Because, Although, Despite, and However

What you’ll learn

Connect reasons and contrasts with the right structures.

ភ្ជាប់មូលហេតុ និងគំនិតផ្ទុយដោយលំនាំត្រឹមត្រូវ។

Meaning and use

Because and although introduce clauses. Because of and despite introduce noun phrases or -ing constructions. However connects a contrast between statements and needs suitable punctuation; it cannot simply replace although inside the same structure. Choose a link that expresses the logical relationship you intend.

Because/although តាមដោយឃ្លាមានប្រធាននិងកិរិយាសព្ទ។ Because of/despite តាមដោយកន្សោមនាម ឬ -ing។ However ភ្ជាប់គំនិតផ្ទុយដោយត្រូវមានវណ្ណយុត្តិសមរម្យ។

Grammar patterns

Pattern	Example or form
Clause / noun phrase	because it rained / because of the rain
Contrast	although it was late / despite the late hour; It was late. However, we continued.

Examples

1. We stayed inside because it was raining.

   យើងនៅខាងក្នុង ព្រោះមេឃកំពុងភ្លៀង។

2. The match stopped because of the rain.

   ការប្រកួតឈប់ដោយសារភ្លៀង។

3. Although she was tired, she finished the work.

   ទោះបីនាងហត់ នាងបានបញ្ចប់ការងារ។

4. It was expensive. However, it was useful.

   វាថ្លៃ។ ទោះយ៉ាងណា វាមានប្រយោជន៍។

Everyday conversation

Dara: Did the rain stop your trip?

Maly: No. Despite the rain, we visited the museum.

Common mistakes

Instead of	Use	Why
Despite it was raining, we left.	Although it was raining, we left.	Although introduces a finite clause; despite needs a noun phrase or -ing form.
I stayed home because of I was ill.	I stayed home because I was ill.	Use because before the clause I was ill.

Practice

Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.

សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។

1. Complete: ___ the traffic, we arrived on time. (Despite/Although)
2. Join with although: It was late. We continued.
3. Correct punctuation: It rained, however we played.

Answers and explanations

Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ

1. Despite

   The traffic is a noun phrase.

2. Although it was late, we continued.

   Although introduces the concession clause.

3. It rained. However, we played.

   Use a sentence boundary or a semicolon before linking however.

Quick recap

• Clause / noun phrase: because it rained / because of the rain
• Contrast: although it was late / despite the late hour; It was late. However, we continued.