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Concession with a noun or gerund, never a clause. A very common Writing error.
Why you specifically
Despite và in spite of đều có nghĩa là “mặc dù / bất chấp”, nhưng chúng không dùng giống although/though. Sau despite hoặc in spite of, tiếng Anh phải dùng danh ngữ, đại từ hoặc V-ing (gerund), ví dụ: despite the rain, despite him, in spite of feeling tired. Không được đặt một mệnh đề đầy đủ ngay sau đó, nên các câu như despite it was raining hoặc in spite of she was tired là sai. Nếu muốn dùng mệnh đề, hãy dùng although/though: Although it was raining, we went out. Hoặc trong văn viết trang trọng hơn, có thể dùng despite the fact that + mệnh đề: Despite the fact that it was raining, we went out. Đây là lỗi rất phổ biến trong IELTS Writing của người Việt vì tiếng Việt dùng “mặc dù” linh hoạt hơn và dễ khiến người học chuyển trực tiếp sang cấu trúc tiếng Anh.
The rule
Despite and in spite of both mean ‘mặc dù / bất chấp’. They are concession connectors, but they do not work like although and though. Use despite or in spite of before a noun, pronoun, or gerund: despite the rain, despite him, despite being tired. Do not put a full clause directly after them: incorrect is despite it was raining or in spite of she was tired. If you need a clause, use although/though, or use despite the fact that + clause in more formal writing. For IELTS Writing, this is a very common error for Vietnamese learners because tiếng Việt often allows a clause-like structure after “mặc dù” more freely.
Both correct
Every sentence here is correct English. Only the meaning changes.
Despite the rain, we went for a walk.
This means the rain did not stop us.
Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
This is a contrast clause structure: it introduces a full clause after although.
Despite the noise, I could sleep.
This means the noise was a general condition that did not stop sleep.
Although there was noise, I could sleep.
This is the clause version of the same meaning, using although.
The trap
Despite it was raining, we went for a walk.
Despite the rain, we went for a walk.
Despite must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund, not by a full clause.
In spite of she was tired, she finished the report.
In spite of her tiredness, she finished the report.
In spite of must be followed by a noun phrase or gerund, not by a clause with a subject and verb.
Despite he studied hard, he did not pass the exam.
Despite studying hard, he did not pass the exam.
Despite can come before a gerund phrase, but not before a finite clause.
In spite of the weather was bad, the match continued.
In spite of the bad weather, the match continued.
In spite of is followed by a noun phrase here; a clause would be wrong.
Prove it
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