Expressing Concession In English Grammar

Concessive Clauses

Introduction

A concessive clause in English grammar introduces a statement that contrasts or concedes to the main idea, often expressing unexpected or contradictory information. In this article, we will define these clauses and explore their forms and uses. Illustrative examples will be provided.

Let’s get started with the definition of concession clauses!

What are Concessive Clauses In English Grammar?

A concessive clause is a part of a sentence that starts with words like “although,” “even though,” or “in spite of.” It adds information that goes against what you might expect based on the main part of the sentence.

  • Example:
    • “He went for a run, although it was raining outside.”

In this sentence, the concessive clause “although it was raining outside” presents a contrasting idea to the main part of the sentence, which is “He went for a run.

In spite of”, ” despite”, “although” or “even though” have similar meanings but they are used differently.

Expressing Concession

While “in spite of,” “despite,” “even though,” and “although” are all used to introduce concessive clauses, they have some nuanced differences in usage:

Although vs. Even Though: Understanding the Difference

Although/Even Though Meaning

Concessive clauses introduced by “although” and “even though” serve a similar purpose, providing a contrast or concession to the main idea of a sentence.

These clauses typically share a common structure. They both contain a subject and a verb.

Although/Even Though Clause Structure

Although/even though + subject + verb
Although and Even Though Structure

Consider these examples:

  • “He had enough money.”
  • ” He didn’t want to buy a new car.”

The above two statements can be combined as follows :

Although
Even though
he had enough money,he didn’t want to buy a new car

OR

He didn’t want to buy a new caralthough
even though
he had enough money.

Notice that in the examples above, the concession clauses with “although” and “even though” contain a subject and a verb “he” and “didn’t want“, respectively.

Here is an additional example of this structure:

  • Main Clause: “She decided to go to the beach.”
  • Concessive Clause with “Although”:Although it was chilly and windy, she decided to go to the beach.”
  • Concessive Clause with “Even Though”:Even though it was chilly and windy, she decided to go to the beach.”

(“Although” and “even though” are followed by the subject “It” and the verb “was“.)

Note: It’s important to note that the placement of the main clause and the concessive clause can vary. You can start with the main clause and then introduce the concession, or vice versa. The choice depends on the writer’s emphasis and the flow of the sentence.

  • Although/Even though it was chilly and windy, she decided to go to the beach.
  • She decided to go to the beach although/Even though it was chilly and windy

In spite of the similarities they share, “although” and “even though” have subtle differences in emphasis.

  • Although” is a commonly used conjunction to introduce concessive clauses. It smoothly presents a contrasting idea without placing an exaggerated emphasis on the unexpected nature of the contrast.
  • On the other hand, “even though” amplifies the sense of surprise or unexpectedness in the contrast. It implies a stronger degree of contradiction between the main clause and the concessive clause.

In Spite Of vs. Despite: Understanding their Use

In spite of/Despite Meaning

In spite of” and “despite” is a prepositional phrase commonly used to introduce a concessive clause. They imply overcoming obstacles or challenges to achieve the main clause’s action.

Note about the origin of the terms “in spite of” and “despite”:

Both “despite” and “in spite of” ultimately trace their origins to the same root, which is the Old French word “spit.” The word “spite” in Old French meant “spite” “contempt”, “malice.” or “rancor.” Over time, the usage evolved, and in Modern English, both “in spite of” and “despite” convey the idea of contrast or concession, indicating a situation where something happens despite obstacles or opposition.

While they share a similar purpose, there are subtle differences in their usage in terms of formality.

Note:

While both expressions serve similar functions, “in spite of” may carry a slightly more formal tone, whereas “despite” is generally considered more neutral and commonly used in everyday language. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or the desired tone of the sentence.

In Spite of/Despite Clause Structure

Concessive clauses with “In spite of” and “despite” follow this structure:

In spite of/despite+ Noun
+ Verb + ing (Gerund)
In Spite of and Despite Structure

Both “in spite of” and “despite” can be followed by either a noun or a gerund.

Consider these examples:

  • “He had enough money.”
  • “He didn’t want to buy a new car.”

The above two statements can be combined as follows :

Despite
In spite of
all his money,he didn’t want to buy a new car.
having enough money,

OR

He didn’t want to buy a new cardespite
in spite of
all his money.
having enough money.

Note: Like “although” and “even though“, the placement of the “in spite of” and “despite” clauses is flexible. You can start with the main clause and then introduce the concession, or vice versa. The choice depends on the writer’s emphasis and the flow of the sentence.

Examples:

  • In spite of the heavy rain, they decided to go for a hike.
  • Despite the challenging weather conditions, they were determined to enjoy the outdoors.

Example Sentences

Here are example sentnces with concessive clauses:

  • Although it was raining, they went for a picnic in the park.
  • In spite of the heavy rain, they decided to go for a hike.
  • She stayed up late to finish her project even though she was tired.
  • Despite the sudden and unforeseen circumstances, he maintained his composure.
  • Despite financial constraints, they decided to start their own business.
  • They arrived at the airport on time although the traffic was heavy.
  • Even though he studied hard, he didn’t perform well in the exam.
  • Although she had a busy schedule, she found time to exercise every day.
  • Even though it was hot outside, they decided to have a barbecue.
  • She found it hard to forgive him although he apologized.
  • Even though they were lost, they kept exploring the unfamiliar city.
  • She succeeded in her exam in spite of having a hectic work schedule.
  • In spite of technical difficulties, the team delivered a flawless presentation.
  • Although the restaurant was crowded, they managed to find a table.
  • They remained close friends even though they disagreed on many issues.
  • In spite of her fear of heights, she decided to go zip-lining on vacation.
  • Despite the late start, the team managed to win the championship.

Things to Remember

1. Although, even though + subject + verb

3. In spite of, despite + noun or verb+ing

2. There are structural similarities between concession clauses and expressions of cause and effect like “because of”, “due to”, “owing to”, “thanks to”, “because”, “since”, “as”, and “for”:

In spite of
Despite
+ noun
+ Verb + ing
Because of
Due to
owing to
Thanks to
Although
Even though
+ verb
Because
Since
For
As

More on cause and effect to see the use of “because, since, as, for, because of, due to… “

Related Pages:

Tags: ConcessionLanguage Structure and Usage
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