Exercises

111.1 Sharon, Linda and Angela are three friends who went on holiday together. Use the information given about them to complete the sentences using even or not even.

Sharon is usually on time, Sharon is usually happy, Sharon likes getting up early, Sharon is very interested in art

Linda isn't very keen on art, Linda is usually miserable, Linda usually hates hotels, Linda hasn't got a camera

Angela is almost always late, Angela is a keen photographer, Angela loves staying at hotels, Angela isn't very good at getting up

1. They stayed at a hotel. Everybody liked it, _even Linda._

2. They arranged to meet. They all arrived on time ---.

3. They went to an art gallery. Nobody enjoyed it ---.

4. Yesterday they had to get up early. They all managed to do this ---.

5. They were together yesterday. They were all in a good mood ---.

6. None of them took any photographs, ---.

111.2 Make sentences with even. Use the words in brackets.

1. She has been all over the world. (the Antarctic) _She has even been to the Antarctic._

2. She has to work every day. (on Sundays) ---.

3. They painted the whole room. (the floor) They ---.

4. You could hear the noise from a long way away. (from the next street)

You ---.

5. They have the windows open all the time. (when it's freezing) ---.

In the following sentences you have to use not... even.

6. They didn't say anything to us. (hello). _The didn't even say hello._

7. I can't remember anything about her. (her name) I ---.

8. There isn't anything to do in this town. (a cinema) ---.

9. He didn't tell anybody where he was going. (his wife) ---.

111.3 Complete these sentences using even + a comparative.

1. It was very hot yesterday but today it's _even hotter._

2. The church is 500 years old but the house next to it is ---.

3. That's a very good idea but I've got an --- one.

4. The first question was very difficult to answer. The second one was ---.

5. 1 did very badly in the examination but most of my friends did ---.

6. Neither of us was hungry. I ate very little and my friend ate ---.

111.4 Put in if, even, even if or even though.

1. _Even though_ she can't drive, she has bought a car.

2. The bus leaves in five minutes but we can still catch it --- we run.

3. The bus leaves in two minutes. We won't catch it now --- we run.

4. His Spanish isn't very good --- after three years in Spain.

5. His Spanish isn't very good --- he's lived in Spain for three years.

6. --- with the heating on, it was very cold in the house.

7. --- I was very tired, I couldn't sleep.

8. I won't forgive them for what they said --- they apologise.

9. --- I hadn't eaten anything for 24 hours, I wasn't hungry.

UNIT 112 Although/though/even though In spite of/despite

A. Study this example situation:

Last year Jack and Jill spent their holidays by the sea.

It rained a lot but they enjoyed themselves. You can say:

Although it rained a lot, they enjoyed themselves. (= It rained a lot but they...)

or In spite of the rain, they enjoyed themselves. Despite the rain, they enjoyed themselves.

B. 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 all the necessary qualifications.

Compare the meaning of although and because:

* We went out although it was raining.

* We didn't go out because it was raining.

C. 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 all 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. Note that 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 all the necessary qualifications.

* I didn't get the job despite of the fact (that) I had all the necessary qualifications.

Compare in spite of and because of:

* We went out in spite of the rain. (or... despite the rain.)

* We didn't go out because of the rain.

D. Compare although and in spite of/despite:

* Although the traffic was bad, I arrived on time. (not 'in spite of the traffic was bad')

In spite of the traffic, I arrived on time. (not 'in spite of the traffic was bad')

* I couldn't sleep although I was very tired. (not 'despite I was tired')

* I couldn't sleep despite being very tired. (not 'despite I was tired')

E. Sometimes we use though instead of although:

* I didn't get the job though I had all 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 him every day. I've never spoken to him though. (= but I've never spoken to him)

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...')