in spite

Status
Not open for further replies.

muddled

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Slovenian
Home Country
Slovenia
Current Location
Slovenia
Dear teacher,

can in spite be used in the following way:

''It is said that some ice creams cause diarrhoea. In spite, I shall have one anyway.''

Thanks!
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
No.

You always need to say in spite of.

'In spite of that, I shall have one anyway.'
 

muddled

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Slovenian
Home Country
Slovenia
Current Location
Slovenia
Thank you Rover,

so, in spite (without "of"), as I understood, does not exist.
However, using despite is correct, right? Thus:

"Despite, I shall have one anyway."

Thanks.
 

shannico

Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2011
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Italian
Home Country
Italy
Current Location
Italy
In spite and despite are prepositions. As such they can be followed by nouns, pronouns or a gerund.

In spite of that/Despite that I shall have one all the same.

or
you could use adverbs such as

However/Nevertheless I will have one all the same.

Hope its clear.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
You could more simply say

''It is said that some ice creams cause diarrhoea, but I shall have one anyway.''

Rover
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Off point, but I'm curious: Would a BrE speaker say "ice creams"?
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
In that context, I think "ice creams" is the proper choice. Like "fishes."

The ice cream you buy in the store, labeled as "Nestle" is OK. The homemade ice cream you buy from the guy with the bicycle cart in Mexico may not be. Some ice creams can cause you intestinal problems.
 

muddled

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Slovenian
Home Country
Slovenia
Current Location
Slovenia
OK, I think I got it.

However, in spite and despite - alone, without ''of''/''that'' - are NEVER used in English?
Or there are cases when they can be used?

Many thanks to all of you!
 

SlickVic9000

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
(Not a Teacher)

No, they never come alone. On another note, "spite" as a noun means maliciousness or hatred. As a verb, it means to annoy or inconvenience someone out of ill will.

"My boss refused to give me a recommendation out of spite."
"My ex-husband called the police out to my house once just to spite me."
 

muddled

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Slovenian
Home Country
Slovenia
Current Location
Slovenia
Many thanks!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top