як ні
However Much with Як Ні
Як ні means however much or no matter how: Як ні стараўся, ён не змог. (Try as he might, he could not.)
How It Works
Як ні opens a clause that grants something and then sets it aside. The main clause says what stays true in spite of it: Як ні стараўся, ён не змог. (Try as he might, he could not.)
What can follow. A verb is most common: як ні спяшаліся (however much we hurried). A state word such as шкада, цяжка or позна also works: Як ні шкада, трэба ісці. (Sad as it is, we have to go.)
Ні, not не. The official spelling rules write the particle ні before the verb in such clauses, because it strengthens an affirmative meaning. The effort really happened: in Як ні стараўся, he did try. Writing не here is a common slip.
With бы. For a hypothetical case, often one still in the future, add бы and use the past form of the verb, as in што б ні and дзе б ні: Як бы ні было позна, патэлефануй. (No matter how late it is, call.)
Punctuation and word order. Put a comma between the two clauses. The main clause often starts with а or contains усё роўна (anyway) to sharpen the contrast: Як ні спяшаліся мы, а на цягнік спазніліся.
The fixed phrase як ні круці (whichever way you look at it) is built the same way. For a plain although, use хоць.
Examples (6)
- Як ні стараўся, ён не змог адчыніць дзверы.
Try as he might, he could not open the door.
Word by Word: How ni he-tried, he not could open door.
- Як ні шкада, трэба ісці.
Sad as it is, we have to go.
Word by Word: How ni pity, need to-go.
- Як ні спяшаліся мы, а на цягнік спазніліся.
However much we hurried, we still missed the train.
Word by Word: How ni hurried we, but for train were-late.
- Як ні цяжка было, яна не кінула вучобу.
Hard as it was, she did not give up her studies.
Word by Word: How ni hard was, she not dropped studies.
- Як бы ні было позна, патэлефануй мне.
No matter how late it is, call me.
Word by Word: How would ni was late, call me.
- Як ні круці, а праўду не схаваеш.
Whichever way you look at it, you cannot hide the truth.
Word by Word: How ni turn, but truth not you-will-hide.
Common Mistakes
Writing не instead of ні in the concessive clause.
Як не стараўся, ён не змог.Як ні стараўся, ён не змог.In a clause that concedes effort, the 2008 rules use the particle ні, which strengthens the meaning. Не would deny the effort, but he really did try.
Using бы with a future-tense verb.
Як бы ні будзе позна, патэлефануй мне.Як бы ні было позна, патэлефануй мне.Бы always goes with the past form of the verb, so the phrase is як бы ні было, not як бы ні будзе. The past form keeps its hypothetical meaning, so it still covers the future.
How It Connects
Learn This First
However much follows whatever.
Related Patterns
- хоць / хацяAlthough with Хоць and Хаця
Хоць is the plain way to say although; як ні stresses how much effort or degree there was.
Level 4 - дарма штоEven Though with Дарма Што
Another concessive at this level: дарма што means even though.
Level 6 - нягледзячы наDespite with Нягледзячы На
Нягледзячы на тое, што is the neutral written way to say in spite of the fact that.
Level 4 - хай сабеLet It Be with Хай Сабе
Хай сабе also sets something aside, but as a shrug: let it be so.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
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