In spite of / despite / although

Question

I'm having some problems about the use of conjunctions, prepositions and phrasal verbs in English.

Could you help me, please, to clarify my doubts about this issue?

For example:

I couldn't sleep _____ very tired

I have to choose between:

despite I was

despite of being

in spite of being

although I was

although being

and I have no idea. I'm not able to choose the good one nor understand why the others are wrong. I'm really confused!

Thanks in advance!

I'm not able to choose the good nor understand why the others are wrong. - Stadt, Oct 3, 2010

Although I was sounds best. - kenwilliams, Oct 3, 2010

Thank you!! I also have a lot of problems with -ing and to! - cogumela, Oct 3, 2010

Answer 1

In spite of / despite / although

Hola cogamela, qué tal vas? Here are some thoughts about these confusing phrases.

In spite of is a prepostitional phrase that can really only be used in two ways: 1, In spite of the fact that I was very tired, I stayed awake. This can be shortened as follows: 2, In spite of being very tired, I stayed awake.

The preposition despite is used in a similar way. You could say 1, Despite the fact that I was very tired, I stayed awake. Which would often be shortened to: 2, Despite being very tired, I stayed awake.

The conjunction although has a much wider use, which can include the meaning you intend: 1, Although I was very tired, I stayed awake.

As to your other suggestions: "Despite I was" is incorrect in English. Despite is used as noted above. "Despite of being" is also not correct, one says "Despite being". "Although being" is also not used. Used in this way "although" takes the conjugated verb form, "Although I was", "although he is" etc.

Qué esto ayude,

J

Ayuda, y mucho. Thank you! - cogumela, Oct 3, 2010

Answer 2

I would say "in spite of being" but "despite being" and "although I was tired" could also be used.

But don't use despite of being - Stadt, Oct 3, 2010

NO - ian-hill, Oct 3, 2010

Thanks! - cogumela, Oct 3, 2010

Answer 3

I would choose these two:

I couldn't sleep in spite of being very tired. I couldn't sleep although I was very tired.

Both are correct English grammar.

In addition, you could say:

I couldn't sleep despite being very tired. (Don't use the word of in this case.)

Thanks! - cogumela, Oct 3, 2010

Answer 4

Hello "cogumela" I got this for you:

I couldn't sleep in spite of being very tired.

I couldn't sleep despite being very tired.

I couldn't sleep although I was very tired.

in spite of----- despite-----although are synonyms.

Thanks! This helps! - cogumela, Oct 3, 2010