ENGLISH
REFERENCE

in spite of sth

prep. phr..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

prep. phr.. you use this to say that something happens even though there is something else that might prevent it.

prep. phr.. a complex preposition used to introduce a concessive clause, indicating that an action or event occurs regardless of a counter-factor.


SIMPLE

We went for a walk in spite of the rain.

CONTEXTUAL

He managed to pass the exam in spite of his lack of preparation and constant distractions.

COMPLEX

The company reported record profits in spite of the global economic downturn and significant supply chain disruptions.

Usage

always followed by a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund phrase.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'despite', which has the same meaning but is a single word; students often incorrectly add 'of' to 'despite' because of this phrase.

Pitfall

In spite of he was tired, he worked.In spite of being tired, he worked.this phrase must be followed by a noun or gerund, not a full subject-verb clause.

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