Before you start reading this article, ask yourself how to say "despite" in English. You are not mistaken if you answered despite, in spite of. The difference between them is quite subtle and at the same time significant. For those who find it difficult to answer this question, this article is dedicated.
Remember a simple tip: when you need to say "despite", in Russian, we use two words, and in English - either one or three. Thus, despite - two words in Russian.
BUT: one word or a stable bunch of three in English. Consider the basic rules for using these prepositions.
Usage rules and examples
The basic rule is that after in spite of or despite you can not use a full sentence (We have slept). What should I say?
- Noun. For example: I went for shopping in spite of / despite the snow. I went shopping despite the snow (the snow is a noun).
- The so-called "ing" form (in other words - gerund). For example: We came very rapidly in spite of stopping by police. - We arrived very quickly despite the fact thatthe police stopped us. (stopping- gerund).
- Expression the fact that… For example: Sam passed the hard exam in spite of / despite the fact that he was very irresponsible. Sam passed a tough exam despite being irresponsible. These are the most important rules for using these prepositions.
These two prepositions express some kind of surprise or surprise, in contrast to although.
It is important to remember that a complete sentence (in which there is a predicate and a subject) cannot go after these prepositions.
You can't say: Despite she is rich, she never spends much money.
The following variant should be used: Despite being rich, she never spends much money. Although she was rich, she never spent much money. This is the correct form of using these prepositions.
Note: The word despite can also be a noun, and is translated into Russian as "malice" or "anger". There are many set expressions with this word in English.
Let's try to translate the sentence:
- Sam is thirsty in spite of / despite five glasses of Coca-Cola that he has drunk. Sam was thirsty despite drinking five glasses of Coca-Cola.
- Sam is thirsty in spite of / despite drinking five glasses of Coca-Cola.
- Sam is thirsty in spite of / despite the fact (that) he's drunk five glasses of Coca-Cola.
Despite, in spite of - difference in meaning,essentially missing.
In spite of the hard wind, I enjoyed my vacations. – Despite the strong wind, I enjoyed my holidays (noun usage).
He was not well, but despite this he went to the shop. – He felt bad, but despite this he went to the store (use with a pronoun).
I have not got the job in spite of possessing all the necessary higher educational documents
Prepositions despite, in spite of: what's the difference in usage
The first is used in official and clerical forms of communication, and the second is more often used in colloquial speech. The difference between despite and in spite of is, firstly, in the presence of a preposition - particles of of in the preposition in spite of.
1. In spite of the cold weather, you were happy.
2. Despite the cold weather, you were happy. Despite the cold weather, you were happy. Between despite, in spite of, the difference, in fact, lies only in grammatical spelling and shades of use. It is also possible to use such phrases with that: in spite of the fact (that), as well as despite the fact (that).
Conclusion
So, let's summarize the study of this grammatical topic.
- Between despite, in spite of the difference in the presence of the particle of is the most important moment for the correct use of these prepositions.
- After given prepositionsit is necessary to use such parts of speech as a noun, gerund or pronoun (including demonstrative).
- Also, you cannot insert a full sentence after a preposition. But it is possible to use a link such as the fact that, and then it is possible to use the full construction. Thus, if you try to understand this topic, it turns out that there is nothing complicated.
