Is this sentence well-formed?
Hello dear native speakers

Children playing in the school playground, although under their teacher's supervision, hit each other. Liz, the smallest of them, fell down abd hurt herself badly.

1)Am I using the word "although" correctly here? Or should I say " despite their teacher's supervision"?

2) should I use " the" before the word "children" or it can work better without "the"?

Thanks a lot

Question

Is this sentence well-formed?
Hello dear native speakers

Children playing in the school playground, although under their teacher's supervision, hit each other. Liz, the smallest of them, fell down abd hurt herself badly.

1)Am I using the word "although" correctly here? Or should I say " despite their teacher's supervision"?

2) should I use " the" before the word "children" or it can work better without "the"?

Thanks a lot

Answer

1. You should use despite.

2. I would start the sentence with despite, but if you don't I would include "the" before children.

Although is used to provide information that could prove something untrue or a reason to not do something. Despite is used to explain that something is done even when there is an obstacle of some kind.

He seems like a good guy, although I have seen him hit somebody before. (reason against a position)
I want to go the beach, although it might rain. (reason not to go)
I want to go to the beach, despite the fact that it is raining. (obstacle that will be disregarded)