Understanding Sentence Combination with 'Though'

The question asks us to combine two separate sentences using the conjunction 'though'. The original sentences are:

• He has been trying his level best to win.
• He could not succeed.

The conjunction 'though' is used to connect two ideas where one contrasts with the other. It introduces a clause that presents a point that makes the main clause seem surprising or unexpected. Essentially, it means 'despite the fact that'. When using 'though', one clause states the effort or condition, and the other states the contrasting result or situation.

Analysing the Original Sentences and Tenses

Let's look closely at the tenses used in the original sentences:

• "He has been trying his level best to win." This sentence uses the present perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action that started in the past and is continuing up to the present moment, emphasizing the duration of the effort.
• "He could not succeed." This sentence uses the modal verb 'could' with 'not succeed', indicating a lack of success in the past or up to the present moment relative to the effort.

When combining sentences with conjunctions like 'though', it is generally important to maintain the original tenses unless there is a specific grammatical rule requiring a change (which is not the case here). The combination should accurately reflect the relationship between the two original statements.

Evaluating the Combining Options

Let's examine each option provided and see how it uses 'though' and what tenses it employs:

Option 1 Analysis: Though he is trying his level best to win, he could not succeed.

• This option uses 'Though' at the beginning, which is a correct structure.
• However, it changes the tense of the first sentence from 'has been trying' (present perfect continuous) to 'is trying' (present continuous). This alters the meaning slightly, focusing on the ongoing action now rather than an action continuing from the past up to now.
• The second part, 'he could not succeed', is correct.

Because the tense of the first part is changed, this option is not the best combination.

Option 2 Analysis: He is trying his level best to win, though he could not succeed.

• This option places 'though' in the middle, connecting the two clauses. This is also a grammatically acceptable structure for 'though'.
• Similar to Option 1, it changes the tense of the first sentence from 'has been trying' to 'is trying'.
• The second part, 'he could not succeed', is correct.

Again, the change in tense makes this option less accurate compared to preserving the original tenses.

Option 3 Analysis: Though he has been trying his level best to win, he could not succeed.

• This option uses 'Though' at the beginning.
• Crucially, it maintains the original tense of the first sentence: 'has been trying'. This accurately reflects the duration and continuity of his effort up to the point of not succeeding.
• It also maintains the original tense of the second sentence: 'he could not succeed'.

This option correctly combines the sentences by using 'though' and preserving the original tenses, showing the contrast between the continuous effort and the lack of success.

Option 4 Analysis: Though he had been trying his level best to win, he could not succeed.

• This option uses 'Though' at the beginning.
• It changes the tense of the first sentence to 'had been trying' (past perfect continuous). This tense is used for an action that continued up to a specific point in the past. The original sentence used 'has been trying', which relates the action to the present. Changing it to 'had been trying' shifts the timeframe entirely to the past before another past action, which doesn't align with the present perfect continuous in the original statement.
• The second part, 'he could not succeed', is correct on its own but combined with the past perfect continuous, it suggests a different sequence of events than implied by the original sentences.

The change to the past perfect continuous tense makes this option incorrect as a combination of the given original sentences.

Conclusion on Combining Sentences with 'Though'

Based on the analysis, the correct combination must use 'though' to show the contrast and preserve the original tenses ('has been trying' and 'could not succeed'). Option 3 is the only one that achieves this.

Revision Table: Sentence Combining with 'Though'

Additional Information on Conjunctions of Contrast

Besides 'though', other conjunctions can be used to show contrast or concession. The most common ones are 'although' and 'even though'.

• Although: Very similar to 'though' and often interchangeable. It is slightly more formal than 'though'.
  • Example: Although he tried his level best to win, he could not succeed.
• Even though: Used to introduce a stronger or more emphatic contrast. It highlights the surprising nature of the result given the condition.
  • Example: Even though he tried his level best to win, he could not succeed.
• Though (at the end): 'Though' can also be used at the end of the second clause in informal English, meaning 'however'.
  • Example: He tried his level best to win. He could not succeed, though.

Understanding how to use these conjunctions correctly is key to writing clear and complex sentences that express relationships between ideas.