despite=in spite of 这是表让步关系的介词,从不做连词使用.所以,后面只能接名词性的结构,如：名词词组,动名词词组等.如：
Despite the cold weather,they try their best to school and never be late.
Despite raining,we didn't give up our decision.
而表示尽管,引导让步状语从句的连词很多：though,although,even if,even though,as 等,都是连词.
Even though his parents didn't permit,this girl kept her promise,and visited this penpal.