Concession: aunque with both moods

Explication

Aunque ('although, even though / even if') concedes something, and the mood after it changes the meaning. With the indicative it concedes a fact: aunque llueve, salgo ('although it's raining — and it is — I'm going out'), aunque es caro, lo compro.

With the subjunctive it concedes a hypothesis, something not presented as a fact: aunque llueva, salgo ('even if it rains, I'll go out'), aunque sea caro, lo compro ('however expensive it may be'). So the choice signals whether the concession is real or hypothetical.

The same indicative/subjunctive split runs through related connectors: a pesar de que, pese a que. And por más que / por mucho que ('no matter how much') normally take the subjunctive when the situation is hypothetical: por más que insistas, no voy.

Exemples

Règles liées

• Aunque: although / even if
• When the subjunctive fires: the map