I haven’t used the words although and though very offen because I don’t know how to do it. I only use although as the first word of a sentence. The moment they should be in the middle of a sentence I don’t know how to say it.
Are the below sentences OK? Please check the commas as well. Thanks.
Although,they couldn’t tell me a immediate solution, they promised me to send a mail containing a description what to check at my side.
They couldn’t tell me a immediate solution though, they promised me to send a mail containing a description what to check at my side.
The two words are separate and have different functions, sometimes. There are occasions when they are interchangeable but there are occasions when ‘though’ has a different function. An example can be seen in your second sentence where ‘though’ has the sense of ‘however’. ‘Though’ can also only be used with ‘even’ or ‘as’. Examples: Even though the weather had improved, we decided to cancel our tour. She behaved as though she had no idea what she was doing.
Both words can introduce a subordinate clause. When used with a subordinate clause before a main clause, the meaning is something like “in spite of the fact that”. When used to introduce a clause following a main clause, the meaning is something like “but it is also true that”. In such cases, use is interchangeable.
Though (but not although or even though) can be used in other positions in the clause apart from at the beginning, with a meaning similar to however or nevertheless. In spoken English it’s particularly common at the end of the clause.
The written usage is as Molly suggests, although being at the beginning and though in other positions within a clause.
However spoken English has more flexibility. See this example.
A: I don´t support either team.
B: Celtic and Rangers are very passionate, but it is okay to be neutral.
Though going into a pub in a Celtic area with a navy blue shirt is not such a good idea.
Here though is used in the spoken context more like “But”.
Then is the meaning of the below two sentences the very same?
They couldn’t tell me an immediate solution though, they promised me to send a mail containing a description what to check at my side.
In spite of the fact that they couldn’t tell me an immediate solution, they promised me to send a mail containing a description what to check at my side.