Concessive clauses: aunque, a pesar de (que), por más que

What it is

A concessive clause names an obstacle and says that it doesn't change the result: Aunque estaba cansada, terminó el informe. English needs two connectors for this, although for facts and even if for possibilities. Spanish has one main connector, aunque, and lets the mood of the verb make the difference. Around it you'll find a pesar de (que) ("despite, even though"), por más que / por mucho que ("no matter how much"), the conversational y eso que ("and that's even though…") and tanto si… como si ("whether… or…").

How it works

The mood after aunque doesn't depend on the connector. It depends on what you are doing with the information:

The last two rows pair with the conditional, exactly like si clauses: Aunque me lo pidiera, no lo haría.

A pesar de takes a noun or an infinitive: a pesar del frío, a pesar de estar enferma. Before a conjugated verb it becomes a pesar de que and follows the same mood logic as aunque: A pesar de que llovía, salimos. Don't forget the contraction: a pesar del ruido, never ✗ a pesar de el ruido. In the news you'll also read pese a (que), with the same meaning.

Por más que and por mucho que stress effort or quantity. A real effort can go in the indicative (Por más que lo intenté, no me salió); a hypothetical one takes the subjunctive (Por mucho que insistas, no voy a ir). A noun can sit inside: Por más vueltas que le doy, no lo entiendo.

Y eso que comes after the main clause and adds a surprising fact. Because that fact is true, it always takes the indicative: Reprobó, y eso que estudió todo el fin de semana.

Tanto si… como si… covers both options. It contains si, so it never takes the present subjunctive: Tanto si llueve como si no, salimos a las ocho.

When to use it

• Telling someone a fact that doesn't stop you: Aunque es caro, vale la pena.
• Ruling out a possibility: Aunque me ofrezcan más dinero, no voy a cambiar de trabajo.
• Brushing off an objection: someone says "But it's Sunday!" and you answer Aunque sea domingo, hay que terminarlo. The subjunctive means "granted, but it doesn't matter".
• Imagining the impossible: Aunque tuviera tiempo, no haría ese curso.
• Complaining with emphasis in conversation: Llegó tarde, y eso que vive a dos cuadras.
• Asking for the minimum: aunque sea means "even if only, at least": Llámame, aunque sea cinco minutos.

• Aunque no tengo hambre, voy a probar el ceviche.Although I'm not hungry, I'm going to try the ceviche.a fact → indicative
• Aunque mañana haga frío, vamos a ir al estadio.Even if it's cold tomorrow, we're going to the stadium.a possibility → subjunctive
• A pesar de la lluvia, el desfile empezó a la hora.Despite the rain, the parade started on time.a pesar de + noun
• Por mucho que corras, ya no alcanzas el autobús.However fast you run, you won't catch the bus now.por mucho que + subjunctive
• No le gustó la película, y eso que es su director favorito.She didn't like the film, even though it's her favourite director.y eso que + indicative

Contrasts and traps

• The mood changes the meaning. Aunque llueve, salgo (it is raining, and I'm going out) vs Aunque llueva, salgo (it may rain; I'm going out anyway).
• No conditional after aunque. ✗ aunque tendría tiempo → aunque tuviera tiempo.
• A pesar de que, not ✗ a pesar que. The de stays, and before an infinitive there is no que: a pesar de saberlo.
• No pero after aunque. ✗ Aunque es caro, pero lo compro. One connector is enough.
• Aunque at the end can mean "but": Es caro, aunque vale la pena. It adds a correction and keeps the indicative.
• Tanto si llueve, never ✗ tanto si llueva: si doesn't take the present subjunctive.

If you speak Portuguese

Portuguese embora and ainda que always take the subjunctive (embora esteja chovendo). Spanish aunque doesn't: when you report a fact, use the indicative (aunque está lloviendo). Mesmo que corresponds to aunque + subjunctive, nem que seja to aunque sea, and e olha que to y eso que. Apesar de is three words in Spanish: a pesar de.