In spite of being the largest island in the world*), Greenland is not an independent country.??
*) except for Australia

Which one is correct?

1.Even though it was the largest island in the world except for Australia, Greenland is not an independent country.

2.In spite of being the largest island in the world except for Australia, Greenland is not an independent country.

Question

In spite of being the largest island in the world*), Greenland is not an independent country.??
*) except for Australia

Which one is correct?

1.Even though it was the largest island in the world except for Australia, Greenland is not an independent country.

2.In spite of being the largest island in the world except for Australia, Greenland is not an independent country.

Answer

The second one is better. The first mixes present and past tense.

Answer

Thanks K P, I agree with you, at first, I thought same with your curiosity about island and continent. Have a good day KP.

Answer

Ruslan, I know, I was just curious) Sorry) I recently learned that in different countries they give different lists of continents in school. 5 or 6 or 7.. So I got curious, if  Australia is an island for Indonesians:))

Answer

I have known Australia is a continent since when I was a child. That was a tricky sentence in the toefl test. That was all about grammar not geography :-)

Answer

Normally Australia is considered a continent. Sometimes 'continent' is defined from geological perspective, so the continent of Australia may include or exclude New Guinea and othetr islands (Oceania, the name of the region, in some countries serves also as the name of this continent...). Of course you may count Australia as 'the largest island within the continen of Australia':) One may argue then that Eurasia+Africa comprise even larger island.... Is it different in Indonesian schools? Do you consider Australia 'the largest island'?