Although, Though, Even Though (25 real examples + Free PDF)

Conjunctions can seem difficult to understand at first. This blog post will help you understand how to use the words Although, Though, and Even Though with confidence. Learn fast with lots of examples.

Although, Though, and Even though are used to join and contrast two ideas. Even though is more common than Although in spoken English.
“Even though it was raining we had fun.”
Bad weather (raining) is contrasted with fun.
Though can be used at the end of a sentence

“It was raining, we had fun though.”

Understand this grammar with lots of natural examples that you can use right away. Plus find a link to my new though short pronunciation video, find my full video embed, and get a free pdf download at the bottom of this post. Keep reading.

Although – not very common in spoken English
Although we had to wait in line for 30 minutes, it was worth it.
Though – can be used at the end of a sentence
We had to wait in line for 30 minutes, it was worth it though.
Even though – common in spoken English
Even though we had to wait in line for 30 minutes, it was worth it.
Although - Though - Even Though (En...
Although - Though - Even Though (English grammar)

Though, Although, and Even though – Conjunctions

What is a conjunction?

Conjunctions join words, phrases, or sentences. And, but, etc. are examples of conjunctions.
LINK

  • I bought some apples and bananas at the store. 

The conjunction and joins the words apples and bananas telling you what I bought.

  • I like applesbut I prefer bananas.

The conjunction but joins the clauses “I like apples” and “I prefer bananas” explaining which fruit I like better.

Though – meaning

  • Though is a conjunction that means: despite the fact that 

  • Though is also an adverb that is used at the end of a clause or sentence that gives less importance to the previous fact or opinion. 

Both the conjunction and adverb forms connect two ideas and show a relationship between them.

though conjunction definition from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
Please look at the following examples:

  • Though a few protesters remain at city hall, the demonstration is over.

Two or three protestors stayed outside city hall despite the fact that the demonstration was finished. 

  • I love my little brother, though he is annoying sometimes. 

Despite the fact that my little brother can be annoying at times, I still love him.

though adverb definition from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
Please look at the following examples:

  • The movie was almost 3 hours long, I liked it though

The movie was very long but this wasn’t a problem because I liked it. 

  • Nighttime in the mountains can get very cold. Don’t worry though, I packed our warmest sleeping bags. 

The fact that it’ll be cold it’s not so serious because we will have warm sleeping bags.

Though pronunciation (Video short)

The letters O-U-G-H are pronounced differently in different words. It’s confusing, right? I know it’s confusing because I have to teach it whenever I write this word with my students. 

The pronunciation of THOUGH sounds like OH. Just like the verbs GO, KNOW, and THROW.

This is different than how we pronounce these letters in words like ENOUGH and TOUGH. In these words, the letters make an UFF sound.

Click the link and watch my short THOUGH pronunciation video. LINK

Other O-U-G-H sounds

The links will give you definitions with audio for listening:

OUGH – OH sound

OUGH – UFF sound

OUGH – OFF sound

OUGH – OW sound

  • plough (This is UK spelling. In America it is spelled PLOW)
  • bough

Just remember that in the word THOUGH these letters make an OH sound. Like GO, KNOW, and THROW.

Although – meaning

Although is used for introducing a statement that makes the main statement in a sentence seem surprising LINK

  • Although young, Bill is one of the most experienced players on the team.

It’s surprising that Bill has lots of experience because he is young.

  • Although small, this car has lots of space in the trunk. 

The car is small but you would be surprised how big the trunk is.

Even Though – meaning

Even is an adverb that is used to emphasize something unexpected or surprising LINK

🠟 Click for pronunciation
emphasis special importance that is given to something.

  • I went to the park, even though it was late.

I’m giving special importance to the fact that it was late, an odd (unusual) time to go to the park.

  • The train was very crowded today, even though it was the middle of the afternoon and not rush hour.

This sentence is giving special importance to the fact that the train was busy during a time that is not usually busy.

Although Though Even Though The train was very crowded today, even though it was the middle of the afternoon and not rush hour.
  • Michael didn’t show up at all yesterday, he didn’t even call anyone to let us know.
    It’s surprising that Michale didn’t call us to say he wasn’t coming.

When you put even in front of though you are adding emphasis to the statement.

  • Even though it rained a little bit, everyone had fun at the picnic.
    You might think that rain would ruin a picnic, but it didn’t. Everyone still had fun.

When to use Although/Though/Even though

Please look at the following example:

  • Although/Though/Even though we had to wait in line for 30 minutes, it was worth it. The roller coaster was awesome!

Here we are comparing and showing the difference between the two activities.

  • The first activity is waiting. Waiting is not fun.
  • The second activity is riding an awesome roller coaster.
Although Though Even Though Even though we had to wait in line for 30 minutes, it was worth it.

The sentences mean the same thing, but in spoken English even though is the most natural choice.

  • Even though we had to wait in line for 30 minutes, it was worth it. The roller coaster was awesome!

We use although more in formal written English. You will see this word used in newspaper stories and headlines.

  • New study finds that, although body ideals are changing, women still feel pressure to look a certain way

The adverb form of though can be used at the end of a sentence.

  • Bill and I are members of the same gym. I never see him though.
Although Though Even Though Bill and I are members of the same gym. I never see him though.
From Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
although / even though / though
You can use these words to show contrast between two clauses or two sentences. Though is used more in spoken than in written English. You can use although, even though and though at the beginning of a sentence or clause that has a verb. Notice where the comma goes:

Although/​Even though/​Though everyone played well, we lost the game.

– We lost the game although/​even though/​though everyone played well.

You cannot use even on its own at the beginning of a sentence or clause instead of although, even though or though:

Even everyone played well, we lost the game.

LINK

Although Though Even though examples

Although

  • Although it may be tempting, please don’t feed wild deer that wander into town. 

  • We are hoping that things will return to normal by the summer, although no one knows for sure. 

Even though

  • Even though it was raining on Saturday, my Dad played 18 holes of golf. He really loves golf!

  • Even though the coffee at this cafe is more expensive, I always come here. It’s close to my office and the staff are very friendly. 

(In this sentence, the price of coffee at this cafe is being compared to other cafes. More expensive means more expensive than other cafes in general.)

Though

A: How was the movie?
B: The movie was quite long, almost 3 hours. I liked it though.

A: How was the theater?
B: The theater chairs were very comfortable, the bathroom was a bit dirty though.

Though/Although can mean BUT

  • The president said he wants to improve our country’s health care system, though he doesn’t have a clear plan on how to do that.

  • The boss wants to buy new accounting software, although I don’t know why. Our current software works great and is easy to use.
Although Though Even Though The boss wants to buy new accounting software, although I don't know why.

Though can mean HOWEVER

  • It’s raining today. I don’t mind though, I just bought a cool new raincoat last week.

  • It’s raining; however, I don’t mind because I have a nice new raincoat.
  • Luke just broke up with his girlfriend last month. He seems happy today though.

  • Luke and his girlfriend broke up; however, he seems OK.
Although Though Even Though Luke just broke up with his girlfriend last month. He seems happy today though.

Quickly Learn vocabulary – Root words with prefixes and suffixes (Video+PDF)

Although Though Even though Conclusion

Although, Though, and Even Though are useful in natural conversation. Use these words in your own English conversations and start sounding just like a native speaker.

Although Though Even though PDF

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