow.
2. He went to bed early. He was tired the next day. (yet)
…………………………………………………………
3. The Smiths go on holiday to Spain. The Millers go to Switzerland. (whereas)
…………………………………………………………
4. He had passed his exams. He couldn't find a good job. (although)
…………………………………………………………
5. They ate all the food. It was tasteless. (in spite of)
…………………………………………………………

6. The performance was bad. Everyone applauded at the end. (nevertheless)
…………………………………………………………
7. We had a map. We got lost. (though)
…………………………………………………………
8. He didn't go back to work. He felt better. (despite)
…………………………………………………………
III. Choose the correct answer.
1. ...C... being shy, Jim gave a speech at the concert.
A. However
B. Yet
C. Despite
2. .........he hated shopping, he went to the supermarket.
A. However
B. Even though
C. While
3. Jane works very hard,.......Kate is lazy.
A. whereas
B. even though
C. despite
4. This car is fast,..........it is also very noisy.
A. despite
B. but
C. in spite
5. She likes Peter. She doesn't like his brother.......
A. whereas
B. but
C. though
6. .........the rain, the football match went ahead.
A. In spite of
B. However
C. While
7. .........of being tired, Jeff went to the party.
A. In spite
B. Despite
C. Although
8. .........his poverty, he donated much more than others in the company.
A. Though
B. However
C. Despite
IV. Complete the sentences.
1. In spite of the heavy traffic, I got to work on time.
Although the traffic was heavy, I get to work on time.
2. Despite winning the race, Sam still wasn't happy.
Even though.....................................................................
3. Although it rains a lot in England, I love living there.
Despite..............................................................................
4. Even though Tom is a qualified doctor, he doesn't have a job.
In spite..............................................................................
5 Despite the fact that I was hungry, I didn't eat anything.
Even though….....................................................................
6. Even though he was ill, Jim went to work.
Despite...............................................................................
7. In spite of losing her job, she didn't get depressed.
Although.............................................................................
8. Although he doesn't like his boss, he works very hard.
In spite.................................................................................
9. Even though it is very cold, she is only wearing a Tshirt.
Despite.................................................................................
10. In spite of her busy schedule, she makes time for her children.
Even though.......................................................................
V. Rephrase the sentences in as many ways as possible, as in the example.
1. Tom is clever. He doesn't work hard at school.
a) Although / Even though Tom is clever, he doesn't work hard at school.
b) In spite of / Deepite (his) being clever, Tom doesn't work hard at school.

c) Tom is clever. He doesn't work hard at school, though.
d) In spite of / Despite the fact that Tom is clever, he doesn't work hard at echool.
e) Tom is clever. However, he doesn't work hard at school...., etc.
2. The dress is very beautiful. It is very expensive.
3. There weren't many people at the party. We had a lovely time.
4. Sue is a good friend. I don't tell her all my secrets.
5. She had many friends. She felt lonely.
6. He studied French at school. He doesn't remember any.
7. The meeting lasted three hours. No one was bored.
8. It was cold outside. The sun was shining.
ANSWER KEY
I. 2. I didn't like her dress, though.
3. They weren't very friendly, though.
4. It was a bit cold, though.
5. It was too dark, though.
II. 2. He went to bed early, yet he was tired the next day.
3. The Smiths go on holiday to Spain, whereas the Millers go to Switzerland./
Whereas the Smiths go on holiday to Spain, the Millers go to Switzerland.
4. Although he had passed his exams, he couldn't find a good job./He couldn't find a good job
although he had passed his exams.
5. They ate all the food, in spite of it/its being tasteless./In spite of the food being tasteless, they
ate it all./They ate all the food, in spite of the fact that it was tasteless./ln spite of the fact that
the food was tasteless, they ate it all.
6. The performance was bad. Nevertheless, everyone applauded at the end.
7. We had a map. We got lost, though./We got lost, though we had a map./Though we had a map,
we got lost.
8. He didn't go back to work despite (his) feeling better./Despite (his) feeling better, he didn't go
back to work./He didn't go back to work despite the fact (that) he felt better./Despite the fact
(that) he felt better, he didn't go back to work.
III. 2 B 3 A 4 B 5 C 6 A 7 A
IV. 2. he had won the race, Sam still wasn't happy.
3. the fact that it rains a lot in England, I love living there./the rain in England, I love living
there./the rain, I love living in England.
4. of (his) being a qualified doctor, Tom doesn't have a job./of the fact that Tom is a qualified
doctor, he doesn't have a job.
5. I was hungry, I didn't eat anything.
6. (his) being ill/the fact that he was ill, Jim went to work.
7. she had lost her job, she didn't get depressed.
8. of the fact that he doesn't like his boss/of (his) not liking his boss, he works very
hard.
9. the fact that it is very cold/it/its being very cold, she is only wearing a T-shirt.
10. she has a busy schedule, she makes time for her children.
V. 2. a) The dress is very beautiful. It is very expensive, though.
b) The dress is very beautiful. However / Nevertheless, it is very expensive.
c) Although/Even though/Though the dress is very beautiful, it is very expensive.
d) The dress is very beautiful but/yet it is very expensive.
e) The dress is very expensive. It is very beautiful though.
3. a) Although/Even though there weren't many people at the party, we had a lovely time.

b) Despite/ln spite of the fact that there weren't many people at the party, we had a lovely
time.
c) There weren't many people at the party. We had a lovely time, though.
d) There weren't many people at the party. However/Nevertheless, we had a lovely time.
e) We had a lovely time at the party even though/ although/though there weren't many people
there.
f) There weren't many people at the party but we had a lovely time.
g) We had a lovely time at the party, in spite of/despite the fact that there weren't many people
there.
4. a) Although/Even though/Though Sue is a good friend, I don't tell her all my secrets.
b) I don't tell Sue all my secrets even though/ although/though she is a good friend.
c) In spite of/Despite the fact that Sue is a good friend, I don't tell her all my secrets.
d) I don't tell Sue all my secrets, in spite of/ despite the fact that she is a good friend.
e) Sue is a good friend, but/yet I don't tell her all my secrets.
f) Sue is a good friend. However/ Nevertheless, I don't tell her all my secrets.
g) Sue is a good friend. I don't tell her all my secrets, though.
5. a) Although/Even though/Though she had many friends, she felt lonely.
b) She felt lonely even though/although/ though she had many friends.
c) Despite/ln spite of the fact that she had many friends, she felt lonely.
d) Despite/ln spite of having many friends, she felt lonely.
e) She had many friends, but/yet she felt lonely.
f) She had many friends. However/ Nevertheless, she felt lonely.
g) She had many friends. She felt lonely, though.
h) She felt lonely, despite/in spite of the fact that she had many friends.
i) She felt lonely despite/in spite of having many friends.
6. a) Although/Even though/Though he studied French at school, he doesn't remember any.
b) He doesn't remember any French, even though/although/though he studied it at school.
c) Despite/ln spite of the fact that he studied French at school, he doesn't remember any.
d) Despite/ln spite of having studied French at school, he doesn't remember any.
e) He studied French at school, yet/but he doesn't remember any.
f) He studied French at school. However/Nevertheless, he doesn't remember any.
g) He studied French at school. He doesn't remember any, though.
h) He doesn't remember any French despite/in spite of the fact that he studied it at school.
i) He doesn't remember any French despite/ in spite of having studied it at school.
7. a) Although/Even though/Though the meeting lasted three hours, no one was bored.
b) No one was bored even though/ although/though the meeting lasted three hours.
c) Despite/ln spite of the fact that the meeting lasted three hours, no one was bored.
d) No one was bored, despite/in spite of the fact that the meeting lasted three hours.
e) The meeting lasted three hours, but/yet no one was bored.
f) The meeting lasted three hours. However/ Nevertheless, no one was bored.
g) The meeting lasted three hours. No one was bored, though.
8. a) Although/Even though/Though it was cold outside, the sun was shining.
b) The sun was shining even though/ although/ though it was cold outside.
c) Despite/ln spite of the fact that it was cold outside, the sun was shining.
d) The sun was shining despite/in spite of the fact that it was cold outside.
e) Despite/ln spite of it being cold outside, the sun was shining.
f) The sun was shining despite/in spite of it being cold outside.
g) It was cold outside, but/yet the sun was shining.
h) It was cold outside. However/ Nevertheless, the sun was shining.
i) It was cold outside. The sun was shining, though.