Concession: although / despite / in spite of
Contraste y concesión: expresar ideas opuestas en una misma oración
Las cláusulas de concesión son como un bloque 'try/catch' del idioma: presentan algo que, contra toda expectativa, no impide el resultado. Sirven para conectar dos ideas que parecen contradecirse ('aunque llovía, salimos'). El reto no es el significado, sino elegir la estructura gramatical correcta según lo que sigue al conector.
La regla de oro: 'although', 'though' y 'even though' van seguidos de una ORACIÓN completa (sujeto + verbo). En cambio, 'despite' e 'in spite of' van seguidos de un SUSTANTIVO o un GERUNDIO (-ing), nunca de una oración con verbo conjugado. Es como distinguir entre una función que recibe un statement y otra que recibe un objeto.
El error número uno del hispanohablante es escribir 'despite of' (mezclando ambas formas). Es 'despite' O 'in spite of', nunca 'despite of'. También es común poner una oración completa tras 'despite': 'despite it was raining' es incorrecto; lo correcto es 'despite the rain' o 'despite the fact that it was raining'.
Otro par confuso es 'whereas' y 'while', que expresan contraste directo entre dos ideas paralelas ('He is tall, whereas his brother is short'). No implican sorpresa, solo comparación. Y 'however' funciona como conector entre oraciones, con punto y coma o punto delante: 'It was cold; however, we went out'.
En español, 'aunque', 'a pesar de' y 'sin embargo' cubren estos matices, pero se distribuyen de forma distinta en inglés. 'Aunque + verbo' = 'although/even though + oración'; 'a pesar de + sustantivo' = 'despite/in spite of + sustantivo'; 'sin embargo' = 'however'. Traducir sin ajustar la estructura produce errores.
ORACIÓN completa: ALTHOUGH / THOUGH / EVEN THOUGH + subject + verb Although it was raining, we went out. SUSTANTIVO / -ING: DESPITE / IN SPITE OF + noun / gerund Despite the rain, we went out. In spite of being tired, she kept working. CONTRASTE directo: WHEREAS / WHILE + clause He likes tea, whereas she prefers coffee. CONECTOR entre oraciones: ... ; HOWEVER, ... It was expensive; however, we bought it.
Debugging lab
Corrige o completa la línea. 7 ejercicios por tema.
- 4.15.6.1
Despite of the rain, we enjoyed the picnic.
- 4.15.6.2
Although the traffic, we arrived on time.
- 4.15.6.3
In spite of she was ill, she came to work.
- 4.15.6.4
Even though it was expensive, they bought the house.
- 4.15.6.5
He is very tall, whereas his brother is very tall too.
- 4.15.6.6
It was raining hard. However we decided to go for a walk.
- 4.15.6.7
Despite the fact that he studied hard, but he failed the exam.
- 4.15.6.8
Despite it was cold, we went for a walk.
- 4.15.6.9
In spite of the traffic, we arrived on time.
- 4.15.6.10
It was raining. However, we decided to go out.
- 4.15.6.11
Although he is rich, but he is not happy.