TESOL/Cause
English provides various ways of describing the causal relationships between things.
So and because
[edit | edit source]The words so and because are opposites. They both indicate that one phrase is a cause of the other, but they do so in opposite directions.
| A -> B | B -> A |
|---|---|
| A so B | B because of A |
Because "so" and "because" are opposites, phrases joined by them can be reversed without changing the meaning if they are exchanged.
| It started raining | so | I brought my umbrella. |
| I brought my umbrella | because | It started raining. |
In spite of
[edit | edit source]Meaning
[edit | edit source]The phrase in spite of functions as a preposition and means the opposite of "because," in a sense. Both "because of A" and "in spite of A" mean that something happened, but "because of A" means that A was at least helpful, but "in spite of A" means that A was unhelpful.
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I found it because of the map | The map was clear and accurate. |
| I found it in spite of the map | The map was confusing and full of mistakes. |
Despite has the same meaning but is more formal.
Mechanics
[edit | edit source]"In spite of" may come before a noun. In that case, it basically equals although.
It may also come before a verb in -ing form.
- I crossed the bridge in spite of being afraid of heights.
- She caught a cold in spite of taking vitamins everyday.
- He failed the exam in spite of studying hard.
Quiz
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