1. Although, though, even though + clause
- Although you don’t like her, you can be nice to her.
- You can be nice to her although you don’t like her.
If the subordinate clause comes first, we must separate it with a comma. If the subordinate clause comes second, there is no comma.
- Even though they have a car, they seldom use it.
- They have a car though they seldom use it. (though is more common in spoken English, and is often used at the end of a sentence)
- They have a car. They seldom use it, though. (even more conversational)
2. In spite of/despite + noun or -ing form
- In spite of/despite having a car, they seldom use it.
Note:
In spite of the fact that + clause
- In spite of the fact that they have a car, they seldom use it.
in spite of the fact that works as a coordinating conjunction. Therefore, it is used to connect two independent clauses and a comma is required..
3. While/whereas/but/ on the other hand/ yet/still/on the contrary + clause
- He is very hardworking, while his wife is rather lazy.
- Whereas Jane is very popular among her classmates, nobody likes her sister.
- He wasn’t tired, yet he was sleeping very well.
- The salary is very good. Still, the job itself is really boring.
4. However/nevertheless + clause
Both are formal; nevertheless is even more formal.
- She denies it; nevertheless, nobody believes her.
- She doesn’t like her; however, he is married to her.
- The job was very demanding. However, the pay was very good.
Note:
Use a semicolon before and a comma after ‘however/nevertheless’ if you are writing a compound sentence. If ‘however/nevertheless’ is used to begin a sentence, it must be followed by a comma.
5. a) However/no matter how + adjective/adverb + clause
We use it to say that it makes no difference how much/many/good/bad/ difficult/hard/well/interesting etc something is, or how much there is of something, or how long something takes, etc.
- However much she loves you, she’ll never forgive you.
- I couldn’t change his mind, however hard I tried.
- No matter how late he comes, she’ll be waiting.
- However many times the teacher explains things, he never understands.
- However badly she treated her children, they loved her.
- I must finish the report, however long it takes.
- However much money he earns, she can spend it on clothes.
5. b) However/whoever/wherever/whatever/whenever/whichever + clause
No matter how/however (in any way)
No matter who/whoever (any person)
No matter where/wherever (any place)
No matter what/whatever (any thing)
No matter when/whenever (any time)
No matter which/whichever (anyone from a limited set)
- No matter who may come/whoever may come, tell him I am out.
- No matter where you may hide it/wherever you (may) hide it, I’ll find it.
- No matter what he did/whatever he did, she didn’t like it.
- No matter who/whoever breaks the law, they will be punished.
- No matter what/whatever happens in the future, I won’t leave you.
Note:
The same rule applies as for time and conditional clauses, so do not use will in this type of clause.
6. Adjective/adverb + as/though + clause
- Late though it was, I had to talk to him.
- Much as she likes him, she doesn’t trust him.
- Hard as I tried, I couldn’t change his mind.
- Tired though he was, he went to meet her at the bus stop.
- Cold as the weather was, we enjoyed walking the dog.