In the first example, the writer probably feels that it is surprising that a lot is known about the artist's later life when little is known about his early life, but in the second, it is the lack of knowledge about the artist's early life which is surprising.
Though is a more informal alternative to although:
I enjoyed the exhibition, though I thought it was rather badly organised.
Even though adds emphasis to the subordinate clause:
Psychosis is also part of this debate, even though problems arising from it affect a relatively small number of people.
Do not use even although or even by itself.
Do not confuse even though and even if:
I'm going to apply for the job, even though it pays very little, (fact)
I'm going to apply for the job, even if it pays very little. (I don't know what it pays.)
A more formal conjunction of contrast is yet:
These exclusive villas are only a five-minute walk from the busy centre of the resort, yet they are a haven of peace and tranquillity.
- We can use these conjunctions with an adjective instead of a clause:
The necklace, even though (it was) staggeringly expensive, would match the dress perfectly.
Though exhausted after the drive home, Shelley cooked a meal for them all.
Her face, although deathly pale, was as stern as ever.
We can use though after an adjective, with verbs such as be, look, seem:
Beautiful though she is, you must be sure that you love her for herself.
Compare this with the use of although as a conjunction:
Although she is beautiful, you must be sure that you love her for herself.
We can use though at the end of a sentence to make a contrast with the sentence that precedes it.
PREPOSITIONS OF CONTRAST
We can use the prepositions despite and in spite of to express contrast. They are more formal than (al)though:
Despite the depressed gold price, mine production rose in most areas last year. As these are prepositions, they do not introduce clauses:
X In spite of she saw me in the car, she didn't wave or say hello.
Although she saw me in the car, she didn't wave or say hello.
X Despite the plane left an hour late, we arrived-at our-destination on-time-:
Though the plane left an hour late, we arrived at our destination on time.
These prepositions can be followed by a noun or an -ing form:
Despite often offering poor conditions and basic salaries, charities rarely have problems in recruiting staff.
To introduce a clause with despite or in spite of, we have to add the fact that:
In spite of the fact that the final rehearsal had gone so badly, the first night was a great success.
ADVERBS OF CONTRAST
- We can use sentence adverbials, e.g. however, nevertheless, still, on the other hand, on the contrary, to make a contrast between sentences, but mainly in more formal speech and writing:
A dog may be a good companion for the elderly. However, the need to take it for walks may be a disadvantage.
Nevertheless/nonetheless is more formal than however:
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The new version of Windows is not problem-free. Nevertheless, it is still an improvement on the previous one.
We use commas to separate these adverbials from the sentence. We use even so in the same way, often to express a particularly surprising contrast:
The last attempt to swim the Channel ended in disaster. Even so, more swimmers than ever are training to achieve this difficult feat.
More informal adverbs of concession are still, all the same and mind you:
Our latest designs are not really as innovative as the competition. Still, they will certainly be popular, as they are realistically priced.
I know it's not late. I have to go, all the same.
The new programme about dinosaurs is a bit far-fetched. Mind you, it's a lot more interesting than most of the other programmes on TV right now.
- All of the adverbs of contrast can be placed at the beginning of the contrasting sentence:
One way of selecting candidates is awritten editorial test. On the other hand, an informal interview can often be more informative.
We can also put them after the subject or verb of the contrasting sentence:
Little Is known about Shakespeare's early life in Stratford. His years in London, however, are well documented./... are, however, well documented.
The adverb though can be put at the end of the contrasting sentence:
We haven't had a lot of success with the garden this year. The weather was much hotter than usual, though.
Nevertheless and nonetheless are not commonly used at the end of a sentence; we tend to use them at the beginning of the sentence. But we often use even so at the end of a sentence. Look at these examples:
| Last year the government turned away more asylum seekers than ever before | Nonetheless, the public considers that too many are allowed to stay. The public, however,considers that too many are allowed to stay The public considers that too many are allowed to stay, even so. |
The informal adverb still can appear at the beginning of the sentence, but not the end, and all the same and mind you are common at both the beginning and the end:
| Iknow it's far too expensive for someone on my income. | Still, it's worth it! All the same, it's worth it! It's worth it, all the same! Mind you, it's worth it! It's worth it, mind you! |
