Fiche à imprimer : Exprimer l'opposition : but, although, however, despite

Mot	Sens	Construction	Exemple
but	mais	relie deux propositions	It was raining, but we went out.
although / though	bien que	+ sujet + verbe	Although it was raining, we went out.
even though	même si (plus fort)	+ sujet + verbe	Even though he's rich, he's not happy.
however	cependant	nouvelle phrase, suivi d'une virgule	It was raining. However, we went out.
despite / in spite of	malgré	+ nom ou verbe en -ing	Despite the rain, we went out.
whereas / while	alors que (contraste)	+ sujet + verbe	I like tea, whereas my sister likes coffee.

Les pièges

1. Après despite, jamais de sujet + verbe ni de of : despite the rain, despite being tired (et non ~~despite it was raining~~, ~~despite of~~).

2. In spite of prend toujours of : in spite of the rain.

3. However commence en général une nouvelle phrase ; il ne relie pas deux propositions comme but.

Despite being tired, she finished her homework.

Malgré sa fatigue, elle a fini ses devoirs.

Mise en situation : le bilan d'un voyage

Journalist : How was your trip to Scotland?

Comment s'est passé ton voyage en Écosse ?

Zoé : Great! Although it rained every day, we visited a lot of places.

Super ! Bien qu'il ait plu tous les jours, nous avons visité beaucoup d'endroits.

Journalist : And the food?

Et la nourriture ?

Zoé : Delicious, but expensive. However, the people were really friendly, despite the bad weather!

Délicieuse, mais chère. Cependant, les gens étaient très sympathiques, malgré le mauvais temps !

À retenir

but = mais ; although / even though + sujet + verbe = bien que / même si.
However, ... = cependant (en début de phrase).
despite / in spite of + nom ou -ing = malgré.
whereas = alors que (comparaison de deux faits).

Exercice 1 : Exprimer l'opposition : exercice 1 (QCM)

It was raining, ___ we went for a walk.
1. although
2. but
3. despite
___ it was raining, we went for a walk.
1. Despite
2. Although
3. However
___ the rain, we went for a walk.
1. But
2. Although
3. Despite
The test was difficult. ___, I passed it.
1. Despite
2. However
3. Although
She went to work ___ being ill.
1. although
2. however
3. in spite of
I like tea, ___ my sister prefers coffee.
1. whereas
2. despite
3. in spite of
He's rich. ___, he isn't happy.
1. Although
2. Despite
3. However
___ he's only ten, he speaks three languages.
1. In spite
2. Although
3. Despite
We enjoyed the holiday despite ___ weather.
1. that the bad
2. of the bad
3. the bad
« Bien qu'il soit fatigué, il continue. »
1. Although he's tired, he goes on.
2. Despite he's tired, he goes on.
3. However he's tired, he goes on.

Exercice 2 : Exprimer l'opposition : exercice 2 (à compléter)

I'm tired, .......................... I'll help you. (mais)
.......................... it was cold, we swam in the sea. (bien que)
.......................... the traffic, we arrived on time. (malgré)
The film was long. .......................... , it was great. (cependant)
She passed the exam in .......................... of her illness. (malgré)
He failed .......................... working hard. (malgré)
My brother is tall, .......................... I'm short. (alors que)
.......................... he's rich, he lives in a small house. (même si)
I wanted to go out. .......................... , I had to study. (cependant)
We had a good time .......................... the bad weather. (malgré)

Exercice 3 : Exprimer l'opposition : mise en situation

Tu racontes que tu as réussi ton examen, même s'il était difficile.
1. Although it was difficult, I passed my exam.
2. However it was difficult, I passed my exam.
3. Despite it was difficult, I passed my exam.
Vous êtes allés à la plage malgré la pluie.
1. We went to the beach despite of the rain.
2. We went to the beach despite the rain.
3. We went to the beach although the rain.
Tu donnes ton avis : le film est long, mais très bon.
1. The film is long, but it's very good.
2. The film is long, however very good it.
3. The film is long, despite it's very good.
Toi tu aimes la mer, alors que ta sœur préfère la montagne.
1. I love the sea, whereas my sister prefers the mountains.
2. I love the sea, in spite my sister prefers the mountains.
3. I love the sea, despite my sister prefers the mountains.
Ton ami était malade, mais il est quand même venu.
1. In spite he was ill, he came.
2. Although he was ill, he came.
3. Despite he was ill, he came.
Dans une rédaction, tu nuances ton idée.
1. Social networks are useful. Although, they can be dangerous.
2. Social networks are useful. Despite, they can be dangerous.
3. Social networks are useful. However, they can be dangerous.
Malgré ses efforts, ton frère a perdu le match.
1. Despite of his efforts, my brother lost the match.
2. Although his efforts, my brother lost the match.
3. Despite his efforts, my brother lost the match.
Tu es allé à l'école même si tu étais fatigué.
1. I went to school even though I was tired.
2. I went to school even I was tired.
3. I went to school despite I was tired.
L'hôtel était cher, mais confortable.
1. The hotel was expensive despite comfortable.
2. The hotel was expensive although comfortable it.
3. The hotel was expensive but comfortable.
Ta correspondante a gagné malgré sa blessure.
1. She won in spite of her injury.
2. She won although her injury.
3. She won in spite her injury.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. b) but · 2. b) Although · 3. c) Despite · 4. b) However · 5. c) in spite of · 6. a) whereas · 7. c) However · 8. b) Although · 9. c) the bad · 10. a) Although he's tired, he goes on.

Exercice 2

1. but · 2. Although · 3. Despite · 4. However · 5. spite · 6. despite · 7. whereas · 8. Even though · 9. However · 10. despite

Exercice 3

1. a) Although it was difficult, I passed my exam. · 2. b) We went to the beach despite the rain. · 3. a) The film is long, but it's very good. · 4. a) I love the sea, whereas my sister prefers the mountains. · 5. b) Although he was ill, he came. · 6. c) Social networks are useful. However, they can be dangerous. · 7. c) Despite his efforts, my brother lost the match. · 8. a) I went to school even though I was tired. · 9. c) The hotel was expensive but comfortable. · 10. a) She won in spite of her injury.