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Tricky question



 
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A little problem of spelling | English in Australia
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Tricky question #1 (permalink) Sat Nov 22, 2003 20:45 pm   Tricky question
 

Hello,
I'd like to ask you something - again!

I've recently had a rather heated argument with an English teacher. The reason was that we didn't agree with each other on these lovely structures:

In spite of the fact he was ill.... (this was ok)
Despite of the fact he was ill... (and that's the point!)

Do we say despite OF sth??? We don't, do we?

Thanks for a brief explanation!

Jana
Jana
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Posts: 11

Tricky question #2 (permalink) Sat Nov 22, 2003 21:29 pm   Tricky question
 

Jana,

It's as you say, either 'inspite of of the fact' or 'despite the fact'.

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Tricky question #3 (permalink) Sat Nov 22, 2003 21:32 pm   Tricky question
 

Jana wrote:
Hello,
I'd like to ask you something - again!

I've recently had a rather heated argument with an English teacher. The reason was that we didn't agree with each other on these lovely structures:

In spite of the fact he was ill.... (this was ok)
Despite of the fact he was ill... (and that's the point!)

Do we say despite OF sth??? We don't, do we?

Thanks for a brief explanation!

Jana


This could be a tricky one if there is likely to be a conflict between you and your teacher and I'd hate to be the cause of that. The two possiblities are: In spite of the fact that ...... or Despite the fact that .... Another way of saying this is: Despite his illness - this sounds less complicated.

Alan
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Tricky question #4 (permalink) Sat Nov 22, 2003 22:18 pm   Tricky question
 

Alan and Thorsten,

thank you both very much! So I was right after all, I see...

I could also say "Despite his being ill..." or "In spite of his being ill...", right?

Jana
Jana
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 22 Nov 2003
Posts: 11

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