Choose the option that best combines the two sentences into one simple sentence:
Gauri was the youngest player in the team. Still, she scored both goals in the final.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → In spite of being the youngest player in the team, Gauri scored both goals in the final.
Joining with “in spite of” + -ing:
- “In spite of” shows a contrast: something happens though we would not expect it. It is a preposition, so it takes a noun or an -ing form.
- Here “Gauri was the youngest player” becomes In spite of being the youngest player in the team, and “Gauri” is the subject of the main part.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: In spite of she was the youngest player in the team, Gauri scored both goals in the final. — Incorrect. The option says “In spite of she was”. “In spite of” cannot take a full clause with its own subject and verb.
Option 3: Being the youngest player in the team, Gauri scored both goals in the final. — Incorrect. This changes the meaning. “Being the youngest player” gives a reason, as if she scored because she was the youngest. But “Still” in the second sentence shows a contrast.
Option 4: Gauri was the youngest player in the team in spite of scoring both goals in the final. — Incorrect. This changes the meaning. It says she was the youngest in spite of scoring the goals, which makes no sense.