It might seem like you could use “even” and “even though” in similar situations when you are speaking or writing in English…but you can’t!
Check out these sample sentences and try to determine how each are used, then continue reading this grammar-focused post to find out if you’re right.
“I don’t even know who she is!”
“I don’t have a car…I don’t even have a license.”
“Even though I should stay home and study, I will go to my friend’s birthday party.”
“I will work this weekend, even though I really need a day off.”
EVEN
“Even” is used to add emphasis, usually at the end of a story or with other information.
For example: “This woman kept talking to me at lunch today. She was sitting at the next table and was talking to me about her job. It was so strange. I don’t even know who she is!”
“Even” usually goes before the verb; in sentences with a linking verb, it goes after the linking verb.
In sentences using a form of “to be,” it goes after the verb: “She is even taller than her father.”
You can remove “even” from these sentences and they will still be grammatically correct.
EVEN THOUGH
“Even though” is used in the same way as the phrase “despite the fact” or the word “although.” (“Even though” is a bit stronger than “although” in this usage.)
It indicates that a situation will happen, regardless of (or despite) other factors. The situation that will happen is the part of the sentence that doesn’t begin with “even though.”
For example: In the sentence “Even though I should stay home and study, I will go to my friend’s birthday party,” the situation that will happen is “I will go to my friend’s party.” It means, “I should stay home and study, but I will go to my friend’s birthday party.”
Can you come up with more sentences to use “even” and “even though”?
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Teacher Amanda 