Why Though?

[pedrina]

Dear teacher,

I thought either although or though were synonims and could be used in the beginning of sentences. In your site, though, the correct answer for question 4 of the quiz on conjunctions is only "though".

http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/answers.php?id=89

Can you explain the why "although" is not an option here?

Q4 - ____ she didn't like it, I enjoyed it a lot.
Though
Although
Either could be used here.

Thanks.

Pedrina.

[Tdol]

It's a mistake on our part- sorry for that. There are times when they can't be used synonymously, though. (In this sentence, I have used 'though' in end position without a meaning similar to 'however'- you couldn't replace it with 'although')

[Touchwood]

Hi,

"There are times when they can't be used synonymously, though."

I'm not sure that there isn't a meaning of however here..........

You're right to say that it wouldn't be correct to use although at the end of this sentence, but I don't know why - it just wouldn't sound right to me.

How about -

There are times, although, when they can't be used synonymously.

Mike

[Casiopea]

In addition, historically, the adverb all was used with the conjunction "though", and often the order was reversed, producing "all though", later "although", originally an emphatic form of though. Source: randomhouse.com

"although" and "though" are often used interchangeably as a subordinating conjunction, but The Keables Guide (to Good Writing)recommends using "although" or "even though" as a [subordinating] conjunction and "though" as a transitional adverb set off by commas:

EX: Although it rained, we went on with our plans.
EX: The rain made it miserable, though, and we regretted our decision.

Source: http://www.iolani.honolulu.hi.us/Kea...A.htm#although