Spot the flaws：Contrasting conjunctions
【明報專訊】MO MO: I'm really disappointed, I failed my maths exam.
Pat: Oh no. You usually do well in maths, don't you?
MO MO: Yes, I do, but this time was different. Although I had been studying for weeks, but I couldn't sleep the night before the exam due to the anxiety and ended up with insomnia.
Pat: That's really tough. Have you talked to your teacher about it?
MO MO: Yes, I did. Although they understood my situation, but they can't give me another chance to retake the exam.
Pat: I'm sorry to hear that. Don't be too hard on yourself, take it easy! You can always do better next time.
■Game
(Suggested answers on this text)
Can you spot any errors in the article?
Please circle them and make corrections.
Tips: There are two errors.
■English highway﹕Although vs. But
One of the common mistakes of using ''although'' in daily conversations and writing is using ''but'' in sentences beginning with although.
Although I had been studying for weeks, but I couldn't sleep the night before the exam due to the anxiety and ended up with insomnia. (╳)
I had been studying for weeks, but I couldn't sleep the night before the exam due to the anxiety and ended up with insomnia. (?)
Although they understood my situation, but they can't give me another chance to retake the exam. (╳)
They understood my situation, but they can't give me another chance to retake the exam. (?)
◆ Words similar to ''although''
''Although'', ''even though'', ''despite'' and ''in spite of'' have the same meaning. We can use them to say something is surprising, unusual or unexpected.
While, ''although'' and ''even though'' are considered as conjunctions, ''despite'' and ''in spite of'' are considered as prepositions.
Sentence pattern:
Even though/Although + action (S+V) , unexpected result.
E.g. Even though it rained, they went hiking.
Despite / In spite of + noun/gerund, + unexpected result.
E.g. In spite of her age, she ran a full marathon.
■Gear up
Write down the correct answers.
1. __________ my practicing every day, I still can't play the violin flawlessly.
2. __________ I studied hard, I didn't perform well in examinations.
(Answers on next text)
■Glossary
disappointed (adj) 失望
anxiety (n) 焦慮
insomnia (n) 失眠
situation (n) 情况
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[Smarties' Power English 第399期]
