🧠 TOEIC Trap: Despite vs Although

Same meaning — completely different structure

You see it in TOEIC Part 5 all the time.
Two answer choices: despite and although.

The sentence is about contrast — you know that.
You read it twice. Both options feel right.

But you 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 function. ❌ Different grammar.

Let’s break it clean.

🎯 The Real Issue: You’re Picking for Meaning — Not for Form

In normal life, we say things like:

  • “Although he was tired, he kept working.”

  • “Despite the delay, they started the meeting.”

Same idea = contrast.

But on TOEIC, it’s not enough to match the idea — you have to match the structure.

💣 What You Must See Instantly

  • Although is followed by a sentence (subject + verb)
    → “Although she studied, she failed the test.”

  • Despite is followed by a noun or -ing form
    → “Despite studying, she failed the test.”
    → “Despite her effort, she failed the test.”

DO NOT put a full sentence after “despite.”
That’s the trap.

🧪 TOEIC-Style Coached Questions

Q1.
___ the heavy traffic, he arrived on time.

A) Although
B) Despite

✅ Correct: B) Despite
🧠 Why: “the heavy traffic” is a noun — not a sentence

Q2.
___ he left early, he still missed the train.

A) Although
B) Despite

✅ Correct: A) Although
🧠 Why: “he left early” is a full sentence

Q3.
They continued the hike ___ the bad weather.

A) although
B) despite

✅ Correct: B) despite
🧠 Why: “the bad weather” is a noun

Q4.
She passed the test ___ she hadn’t slept.

A) although
B) despite

✅ Correct: A) although
🧠 Why: “she hadn’t slept” = full sentence

📝 Your Turn — Practice Set

Choose the correct word:

  1. ___ being tired, he finished the project.
    A) Although
    B) Despite

  2. ___ she worked hard, she didn’t get the promotion.
    A) Although
    B) Despite

  3. He went for a walk ___ the rain.
    A) Although
    B) Despite

  4. ___ it was raining, he went for a walk.
    A) Although
    B) Despite

✅ Answer Key + Coaching

1. ✅ B) Despite
“Being tired” = -ing form (noun-like) → use “despite”

2. ✅ A) Although
“She worked hard” = full sentence → use “although”

3. ✅ B) Despite
“The rain” = noun → use “despite”

4. ✅ A) Although
“It was raining” = sentence → use “although”

🔁 Final Coaching

TOEIC knows you understand contrast.
That’s not what they’re testing.

They want to see if you can build the sentence correctly.

So the rule is simple:

  • If what follows is a full sentence → use although

  • If it’s a noun or -ing form → use despite

Stop guessing.
Start matching structure — and take the point every time.

🔍 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.