很多人写英文的文件或是作文时，常犯的其中一种错误叫做“中式英文”，而这种问题通常源自于字义解释上的模糊，而这种状况就是有很多个英文单字，用中文翻译起来是一样的意思。在这些字中，最让人混淆的就是 though / although / even though / despite / in spite of，这五个的英文意思都是“虽然…”，但是其中还是有一些不同之处，因此，英文老师 介绍了如何分辨这一组相似字。

一般来说，我们会将 though / although / even though 放在同一类，而 despite / in spite of 则放在一起。

1. though / although / even though + 副词子句（S + V）

though：这是一个相对不正式的用法，除了放在句首，也可以放在句末。

although：它和 though 是一样的意思，也有近乎一模一样的用法，但是要注意的是，although 不可以放在句末。

even though：可以看到这个词组多了一个字「even」，特别强调所连接的副词子句，语意上通常用在强调「（落空的）期待」。

2. despite / in spite of + 名词

despite 与 in spite of 的用法与语意基本上完全一样，这两个可以互相代换。 

e.g Although the exam was difficult, I think I did well.

= I think I did well although the exam was difficult.

although 可以放在句首或是句中，但是要注意放在句中实，前面不需要打上逗号。

e.g I think I did well though the exam was difficult.

= Though the exam was difficult, I think I did well.

= The exam was difficult. I think I did well, though.

though 与 although 用法一样，但是 though 可以放在句尾，要注意的是，如果要把 though 放在句尾，前面主要子句以及副词子句必须拆成两个独立的完整句子。

e.g Even though the exam was easy, I failed.

这裡可以看到使用 even though 时，特别强调“（落空的）期待”。

e.g Despite his best efforts, the man just couldn’t succeed.

= The man just couldn’t succeed despite his best efforts.

= In spite of his best efforts, the man just couldn’t succeed.

= The man just couldn’t succeed in spite of his best efforts.

despite 与 in spite of 用法一样，可以放句首或句中，后面接上名词。

e.g Despite being on time to the lecture, we were still not admitted.

因为 despite / in spite of 词性是介係词，后面只能接上名词或是动名词。