1. Because/ because of/ as/ since etc. connect statement and reason.
Q. Nobody likes him. He is stupid.
= Nobody likes him because he is stupid.
= Nobody likes him because of stupidity.

Q. He didn’t study hard. He failed the exam.
= Since he didn’t study hard, he failed the exam.
= He failed the exam as he didn’t study hard.

2. To, in order to, so, so that, therefore connect action and purpose.
Sita went to the market to/ in order to buy some rice.
She always studies hard. She always stood first in the class.
She always studies hard therefore/so she always stood first in the class.
He went to the bank. He cashed the cheque.
He went to the bank so that he could cash the cheque.

3. Although/even though/though/ in spite of/ despite connect situation and unexpected results.
She studied hard. She failed the exam.
Although/even though/ though she studied hard, she failed the exam.
In spite of/ Despite her hard study, she failed the exam.
In spite of/ Despite the fact that she studied hard, she failed the exam.
Look at the following example and do the exercise.

Example:

1.Fill in each blank with the best word or phrase chosen from the following list:
(because/in spite of/in order to / so that although)
Example: We stayed inside the house………it was too dangerous to go outside.
Answer: We stayed inside the house because it was too dangerous to go outside.

(a) ………. his illness, he continued working hard.
(b) She went to Kathmandu…………buy a bicycle.
(c) …………They were enjoying the film, they left before it finished.
(d) He was angry………..they broke his pen.
(e) ……….she was very old, she still cooked her own food.

Answer:
(a) In spite of his illness, he continued working hard.
(b) Although she was very old, she still cooked her own food.
(c) She went to Kathmandu in order to buy a bicycle.
(d) Although they were enjoying the film, they left before it finished.
(e) He was angry because they broke his pen.

Exercise:

1. Rewrite these sentences, filling in the gap with appropriate words from the list. (therefore, because, though, in spite of, however, because of)
(a) He sat in front of the fire……….he liked its warmth.
(b) His stamp albums were full……….he needs a new one.
(c) He collected space travel stamp………..his grandson’s interest.
(d) ……having collected stamps for so many years’ he still enjoying the hobby.
(e) It was getting more expensive to buy stamps……..he started to continue collecting them.
(f) He still preferred to collect British stamps………they were not as colorful as Nepalese stamps.