Grammar: Even though, Even when, Even so, Even if

What is the difference between…

Even though
Even when
Even so
Even if

Most of them it sounds to me like the Spanish ( aunque…) … but how can I distinguish them to use them correctly?
Let’s start with ‘Even so’ which is similar to ‘nevertheless’, ‘however’ or ‘but’ (aun así)
I’ve got a Kindle app on my iPad and love it. EVEN SO, I still read a lot of paperback books.

“Even so” is used when there’s a surprising or unexpected result.

Examples:
She is loud and unfriendly. EVEN SO,……………….I love her / I like her. – She is loud and unfriendly, so it is unexpected that I like her.
When we went to the night club it was crowded and very noisy,……………….EVEN SO,………we had a great time. / we stayed there until 5am!
When I went to China I was sick for 3 days…………………EVEN SO,…………………I really enjoyed the experience. / it was a really good trip and I would go back again.
It’s a long and sometimes uncomfortable bus ride to get to Craig’s flat, ………….EVEN SO………….Reza somehow gets here 10 minutes late.
Some of my students are lazy, boring and unpleasant…………….EVEN SO,………….I teach them as best I can. / I still love my teaching job.

So, let’s have a look at:
Even though
Even when
Even if

When a strong statement is made, the statement is often followed with a phrase with “even.” The word “even” adds shock, surprise, or excitement.

For example:
When I cook food, I burn everthing. I EVEN burnt a slice of toast yesterday.
Craig is even capable of burning toast.
My memory’s getting worse as I’m getting older. Sometimes, I can’t EVEN remember what I had for lunch the day before.

“Even though” in Spanish is "aunque o a pesar de"

I decided to walk to the supermarket even though it was raining. – Decidí caminar/andar hasta el supermercado aunque estaba lloviendo.
“Even though” refers to a definite outcome or result: Even though I got very drunk on our first date, she agreed to see me again.
“Even when” is “aún cuando” / “incluso cuando” – refers to something that happens rarely (casi nunca, pocas veces)
Even when Reza wanted to speak, Craig didnt let him. – Aún cuando Craig quería hablar, Reza no le dejó.
Even when Reza set out half an hour early, he still arrived late to Craig’s house.
“Even if” – In the unlikely case that…. (aunque, aun si) Even if refers to a possible outcome:
Even if we never see each other again, I’ll always remember you. (Said Craig’s ex-girlfriend before she threw me out of her flat!)
Aunque nunca nos volvamos a ver, siempre te recordaré. – Even if we never see each other again, I’ll always remember you.
I’d still love chocolate even if everyone else hated it.

These expressions are very similar, but not always interchangeable.

The meaning and context of the sentence is very important when deciding whether to use “even though,” “even when” or “even if.”
Even though the interview was bad, Pepito got the job.
The interview was bad, but Pepito got the job.

It’s not correct to say: X”Even when the interview was bad, Pepito got the job.”X – Not Correct”
“Even when we get a sponsor for this podcast, Reza and I won’t have enough money to retire.” – This sentence is grammatically Correct, but this sentence suggests that we’ll probably get a sponsor!
Even if we get a sponsor for this podcast, Reza and I won’t have enough money to retire. – correct!

The context will show when to use “even though,” “even when” or “even if.”

Vocabulary: Crime

to steal, to rob – you rob a bank (a bank robber), rob a post office, rob a person “I’ve been robbed” / you steal money, time, a wallet, things from a house, ideas
to burgle, to mug – to burgle a house or an office – to break into (enter by force, illegally enter)
to burgle (verb) – burglar (person) – burglary (crime)
to steal (verb) – a thief (person) – theft (crime)
to rob (verb) – robber (person) – robbery (crime) – robbery is a countable noun (there’s been A robbery)

to mug means to steal from someone in a public place, often with a knife or a gun. A mugger is the person, ‘mugging’ is the crime.

Nouns ending in -ing can be countable (for example, ‘muggings’ and ‘buildings’.
murderer (person) – murder (crime) – to murder (verb)
an assasin murders someone famous and/or important. Assinations are often for money or politics.
rapist (person) – rape (crime) – to rape (verb)
frauster (person) – fraud (fraud) – to defraud (verb)
arsonist (person) – arson (crime) – to commit arson (to burn things, like buildings, illegally)
vandal (person) – vandalism (crime) – to vandalise (vandalism is an uncountable noun)
to commit: to commit a crime, murder, suicide, adultery,
shoplifter (person) – shoplifting (crime) – to shoplift (verb)
pickpocket (person) – pickpocketing (crime) – to pickpocket (verb)
“You’ve got to pick a pocket or two” – Oliver:
smuggler (person) – smuggling (crime) – to smuggle (verb)
hijacker (person) – hijacking (crime) – to hijack (verb)
kidnapper (peron) – kidnapping (crime) – to kidnap (verb)
internet pirate (person) – internet piracy (crime) – to download illegally from the internet
to rip (someone) off (verb) – a rip off (noun) = to cheat someone, engañar – also ‘to con’ someone “You’ve been conned” or “You’ve been ripped off”
a person who ‘cons’ is a con artist.
Craig and Reza’s Weekly wind-ups (to wind up = annoy, irritate, bother: fastidiar, disgustar, molestar)

*Dispones de más PODCAST en inglés publicados en los cuadernos anteriores
a los que puedes acceder directamente así como al índice de su contenido.