Hey there! This is TOP episode 257. In Spite Of, Despite
Are you tired of lacking confidence when speaking English? Does it block you from achieving your true goals? This podcast is the place for you. This is Teacher Ola Podcast. My name’s Ola Mierniczak and I empower English learners to become confident speakers. The key to fluency is in your pocket. You’ll boost your vocabulary, brush up your grammar and improve your pronunciation. Enjoy your journey to fluency!
Hello and welcome! Today we’re refreshing one tiny grammar point. I really like to teach small nuggets so that you can drill it and implement it automatically. So that’s exactly what we’ll be doing today. We’ll be drilling two alternative phrases: ‘in spite of’ and ‘despite’. Drilling means practising one element for some time. Until we feel confident using it. Intensive and mindful training yet super effective. But first…
Let me remind you that you can watch a video-lesson titled “How to Stop Translating in Your Head”. Sign up if you haven’t yet at teacherola.com/lekcja. Ok! Let’s get back to the episode!
The phrase “in spite of” (these are three words in spite of) is used to show contrast. It means something happens even though there is a challenge, obstacle, or something that might prevent it. It’s similar to saying “despite.” Both “in spite of” and “despite” mean the same thing: they show that something happens even though there is a challenge or obstacle. “Despite” is slightly more formal than “in spite of,” but both are common and used in similar situations. If you’re more comfortable with one, just stick to it! Both are correct and interchangeable.
Remember one thing. “Despite” has no “of”, ok? We say:
Despite the noise.
In spite of = has “of”
In spite of the noise.
Once again, please focus:
Despite the noise.
In spite of the noise.
Understanding these small differences will make your English sound smoother and more natural. Keep practising, and you’ll get the hang of it!
“In spite of” and “despite” is followed by a noun, pronoun, or -ing verb.
Let’s analyse these cases one by one, we’re not in a rush. First of all a noun:
In spite of the rain, we went for a walk.
Despite the rain, we went for a walk.
Next. A pronoun:
But despite it all, I really think you should join us.
But in spite of it all, I really think you should join us.
Lastly, the -ing form:
She kept running in spite of being exhausted.
She kept running despite being exhausted.
Once again. Use “in spite of” or “despite” when you want to show that something happened, even though there was a reason for it not to.
Let’s practise!! Listen and repeat out loud:
In spite of the traffic, we arrived on time.
He passed the exam despite not studying much.
In spite of the cold weather, they went swimming.
She smiled despite her sadness.
In spite of being busy, he called his friend.
The cake was delicious despite its plain appearance.
They enjoyed the trip in spite of the rain.
Despite his injury, he played the game.
She went to the party in spite of feeling sick.
The baby slept peacefully despite the noise.
That’s it for the day! I’m sure you refreshed or clarified your knowledge about ‘despite’ and ‘in spite of’. If you did, please help me reach other people who need English. You can give me 5 stars on Spotify, write a review on iTunes, comment on YouTube. Subscribe if you haven’t yet! It’ll take a second. Don’t forget to download the Worksheet. If you’re a member of TOPeople you already get my newsletter with the pdfs. If not, go and grab it at teacherola.com/257.
I love you, I believe in you, I know you can be fluent in English if you really want it. I’ll be back next week. Stay fearless, say it out loud and take care! I’m your teacher, Teacher Ola, and you were listening to Teacher Ola Podcast. Bye for now.