The adverbial modifier of concession

An adverbial modifier of concession is preceded by the prepositions despite, in spite of.

I’m glad it’s all turned out well despite your going behind my back. Я рад, что все обошлось, несмотря на то, что ты действовал за моей спиной.

In spite of knowing nothing about business, he wanted to supervise everything. Хоть он и ничего не знал о том, как вести дело/ он хотел всем руководить.

Exercise 122. Point out the gerund, the gerundial phrase or the gerundial construction used as adverbial modifier of concession. Note the prepositions preceding the adverbial modifier of concession. Translate the sentences.

MODEL: She managed to do it despite your disturbing her. Ей удалось сделать это, несмотря на то, что ты ей мешал (хотя ты ей мешал).

1. They have been married for twenty years despite everyone thinking that they were conflicting personalities. 2. In spite of our children being close friends we have never gone for a holiday together. 3. Despite him learning all the rules his teacher didn’t give him a pass. 4. Despite their parents disapproving of the idea they made up their mind to spend their honeymoon in Florida. 5. Sid never took offence in spite of being constantly laughed at. 6. Despite her child being frightened she tried to pull herself together and calm him down. 7. It took Lisa a couple of hours to make a very good meal for the family despite her mother giving her a hand. 8. He got out of the difficulty in spite of not getting any help. 9. Rob took his wife to the clinic despite her refusing to go there. 10. In spite of her trying to impress her boss with diligence he decided not to promote her. 11. The University public didn’t like the new film despite its being a hit. 12. The boy had no appetite in spite of having had no meal since morning. 13. Jill didn’t get the job in spite of having all the necessary qualifications. 14. She went to work in spite of being unwell. 15. He still loves her in spite of her having betrayed him. 16. Despite being blinded in his right eye in a battle off Corsica, H. Nelson was soon made an admiral.

Exercise 123. Paraphrase the sentences. Use an adverbial modifier of concession.

MODEL: Though he hasn’t seen her for a long time he doesn’t miss her. – He doesn’t miss her despite not having seen her for a long time.

1. Though the weather was nasty we decided not to stay indoors. 2. Though she spends so much time on going to work she is never late. 3. Although he put on a warm coat he caught cold. 4. Though he spoke with a strong Russian accent his English was good enough. 5. We agreed to invite the man although he was a total stranger to us. 6. Though Bill had improved his tennis he wasn’t able to win the competition. 7. She didn’t get tired although she was cleaning the flat all morning. 8. Though his wife objected he sold the house to the local council. 9. He wasn’t going to buy the painting although he collected antiques. 10. Though London suffers from air pollution we refused to live in the suburbs. 11. Although the traffic was bad he arrived on time. 12. Though they lived in the same block of flats they rarely saw each other.

Exercise 124. A. Richard is a strong-willed person. Say what he managed to do despite, in spite of different situations. Use a gerund, a gerundial phrase or a gerundial construction as adverbial modifier of concession. You may change the position of the adverbial modifier.

Richard managed to...

despite in spite of

being very tired after work. his wife having left him. his child being seriously ill. his friend having betrayed him. his counterpart having let him down. his car having been stolen. his firm having gone bankrupt. his dog having died. his parrot having flown away.

Suggested variants:

1. to establish a new company

2. to do the shopping

3. to look after his child and do all the domestic chores

4. to find a nurse and a good therapist

5. to find the thief

6. to forgive him/not to pay him back

7. not to judge a person

8. to buy and bring up a puppy

9. to find it in the zoo.

B. Laura is a lazy and stubborn girl. Say what she refused to do.

Laura refused to...

despite in spite of

her mother asking her to do it. her father telling her not to go there. her friend persuading her to go to the library. her little sister begging her to take her there. her boyfriend having invited her to do it. her teacher telling her to do it before the exam.

Suggested variants:

1. to take her to the zoo 4. to stay at home

2. to do the cleaning 5. to read up for the exam

3. to rewrite one’s test 6. to visit his grandma

Exercise 125. Read the English sentences. Point out the gerundial construction used as adverbial modifier of concession. Choose the corresponding Russian sentence.

1. Despite his children disturbing him he managed to finish his work.

a) Хотя дети ему мешают, ему удалось закончить работу.

b) Несмотря на детей, мешавших ему, он смог закончить работу.

c) Хотя его дети помешали ему, он смог закончить работу.

2. In spite of her classmates and teachers willing to have a farewell party she didn’t feel like going there.

a) Несмотря на ее одноклассников и учителей, которые хотели устроить выпускной вечер, ей не хотелось идти туда.

b) Несмотря на нее, ее одноклассники и учителя хотели устроить выпускной вечер, а она не хотела туда идти.

c) Хотя ее одноклассники и учителя хотели устроить выпускной вечер, она не хотела туда идти.

3. Despite him investigating the problem the results didn’t prove his hypothesis.

a) Несмотря на его исследование проблемы, результаты не подтвердили его гипотезу.

b) Несмотря на то, что он исследует проблему, результаты не подтвердили его гипотезу.

c) Несмотря на него, при исследовании проблемы результаты не подтвердили его гипотезу.

4. In spite of the book having been published we could not buy it anywhere.

a) Хотя книга была опубликована, мы нигде не могли её купить.

b) Несмотря на книгу, которая публиковалась, мы нигде не могли ее купить.

c) Хотя книга публиковалась, мы нигде не могли её купить.

Exercise 126. Translate the sentences into English. Use an adverbial modifier of concession expressed by a gerund, a gerundial phrase or a gerundial construction.

1. Хотя он любил ее, он не решался сделать ей предложение. 2. Хотя она выглядела молодо, она одевалась, как старуха. 3. Несмотря на то, что все засмеялись, шутка была неудачной. 4. Хотя в детстве он много рисовал, он не стал художником. 5. Несмотря на то, что он обидел ее (to give offence to somebody), она не хотела мстить ему. 6. Хотя жена жаловалась на него, он обожал ее. 7. Хотя у меня дома много словарей, я не смог перевести это предложение. 8. Несмотря на то, что он плохо владел французским, он любил смотреть французские фильмы. 9. Несмотря на то, что они не списывали (to crib off) друг с друга, они получили отличную оценку за последнюю контрольную. 10. Хотя он разговаривал с ней в таком тоне (in this tone), она не чувствовала себя несчастной. 11. Несмотря на то, что при встрече они обменивались шутками (to exchange jokes), они не были друзьями. 12. Хотя у каждого были свои обязанности, им не удалось организовать вечер.