¿Te entran sudores fríos cada vez que necesitas utilizar las preposiciones “despite” o “in spite of”? No worries, the pain is over! Después de leer este post:
- Sabrás diferenciar a la perfección estos dos conectores en inglés.
- Impresionarás a tu profe de inglés en tu próximo examen.
- Sonarás mucho más “fancy” que tus compis de clase.
¿En qué se diferencian despite / in spite of?
¡Prácticamente en nada!
- Ambas significan: a pesar de / pese a.
- Ambas se usan para expresar contraste.
- ‘Despite’ es un poco más formal.
- ‘Despite’ nunca se utiliza delante de la preposición ‘of’.
- Son más comunes en inglés escrito que hablado. En inglés hablado, escucharás más, conectores como ‘although’, ‘however’, ‘even though’.
Are you ready? Let’s go!
¿Cómo se usan estos conectores?
Seguido de sustantivo
A pesar del viento, fuimos a pescar.
Despite the wind, we went fishing.
In spite of the wind, we went fishing.
A pesar de mi mal francés, el granjero me pudo entender.
Despite my bad French, the farmer could understand me.
In spite of my bad French, the farmer could understand me.
A pesar de los rezos, no aprobé mi examen.
Despite the prayers, I didn’t pass the exam.
In spite of the prayers, I didn’t pass the exam
Your turn!
Seguido de verbo
Oh dear! Here comes the tough part! ¿Cómo construirías un frase empezando con ‘despite’ con la siguiente información?
– She was on a diet.
– She ordered a Chinese take away.
¡Ten cuidado! No se dice…
x Despite she was on a diet, she ordered a Chinese take away.
x In spite of she was on a diet, she ordered a Chinese take away.
En inglés, “despite” e “in spite of”, nunca van directamente seguidos de una oración (sujeto + verbo + complemento). Puedes usar cualquiera de estas dos estructuras gramaticales:
1. Despite the fact that + sujeto + verbo.
✓ Despite the fact that she was on a diet, she ordered a Chinese takeaway.
✓ In spite of the fact that she was on a diet, she ordered a Chinese takeaway.
2. Despite/in spite of + verbo terminado en ing.
✓ Despite (her) being on a diet, she ordered a Chinese takeaway.
✓ In spite of (her) being on a diet, she ordered a Chinese takeaway.
¡Mira este otro ejemplo!:
A pesar de vestir fatal, tiene éxito con las mujeres.
Despite the fact that he dresses terribly, he’s successful with women.
Despite (him) dressing terribly, he’s successful with women.
Y ahora tú. Mira estas dos frases:
She is 80. She sings in a rock band.
A mitad de la frase
También se pueden utilizar estas preposiciones a mitad de la frase. Practica con estos ejemplos:
– I love England.
– The weather is awful and the food is bland.
I adore England, despite the awful weather and the bland food.
I adore England, in spite of the awful weather and the bland food.
👉🏻 I drank all the soup. It was extremely salty.
I drank all the soup, despite it being extremely salty.
I drank all the soup, in spite of it being extremely salty.
¡Recuerda!
Para añadir una oración después de “despite” o “in spite of”, simplemente debes añadir “the fact that”.
- En el caso de la segunda estructura, es opcional añadir el pronombre. Ambas formas son correctas:
– Despite dressing terribly …
– Despite him dressing terribly …
- Como te decíamos al principio, en todas estas oraciones, puedes sustituir “despite” por “in spite of”.
It’s time to test your English!
SAVE YOUR ENGLISH!
Únete a más de 100.000 estudiantes en todo el mundo y gana más fluidez en solo 7 días, entrenando con el Super English Pack.
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All right students! Hasta aquí la clase de hoy. ¡Esperamos que te haya gustado! Sigue repasando y poniendo en práctica estos conectores en tus próximas redacciones y conversaciones formales.
Si te has quedado con ganas de aprender más sobre este tema, y especialmente si te presentas este año al examen de Cambridge B2 First o C1 Advanced, no te pierdas esta clase sobre conectores avanzados en inglés.
See you in the next lesson!
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this is a very useful,simple and joy lesson .Thanks
Thank you!!! A new year together learning English with you beautiful people!!! I send you a hug from Argentina
Hi,
I think there is a problem in question 5. “Him being” will not fit after “despite the”. I think it should be “despite” only and then “him being” suggested answer will fit.
Thanks
I meaant question number 7
Hmmm… that was a really tricky one Joaquín! The grammar is correct in all of them, but only the 3rd one makes sense. 😅 I’ll tell Mr Bartlett to not be so hard on us!
1) I was late for my job interview despite the heavy traffic.
2) I was late for my interview in spite of oversleeping.
3) I was late for my interview despite leaving with plenty of time.✌️
You are grest despiste of My Bad calificación
Despite the fact of I’m looking for the mistakes in question number 6, I can´t find them! What’s wrong with the other two sentences? Thank you. Keep it up!
Despite having a good english level, I never used “despite/in spite of” in a sentence before.
haha, funny, I’m looking forward to use it in more sentences this week.
PS: Is there a typo in “Despite _________ the film twice, I decided to go back to the cinema a watch it again.”?
Oppss! Well spotted Saulo! Thank you so much! I’ve corrected it!
I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson! 🤓✌️
See you again soon!
Amazing! Im going to apply for my university next month, and they ask for a B1 English level. I didnt understand the difference between those terms. Thank you! You also helped me 6 month ago with the video of the connector to ehance my writing skills. Thanks for your videos, greating!
Awww! I’m over the moon! Thank you Evelyn! Good luck with your exam!🥳✌️
Despite the fact that I always arrive late to my home I watch your videos every week. Thank you
Apesar de ser media noche puse atencion a la clase
Despite being midnight I pay attention to the lesson
??? Am I right?
Nop, it should be “paid”
Thanks Andre! 🤓✌️
Hello! I really enjoy watching your videos!
It would be very helpful if you make a video explaining the differences between Present Perfect Simple and Past Perfect Simple!
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the idea Federica! 🤓✌️
I am so happy about your classes
Really I loved it, both of you explein very well.
Thank you
Super! Thanks Sofía! 🤓✌️
Hi! Thanks for the class, i marked (?) 9/10 and i’d like to know why the right answer is “I bought my girlfriend a diamond ring. I have no money” (it make sense but i’m confuse because “I bought my girlfriend a diamond ring despite of the fact that I have no money.” was the option i took so wich was my mistake??) I love u both so much and your videos are simply AMAZING
Hello Sebastian,
The correct form is “despite the fact that”. “Despite” is never followed by the preposition “of”. That’s the golden rule! ✌️✨👀
omg!!!!!!!! it is so obvious xd i can’t believe i failed in that one ajjaja thanks a lot! <3
Hola, yo solo tengo una duda, al usar having en presente perfecto, como “despite having drunk 10 cups of tea…”
Hola Ana,
Si usas un verbo, directamente después de “despite”, debe ir en gerundio:
A pesar de beber … 👉🏻 despite drinking
A pesar de haber bebido … 👉🏻 despite having drunk
I hope it helps!✌️
I love all the classes. thank you
Thank you so much Beatriz! 😍
10/10 Thank you, guys! BTW, British english is so sexy to hear. 😛
Awww thank you Gary! I’ll pass on your compliment to Mr Bartlett!🕺
Thank you for this class, I had had problems with these prepositions, now your video clarifies me my doubts, but I case need to practice more.
Glad to be of service María! 🤓✌️
Hi! I liked the lesson in spite of the fact that I couldn´t watch the video! It isn´t available!
I love your videos….
I´m also from Argentina.
Hi Grace! What about now? 🤓✌️
Hi! I cannot watch it, there appears the word “Error” but I could watch it in Youtube. Thank you
¡Hola! Muchas gracias por sus explicaciones. Son realmente buenas. Las más completas y agradables que he visto en Internet.
I’m over the moon with your comment Luz! Thank you so much! 😍
Despite the miserable weather i’m going for a walk.
Perfect Carol! Make sure you wrap up! 🤓✌️
Despite the fact that I studied English for 15 years, I never listen these words.
Really I studied English for a lot of time your classes help me a lot. Thank you.
I’m writing from Argentina.
Good example Micaela. But you should say “I’ve never heard these words.” 🤓✌️
Despite my lack of time I enjoy your videos a lot.
Brilliant example! I’m glad you came to class today despite your lack of time Luis! 😍
Hola Amigos Ingleses. Tengo una duda sobre la frase “I adore my dad, despite him
having such a bad temper”: ¿Por qué se puede poner “him”?
Muchas gracias por enseñar inglés de la forma más amena posible. 🙂
¡Hola Lucía!
El pronombre es opcional, ambas frases son correctas:
I adore my dad, despite having such a bad temper.
I adore my dad, despite him having such a bad temper.
Y más fácil:
I adore my dad, despite the fact that he has such a bad temper.
¡Un abrazo! 😍
Hi Amigos Ingleses!!!!
Despite being on holidays, I enjoy studying English with your posts!!!
In spite of living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will I be able to buy your book?
Have a nice 2020 super motivated teachers!!!!!❤
Me han salvado tantas veces. Gracias! Súper agradecida!
Amazing lesson! Keep being the best teachers 🙂 I’ll keep watching your videos despite having many options haha
Awww! That makes us feel special! Thank you Ruth! BTW, great example! Mission accomplished!🤟🥳
Despiste (me) being a little clumsy, I think I’ve understood that.
In spite of not having seen this subject before, with this video I’ve almost got it
Fantastic post!
Ohhh 😍 I love reading this! Keep going Lucía!
Good quiz! Here is my example:Despite having doubts about a grammar tense, I answered it correctly.
Despite answering 8/10 of your mini exam, I have no problem with these prepositions any more.
Thanks a lot!
Really good fancy englush, thanks
Cheers Enrique! 😍
Hi you both beautiful!
You wrote DESPITE OF… in the second example.
But you had explained before that the word “of”
never goes after “Despite”.
Is it correct?
Hi Pedro! Well spotted! You’re on the ball today! Thanks for pointing that out, I’ve corrected it now. You’re right, we never say ‘despite of’. Happy New Year and thanks for visiting! See you next time!
Thank You so much
You’re welcome Franco!
The best course I have found ever
Awww! That’s lovely!
Es más natural decir 👉🏻 The best course I have ever found!
Thank you Jackson!😍