Chapter 7 word order & conjunctions

EVEN
We use even to say that something is unusual or surprising. Usually we use even before the main verb:
Tina loves watching television. She has a TV set in every room of the house - even the bathroom. (It is not usual to have a TV set in the bathroom.)

• 
  Sue has travelled all over the world. She has even been to the Antarctic.
  

(It’s especially unusual to go to the Antarctic, so she must have travelled a lot.)

• 
  I can’t cook. I can’t even boil an egg. (and boiling an egg is very easy)
  

You can use even + comparative (cheaper / more expensive etc.):

• 
  I got up very early, but Jack got up even earlier.
  
• 
  I knew 1 didn’t have much money, but I’ve got even less than I thought.
  
• 
  We were surprised to get a letter from her. We were even more surprised when she came to see us a few days later.
  

Even though / even when / even if
You can use even though / even when / even if + subject + verb:

• 
  Even though she can’t drive, she has bought a car.
  

subject + verb

• 
  He never shouts, even when he’s angry.
  
• 
  I’ll probably see you tomorrow. But even if I don’t see you tomorrow, we’re sure to see each other before the weekend.
  

You cannot use even in this way (+ subject + verb). We say:

• 
  Even though she can’t drive, she has bought a car. (not Even she can’t drive)
  
• 
  I can’t reach the shelf even if I stand on a chair, (not even I stand)
  

ALTHOUGH/THOUGH/EVENTHOUGH IN SPITE OF/DESPITE
After although we use a subject + verb:'

• 
  Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday.
  
• 
  I didn’t get the job although I had the necessary qualifications.
  

After in spite of or despite, we use a noun, a pronoun (this/that/what etc.) or -ing:

• 
  In spite of the rain, we enjoyed our holiday.
  
• 
  I didn’t get the job in spite of having the necessary qualifications.
  
• 
  She wasn’t well, but in spite of this she went to work.
  
• 
  In spite of what I said yesterday, I still love you.
  

Despite is the same as in spite of. We say in spite of, but despite (without of):

• 
  She wasn’t well, but despite this she went to work, (not despite of this)
  

You can say in spite of the fact (that) ... and despite the fact (that) ... :
I didn’t get the job in spite of the fact (that) I had the necessary qualifications.
I didn’t get the job despite the fact (that) I had the necessary qualifications.
Sometimes we use though instead of although:

• 
  I didn’t get the job though I had the necessary qualifications.
  

In spoken English we often use though at the end of a sentence:

• 
  The house isn’t very nice. I like the garden though. (= but I like the garden)
  

I see them every day. I've never spoken to them though. (= but I’ve never spoken to them)
Even though (but not ‘even’ alone) is a stronger form of although:

• 
  Even though I was really tired, I couldn’t sleep, (not Even I was really tired ...)