In spite of having taken or in spite of have taken
Hello!

I was wondering if the above structures could be right according to the sentence I pretend to make.

For example:
The original sentence is: Even though Luca took the early bus, he was still late for school!

Now, I have to change the sentence using the word "spite".

Luca was late for school in spite of having taken the early bus! or Luca was late for school in spite of have taken the early bus!

I know the first one is the right, but, could it be right the second one as well?

Thanks!

Question

In spite of having taken or in spite of have taken
Hello!

I was wondering if the above structures could be right according to the sentence I pretend to make.

For example:
The original sentence is: Even though Luca took the early bus, he was still late for school!

Now, I have to change the sentence using the word "spite".

Luca was late for school in spite of having taken the early bus! or Luca was late for school in spite of have taken the early bus!

I know the first one is the right, but, could it be right the second one as well?

Thanks!

Answer

No. Definitely not. You can never follow 'of' with a base form of the verb.

The rule is very easy. With the exception of some cases with 'to', all other prepositions - of, from, with, by, on, at and so on - MUST be followed by the gerund form...of having ... with having.. on having ... for having... .

Remember this rule - it's a simple but very important one.

Answer

The correct version is: "...in spite of having taken..."

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