Despite + clause

Question

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sports/2012-01/09/c_131349081.htm
However, Roberto Mancini's side refused to give up despite they were reduced to 10 men in Vincent Kompanya' sending off during United's dominating first half.

The word "despite" is a preposition, not a conjunction, isn't it? Does a clause follow the word?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

You're right. The sentence is incorrect.

. . . . despite [their] being reduced to ten men etc.

HUBLOT · Answer

Thank you, Avangi.

- ... despite the fact that they were reduced to ... .
- ... although they were reduced to ... .

What do you think of these two?

Avangi · Answer

The meanings are equivalent.

The more wordy one places a bit more emphasis on the caveat. (the condition)

Anonymous · Answer

HUBLOTHowever, Roberto Mancini's side refused to give up despite they were reduced to 10 men in Vincent Kompanya' sending off during United's dominating first half.
The word "despite" is a preposition, not a conjunction, isn't it? Does a clause follow the word?

Yes, despite is a preposition, not a conjunction. Certain prepositions, like despite, take a noun phrase complement (e.g. despite the weather) OR a non-finite gerund/participial subordinate clause.

But your example uses a finite subordinate clause as complement to despite which is incorrect, so the sentence is ungrammatical. This can be corrected by replacing your finite clause with a non-finite clause:

However, Roberto Mancini's side refused to give up despite being reduced to ten men by Vincent Kompanya's sending off ...

As you suggest in your second post, you could use a noun phrase instead: ...refused to give up, despite the fact that they were reduced to ten men by..., but it's a little clunky compared to the clausal alternative.

Best
J

Despite + clause

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