English guide
Distinguish contrast phrases from clauses and practise despite, in spite of and although in 20 original workplace questions with every option explained.
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What this guide covers
Compare the explanations and original examples.
Keep the sentence unchanged and justify one option.
Use the distinction in a new workplace sentence.
A contrast expression highlights a result that an obstacle might have prevented. Despite a late delivery, the team finished on time tells us the delay did not stop completion. The grammar depends on whether the obstacle is expressed as a noun phrase, an -ing phrase or a clause.
Despite and in spite of are often interchangeable when the whole expression is available. Do not choose between them by guessing which sounds more formal. Instead, keep the printed words fixed, check whether of is already present, and identify the structure that follows the gap.
These original exercises were prepared by English AIdol with AI assistance. A separate AI content review checked every question, answer explanation and teaching section. No human expert or examiner review, ETS endorsement, or calibrated difficulty is claimed. This page does not save answers or estimate an official score.
Part 5 asks you to complete sentences by choosing from four options. The full TOEIC Reading section has 100 questions and a 75-minute limit. This untimed topic lesson is not a complete or equated test. See ETS: About the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test and the ETS: TOEIC Listening & Reading Score User Guide.
Both can precede a noun phrase or pronoun. Despite has no additional of; the expression in spite of includes all three words.
An -ing phrase can describe the obstacle. Make its implied subject clear: in Despite arriving late, Lena apologised, Lena is the person who arrived.
A full contrast clause includes a subject and a finite verb. Do not put an ordinary finite clause directly after despite or in spite of.
Despite the fact that and in spite of the fact that can introduce a clause through the noun fact. A shorter although-clause may express the same contrast.
Because of names a cause; despite presents something that did not prevent the result. The same real-world event can play different roles, so read the whole message.
In spite ___ the late change of venue, all participants arrived on time.
of
In spite of is the complete preposition. The late change of venue is a noun phrase naming the obstacle, and on-time arrival is the contrasting result.
Choose the option that completes the printed sentence in standard written English. Keep every other word unchanged. Write your choice and a reason before opening the explanation.
In spite ___ the rail strike, the speaker reached the conference on time.
(A) to
(B) of
(C) for
(D) with
Answer: (B) of
Completed sentence: In spite of the rail strike, the speaker reached the conference on time.
Despite ___ late, the technician completed all the scheduled checks.
(A) arrive
(B) arrived
(C) to arrive
(D) arriving
Answer: (D) arriving
Completed sentence: Despite arriving late, the technician completed all the scheduled checks.
___ the main entrance was closed, visitors could enter through the side door.
(A) Although
(B) Despite
(C) In spite of
(D) Regardless of
Answer: (A) Although
Completed sentence: Although the main entrance was closed, visitors could enter through the side door.
Despite the fact ___ several chairs were missing, the workshop began on schedule.
(A) what
(B) whose
(C) that
(D) which
Answer: (C) that
Completed sentence: Despite the fact that several chairs were missing, the workshop began on schedule.
The team completed the audit in ___ of repeated interruptions.
(A) despite
(B) spite
(C) although
(D) even though
Answer: (B) spite
Completed sentence: The team completed the audit in spite of repeated interruptions.
In spite of ___ from home, the designer contributed to every planning meeting.
(A) has worked
(B) worked
(C) to work
(D) working
Answer: (D) working
Completed sentence: In spite of working from home, the designer contributed to every planning meeting.
Even though the printer ___ out of paper, staff produced the handouts on another machine.
(A) ran
(B) running
(C) to run
(D) run
Answer: (A) ran
Completed sentence: Even though the printer ran out of paper, staff produced the handouts on another machine.
___ a shortage of staff, the branch kept all its scheduled appointments.
(A) Although
(B) Even though
(C) Despite
(D) Because
Answer: (C) Despite
Completed sentence: Despite a shortage of staff, the branch kept all its scheduled appointments.
In spite of the ___ that the deadline had moved forward, the team submitted the report on time.
(A) factual
(B) fact
(C) factually
(D) factors
Answer: (B) fact
Completed sentence: In spite of the fact that the deadline had moved forward, the team submitted the report on time.
Despite ___ unfamiliar with the building, the courier found the loading bay quickly.
(A) be
(B) was
(C) to be
(D) being
Answer: (D) being
Completed sentence: Despite being unfamiliar with the building, the courier found the loading bay quickly.
___ the hall was noisy, the interpreter could hear the speaker clearly.
(A) Although
(B) Despite
(C) In spite of
(D) Because of
Answer: (A) Although
Completed sentence: Although the hall was noisy, the interpreter could hear the speaker clearly.
The old scanner is slow. In spite of ___, it is still useful for occasional work.
(A) although
(B) though
(C) that
(D) because
Answer: (C) that
Completed sentence: The old scanner is slow. In spite of that, it is still useful for occasional work.
Despite ___ carefully for the demonstration, the presenter forgot the adapter.
(A) prepare
(B) preparing
(C) prepared
(D) to prepare
Answer: (B) preparing
Completed sentence: Despite preparing carefully for the demonstration, the presenter forgot the adapter.
The outdoor signs remained readable in spite ___ several days of heavy rain.
(A) from
(B) to
(C) at
(D) of
Answer: (D) of
Completed sentence: The outdoor signs remained readable in spite of several days of heavy rain.
Although the replacement part ___ expensive, buying it was cheaper than replacing the machine.
(A) was
(B) being
(C) to be
(D) been
Answer: (A) was
Completed sentence: Although the replacement part was expensive, buying it was cheaper than replacing the machine.
Despite the fact that the office ___ no lift, the team moved all the files upstairs.
(A) having
(B) have
(C) had
(D) to have
Answer: (C) had
Completed sentence: Despite the fact that the office had no lift, the team moved all the files upstairs.
In spite of ___ very little notice, the caterer prepared enough lunches.
(A) receive
(B) receiving
(C) received
(D) to receive
Answer: (B) receiving
Completed sentence: In spite of receiving very little notice, the caterer prepared enough lunches.
___ the difficult market conditions, the small shop remained profitable.
(A) Although
(B) Even though
(C) Because
(D) Despite
Answer: (D) Despite
Completed sentence: Despite the difficult market conditions, the small shop remained profitable.
The flight departed on time in spite of the fact ___ a replacement crew was needed.
(A) that
(B) what
(C) whose
(D) which
Answer: (A) that
Completed sentence: The flight departed on time in spite of the fact that a replacement crew was needed.
Even though the software ___ updated yesterday, the original error still appears.
(A) being
(B) been
(C) was
(D) to be
Answer: (C) was
Completed sentence: Even though the software was updated yesterday, the original error still appears.
Explain the distinction in your own words, then try these tasks without copying a practice sentence. The answers illustrate possible responses; alternatives may work where the task allows them.
Rewrite “Although the roads were icy, the driver arrived safely” using despite.
Despite the icy roads, the driver arrived safely.
The clause the roads were icy becomes the noun phrase the icy roads.
Rewrite “Despite having little experience, Omar completed the task” using although.
Although Omar had little experience, he completed the task.
Make the implied subject Omar explicit and turn having into a finite verb.
Repair “In spite the delay, the meeting went ahead”.
In spite of the delay, the meeting went ahead. / Despite the delay, the meeting went ahead.
The full three-word expression contains of; despite does not need it.
Sources checked on . The examples, questions and explanations are original teaching material, not official or recalled test items. This correction replaces the earlier lesson’s inappropriate IELTS-style scoring. An answer count on these exercises does not convert to an official TOEIC score.
Continue with the TOEIC study page. For a factual correction, see our editorial policy.
Yes. They often have the same contrast meaning. The difference in the printed question may be that part of one expression is already supplied.
Yes. The noun fact allows a following that-clause. Although plus the clause often expresses the same contrast more briefly.
Despite presents an obstacle that did not prevent the result; because of presents a cause of the result. Both grammar and the message matter.
No. These original, untimed teaching questions have not been equated to an ETS form. Use them to explain and practise a language pattern, not to calculate an official score.