несмотря на + Accusative

The preposition несмотря на is used to introduce a concession—a circumstance that might be expected to prevent an action but does not.

1. Case Governance:
It strictly governs the Accusative case. The form depends on gender, declension, and animacy:

• For masculine inanimate and singular neuter nouns (both animate and inanimate), the form is identical to the Nominative: Несмотря на дождь (Despite the rain), несмотря на чудовище (Despite the monster).
• For feminine and masculine nouns ending in -а/-я, the ending changes to -у/-ю: Несмотря на плохую погоду (Despite the bad weather), несмотря на мужчину (Despite the man). Neuter nouns ending in -мя (like время) and feminine nouns ending in a soft sign (-ь) remain unchanged (Accusative is identical to Nominative).
• For plural inanimate nouns, the Accusative form is identical to the Nominative: Несмотря на трудности (Despite the difficulties).
• For masculine animate nouns ending in a consonant, -й, or -ь, and plural animate nouns (including plural neuter animate nouns), the Accusative form is identical to the Genitive: Несмотря на сильного соперника (Despite the strong opponent), несмотря на чудовищ (Despite the monsters).
• For personal pronouns, the Accusative form is identical to the Genitive regardless of animacy (e.g., он becomes его whether it refers to a person or an inanimate object). Additionally, third-person pronouns (его, её, их) gain an initial epenthetic н- when directly following a preposition: Несмотря на него (Despite him / it).

2. Punctuation:
Phrases starting with несмотря на are usually separated by commas. However, commas are omitted if the phrase is closely connected to the verb, typically when it is short, placed at the end of the sentence, and carries the main logical stress.

• Несмотря на кризис, компания выросла. (Comma used)
• Он это сделал несмотря на запрет. (No comma, logical emphasis on the obstacle)

3. Conjunctional Use:
To introduce a full subordinate clause (with its own subject and verb), use the complex conjunction несмотря на то что. In modern Russian, it can be treated as a single unit with a comma only before the entire phrase, but it is also frequently split (расчленение союза). When the split conjunction follows the main clause, commas are required before both несмотря and что.

• Мы пошли гулять, несмотря на то что было холодно. — We went for a walk despite the fact that it was cold.
• Мы пошли гулять, несмотря на то, что было холодно. — (Split conjunction)

4. Register and Synonyms:
This pattern is neutral and very common. A more formal, bookish synonym is невзирая на, which also governs the Accusative case and is found in official or literary contexts.

5. Spelling Note:
When used as a preposition meaning 'despite,' несмотря is written as one word. If you are literally saying 'not looking at' (a verbal adverb), it is written as two words: не смотря. For example: Он говорил, не смотря на меня. (He was speaking without looking at me).

6. Fixed Phrase:
An extremely common fixed phrase is несмотря ни на что (despite everything). Note how the particle ни splits the preposition from the pronoun: Я сделаю это, несмотря ни на что. (I will do it, despite everything).