Usage of “Although,” “Though,” and “Albeit”
• Although and though both mean despite, but although cannot appear at the end of a sentence.
• Though is more informal and can also mean however when used at the end of a sentence.
• Albeit means even though and is only used in the middle of a sentence.
Examples:
1. “Cold though it was, we still managed to finish the football game.”
• Arabic:
بِالرَّغْمِ مِنَ الْبَرْدِ، تَمَكَّنَّا مِنْ إِكْمَالِ مُبَارَاةِ كُرَةِ الْقَدَمِ.
2. “He is a successful, albeit arrogant, young man.”
• Arabic:
إِنَّهُ شَابٌّ نَاجِحٌ عَلَى الرَّغْمِ مِنْ تَكَبُّرِهِ.
3. “Although they were poor, all the kids got an excellent education.”
• Arabic:
بِالرَّغْمِ مِنْ فَقْرِهِمْ، فَقَدْ تَعَلَّمَ الْأَطْفَالُ جَمِيعًا تَعْلِيمًا مُمتَازًا.
4. “Even though I arrived on time, there was nobody else there.”
• Arabic:
بِالرَّغْمِ مِنْ أَنَّنِي وَصَلْتُ فِي الْمَوْعِدِ الْمُحَدَّدِ، إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ هُنَاكَ أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي.
Arabic Structures for Concessive Phrases:
Structure Example Sentence
بِالرَّغْمِ مِنْ + Noun بِالرَّغْمِ مِنْ مَرَضِهِ، قَرَّرَ أَنْ يَحْضُرَ الْاِجْتِمَاعَ.
(Despite his illness, he decided to attend the meeting.)
مَعَ أَنَّ + Noun/Pronoun مَعَ أَنَّنِي لَمْ أُوَفِّرْ الْكَثِيرَ مِنَ الْمَالِ، سَأَسْتَطِيعُ السَّفَرَ إِلَى الشَّرْقِ الْأَوْسَطِ.
(Even though I did not save much money, I will go to the Middle East.)
عَلَى الرَّغْمِ مِنْ + Noun عَلَى الرَّغْمِ مِنْ حُبِّهِ لِوَطَنِهِ، هَاجَرَ إِلَى أَمْرِيكَا.
(Even though he loves his country, he emigrated to America.)
Additional Examples with Full Harakat:
1. “Despite his difficult circumstances, he was still able to excel in his duties.”
• Arabic:
بِالرَّغْمِ مِنْ أَنَّ ظُرُوفَهُ كَانَتْ صَعْبَةً، إِلَّا أَنَّهُ اِسْتَطَاعَ التَّفَوُّقَ فِي وَاجِبَاتِهِ.
2. “Even though the exam was difficult, I answered all the questions.”
• Arabic:
بِالرَّغْمِ مِنْ أَنَّ الْاِمْتِحَانَ كَانَ صَعْبًا، أَجَبْتُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْأَسْئِلَةِ.
Key Notes for Learners:
1. Variations:
بِالرَّغْمِ مِنْ and عَلَى الرَّغْمِ مِنْ are interchangeable and commonly used for expressing concession in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).
2. Usage of “إِلَّا أَنَّهُ”:
Often used to add contrast or unexpected results after a concessive phrase.
3. Word Order in Arabic:
Concessive phrases typically precede the main clause for emphasis.
4. Diacritical Marks (Harakat):
Harakat clarify the meaning of words and ensure correct pronunciation, especially in formal contexts.