What do ‘although’ and ‘even though’ mean?
‘Although’ and ‘even though’ are two words that are often used interchangeably. We use them to show a contrast between two ideas. Another way of thinking of this is that we can use them to show that two ideas don’t go together. They have the same effect as ‘but’ or ‘however’, but they count as more complex grammar.
How to make an although or even though sentence
This type of sentence is easy to build. All you need is
Although + first idea + comma + second idea.
or
Even though + first idea + comma + second idea.
Example ‘although’ and ‘even though’ sentences
Here is an example sentence using although:
Although she was very tired, she stayed up to finish her homework.
Here, we use ‘although because it’s hard to get homework done if you are tired. In other words, there’s a contrast there or being tired and finishing homework don’t go together.
Here is an example sentence using even though:
Even though I don’t like spinach, I eat it because it’s good for me.
In this sentence, the speaker is saying that even though he doesn’t like spinach, he still eats it because it’s good for him. The implication is that if spinach wasn’t good for him, he wouldn’t eat it.
When should I use although and when should I use even though?
As you can see, both words can be used to express a similar idea. So, which one should you use in the IELTS exam? The answer is that it doesn’t really matter as there isn’t much difference. ‘Even though’ is slightly stronger and gives more emphasis, but if you are trying to express a contrast between two things, then you can use either word.
Exercise
To practice writing although and even though sentences, take the sentences below and turn them into sentences that use although or even though.
- He’s rich. However, he drives a really cheap car.
- I exercised every day last week. However, I put on weight.
- She studied hard for the test, but she failed.
- There are lots of books in my house. I hardly ever read them.
- The economy grew last year, but my pay didn’t increase.
My answers
These are my answers to the questions above. Remember that you can use ‘although’ or ‘even though’ for any of these answers. Don’t worry if yours doesn’t start in the same way as mine.
- Although he’s rich, he drives a really cheap car.
- Even though I exercised every day last week, I put on weight.
- Even though she studied hard for the test, she failed.
- Although there are lots of books in my house, I hardly ever read them.
- Even though the economy grew last year my pay didn’t increase.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, ‘although’ and ‘even though’ are two easy ways to inject some more complex grammar in the IELTS exam. These words can be used interchangeably and have the same effect as ‘but’ or ‘however’. Just remember to use them when you want to express a contrast between two ideas.
Do you have any questions about using ‘although’ and ‘even though’? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Frequently asked questions
Are there any alternatives to ‘although’ and ‘even though’?
You can use the word ‘though’ instead of ‘although’ or ‘even though’ in any of the sentences above and it would mean the same thing. This is more informal and more common in spoken English than written English.
When can I use ‘although’ and ‘even though’ in the IELTS exam?
You can use them at any time. However, I think the most common time to use these phrases would be in IELTS writing task two as this is the time you are most likely to have contrasting ideas.
Can I overuse ‘although’ and ‘even though’?
It’s possible! It’s important to use a range of different types of grammar in the IELTS exam. If you’ve already used ‘although’ in your essay, it might be slightly better to use ‘even though’ the next time.
