cojunctions

[easybreakable]

Could you please explain the rule to use "although" "however" "despite" "in spite" in simple terms? I tried to search for an article about it here and I couldn't find anything.

[iKitty]

NOT A TEACHER

Conjunctions.

I don't think such a page is likely to exist, as you've chosen a very specific list of conjunctions. I would suggest you look at them individually (except in spite/despite, which are related).

[5jj]

1. I felt ill, but I went into work.

2. I felt ill; I went into work, though.

3. Although I felt ill, I went into work.
I went into work, although I felt ill.
I felt ill; however, I went into work.
I felt ill; I went into work, however.

4. In spite of/despite the fact that I felt ill, I went in to work.
I went into work, in spite of/despite the fact that I felt ill
In spite of/despite feeling ill, I went into work.
I went into work, in spite of/despite feeling ill.

The sentences in #4 are rather more formal than those in #3. Those in #3 are slightly more formal than those in #1 and #2.

[easybreakable]

The TOFEL exercise are deriving me crazy, they are all alike, one single true answer and it's pretty confusing.
I thought there is a specific rule, but seemingly it depends on the common-sense.

Thank you

[5jj]

If you look at the sentences I posted, you will see that each of the words appears in only one or two positions.

These sentences are models for thousands of others. You may find the words in other positions, but those are fairly safe.

[birdeen's call]

Try 4.4 Using concessive clauses - Page 1