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Avinash99
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Narenn
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Despite/in spite of : both are preposition take noun or noun phrase as object .
Although/ though : both are subordinating conjunctions, so it follows by full clause
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Narenn
The Main Difference between Although and Despite/In spite of is that although is used before the full sentence whereas you can not use Despite/In spite of[/b] before the full sentence unless you add the fact

There is another criteria for selection of Although/Despite, which I learned from one of my strategy books. however The same has not confirmed by trusted grammar websites and I also found some exceptions to this rule. I usually applies it when rest of the sentence is grammatically correct, concise, and the only difference is of Although and Despite/In spite of

Here is that Rule

ALTHOUGH is used to express a positive outcome in the face of a negative quality.

EXAMPLE : Although it was raining (Negative Circumstance), we went to the movies (Positive Outcome).


DESPITE or INSPITE OF is used to express a negative outcome in the face of a positive quality.

EXAMPLE : Despite the fact that we started early (Positive Circumstance), we arrived at the destination very late. (Negative Outcome)


Despite all their talk about pollution control (Positive Circumstance), large organisations have so far done very little to control ecological damage (Negative Outcome)

Hope that Helps!

Narenn

Hi
Although can be followed either by a clause or by a phrase.

e.g.
case1:
Although + phrase
OGVR2 SC Q#36
the correct answer choice (E):
- Although eradicated in the United States, polio continues elsewhere and could be
here, "Although followed be a verb phrase and not by a clause

case2:
Although + clause
OG13 SC Q#132
the correct answer choice (B):
- Although heirloom tomatoes, [modifier [grown from seeds saved during the previous year]], appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins.
here, "Although followed be a dependent clause

Conclusion:
According to GMAT Although can be followed by either a clause or a phrase
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In the context of this problem, following article may also help:

although-is-a-dependent-clause-dc-marker-so-it-has-to-start-a-dc-200260.html
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subhanil2u
DESPITE TAKING frequent naps, I STUDY effectively.
Is this sentence correct??


What is the answer to this?
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It looks that both would be correct:

Despite taking frequent naps, I study effectively.

Although I take frequent naps, I study effectively.

So, meaning wise, they don't look different to me.
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sukanyar
It looks that both would be correct:

Despite taking frequent naps, I study effectively.

Although I take frequent naps, I study effectively.

So, meaning wise, they don't look different to me.

Yes, you are correct in your observations..
MEANING wise botyh despit and although do not differ much to be significant..

Despite is a preposition so can take ing modifier..
Although is a conjunction and is correctly containing verb and subject
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Narenn
Despite all their talk about pollution control (Positive Circumstance), large organisations have so far done very little to control ecological damage (Negative Outcome)

Had a small query regarding this sentence:

What is the antecedent of "their"? Since "their" is a possessive pronoun, shouldn't it logically have a possessive noun antecedent?

This has been nagging me for sometime.

Thanks in advance!

Regards
Srinath
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The pronoun 'their'(plural) refers to large organisations (plural).

A possessive pronoun can refer to both non-possessive and possessive noun. But a non-possessive pronoun such as he, she, it, etc. can only refer to non-possessive noun.
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Antecedent is organisations.


Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum
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I have a question,

In OG17 Q#287 Choice C "Although observed..........., the discovery of...." --> this answer is wrong because of displacement of modifier. (Given by OA "discover" is not doing the "observe")

Well, I understand the explanation by OA but doesn't "Although it was raining, we went to the movies." violates the modifier rule presented by OA? or just Choice C is grammatically correct but the meaning?

Please help!! I am so confused!
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Narenn
The Main Difference between Although and Despite/In spite of is that although is used before the full sentence whereas you can not use Despite/In spite of[/b] before the full sentence unless you add the fact

There is another criteria for selection of Although/Despite, which I learned from one of my strategy books. however The same has not confirmed by trusted grammar websites and I also found some exceptions to this rule. I usually applies it when rest of the sentence is grammatically correct, concise, and the only difference is of Although and Despite/In spite of

Here is that Rule

ALTHOUGH is used to express a positive outcome in the face of a negative quality.

EXAMPLE : Although it was raining (Negative Circumstance), we went to the movies (Positive Outcome).


DESPITE or INSPITE OF is used to express a negative outcome in the face of a positive quality.

EXAMPLE : Despite the fact that we started early (Positive Circumstance), we arrived at the destination very late. (Negative Outcome)


Despite all their talk about pollution control (Positive Circumstance), large organisations have so far done very little to control ecological damage (Negative Outcome)

Hope that Helps!

Narenn


Can the second part of the sentence (clause after the comma) in Although idiom contain "but"? For ex., Although X, but Y? Narenn
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Avinash99
wats the difference between despite and although........need help...... :)

Was struggling with the quirky differences. Found some good explanation-

in spite of’, ‘despite’ and ‘although’ are all used to show contrast and are used for the same meaning.
The only difference is the way and the structure of their usage.

1. ‘in spite of’ and ‘despite’ are placed in front of a noun or pronoun:
i. We had a great time in spite of the rain.
ii. We had a great time despite the rain.
iii. Despite studying very hard, he still didn’t pass the exam.
Note-studying’ is the noun form of the verb ‘study

2. ‘despitedoes NOT have ‘of’ after it:
i. Despite the rough weather they still set sail.
NOT, Despite of the bad weather...

3. ‘although’ is used in front of a subject and a verb:
i. We had a great time although it rained.
ii. Although he studied very hard, he still didn’t pass the exam.

4. If ‘in spite of’ and ‘despite’ are used in front of the phrase ‘the fact that’ then they can be used with a subject and a verb:
i. In spite of the fact that he studied very hard, he still didn’t pass the exam.
ii. Despite the fact that it rained we still had a great time.

5. ‘even though’ can be used the same way as ‘although’.
For most native speakers ‘even though’ is slightly stronger than ‘although’:
Even though we were in a terrible hotel, we had a great time.

Source- https://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/ ... the%20rain.
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tarunk31
In the context of this problem, following article may also help:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/although-is- ... 00260.html
Thanks for share this link with us !!
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