Phrase · ✋ Concession and insistence
Mal que me pese, el proyecto de Lucía es mejor que el mío.
Much as I hate to admit it, Lucía's project is better than mine.
C2conceding reluctantlyAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Mal1adverbmuch as (lit. badly)que1conjunction(that)me2object pronounmeyo · 1st sing. · indirect objectpese2verbit weighs onpesar · subjunctive · present · 3rd sing.,eldeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definiteproyectonounprojectmasc. · sing.deprepositionofLucíanounLucíaesverbisser · present · 3rd sing.mejoradjectivebettersing.queconjunctionthanel3determinerthemasc. · sing. · definitemío3pronounmine1st sing..
- Mal → pese: mal que me pese: fixed formula
- pese → me: pesar + dative of the person
- mejor → que: mejor que: comparison
- mío → proyecto: el mío = mi proyecto
Word for word: “Badly as it may weigh on me, Lucía's project is better than mine.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1mal que me pese = much as I hate it: a fixed formula with the subjunctive, conceding something unwelcome. Concessive structures II →
- 2pesar + dative = to weigh on someone, built like gustar: me pesa, mal que le pese a Juan. Verbs like gustar II: doler, parecer, quedar, importar, molestar, faltar →
- 3Possessive pronoun with the article: el mío = my project. After ser alone: es mío. Possessive pronouns and stressed possessives →
Variations
- Aunque me pese, el proyecto de Lucía es mejor que el mío.
- Me duele admitirlo, pero el proyecto de Lucía es mejor que el mío.
- Mal que me pese, tengo que reconocer que el de Lucía es mejor.