🧠 TOEIC Trap: Despite vs Although — The Structure Switch That Saves the Point

It’s Part 5.
You see the contrast. You know the meaning.
Two options look right: despite and although.

You read it again.
Both still feel right.
You guess… and lose the point.

Not because you didn’t understand the meaning — but because the structure didn’t match.

This is one of TOEIC’s favourite traps:
✅ Same idea. ❌ Different structure.

🎯 Why Test-Takers Lose

In everyday English, we swap them around without thinking:

Although he was tired, he kept working.
Despite the delay, they started the meeting.

Same idea — contrast.

But TOEIC isn’t testing if you understand the idea.
They’re testing if you can build the sentence correctly.

💣 The One-Second Trigger

Ask yourself:

“What comes after — is it a sentence, or is it a thing / -ing word?”

  • Sentence (subject + verb) → although

  • Thing or -ing word → despite

That’s it. The choice is automatic.

👇 Watch It in Action

✅ Correct

Although she studied, she failed the test.
(“she studied” = sentence) → although

✅ Correct

Despite studying, she failed the test.
(“studying” = -ing form, thing-like) → despite

✅ Correct

Despite her effort, she failed the test.
(“her effort” = thing) → despite

❌ Wrong

Despite she studied, she failed the test.
(Mixing “despite” with a full sentence) — trap.

🧪 TOEIC-Style Practice

___ the heavy traffic, he arrived on time.
🧠 “the heavy traffic” = thing → despite

___ he left early, he still missed the train.
🧠 “he left early” = sentence → although

They continued the hike ___ the bad weather.
🧠 “the bad weather” = thing → despite

She passed the test ___ she hadn’t slept.
🧠 “she hadn’t slept” = sentence → although

📝 Your Turn

Fill each blank with despite or although.
Use the one-second check: sentence → although / thing or -ing word → despite.

  1. ___ being tired, he finished the project.

  2. ___ she worked hard, she didn’t get the promotion.

  3. He went for a walk ___ the rain.

  4. ___ it was raining, he went for a walk.

Answer Key + Coaching

  1. ✅ despite — “being tired” = -ing form

  2. ✅ although — “she worked hard” = sentence

  3. ✅ despite — “the rain” = thing

  4. ✅ although — “it was raining” = sentence

🔁 Takeaway Rule

Don’t match meaning. Match structure.

  • Sentence → although

  • Thing or -ing word → despite

Make the call instantly and take the point.

Final Word

Contrast isn’t the problem — structure is.
See the form, not just the meaning, and you’ll beat this trap every time.

For more strategies and resources to master TOEIC sentence structure traps, visit the English Library Collection and start locking in structure confidence today.

🔍 SEO FAQ (English) — Despite vs Although What is the difference between “despite” and “although”? “Despite” is followed by a noun or -ing form. “Although” is followed by a full sentence. Can I use “despite” before a sentence? No. “Despite” cannot be followed by a full sentence. Use “although” in that case. Is “although she was tired” correct? Yes. That’s a full sentence after “although,” so it’s correct. Is “despite she was tired” correct? No. That’s a structure mistake. Say “despite being tired” or “despite her fatigue.” Can “although” start a sentence? Yes. For example: “Although it rained, we went outside.” Can “despite” start a sentence? Yes. For example: “Despite the rain, we went outside.” Is “despite of” correct? No. Never say “despite of.” Just “despite.” What does TOEIC test with “although” and “despite”? TOEIC tests whether you can match the correct structure — not just the meaning. Can “despite” be followed by “being” or “having”? Yes. For example: “Despite being sick…” or “Despite having little time…” Can I say “despite she worked hard”? No. That’s incorrect. It should be “although she worked hard” or “despite working hard.” Is “although” followed by a subject and verb? Yes. “Although” always needs a full sentence after it. Is “despite the fact that” correct? Yes, but TOEIC may test whether you recognize it’s followed by a sentence. Can I use “although” before a noun? No. “Although” needs a full sentence, not just a noun. Can “despite” be used before a gerund? Yes. Gerunds (-ing forms) work fine after “despite.” Example: “Despite feeling tired…” Which is more formal: “although” or “despite”? Both are neutral and fine for TOEIC. The key difference is structure, not tone. How do I know if I should use “despite” or “although”? Check what follows. If it’s a sentence, use “although.” If it’s a noun or -ing word, use “despite.” Why did TOEIC mark “despite he was late” wrong? Because it’s a sentence after “despite,” which is incorrect. It should be “although he was late.” What is the TOEIC trick with “although” and “despite”? They both show contrast, but one needs a sentence and one needs a noun. That’s the trap. Can “despite” be used in speaking or just writing? It’s common in both. You’ll hear and see it in natural English. Is “although” okay in formal writing? Yes. “Although” is perfectly acceptable in both casual and formal English.
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