makar / ma koliko

Even if and However Much

Level 6

Makar can introduce a concession, often with the sense “even if.” Ma koliko means “however much” or “no matter how much,” extending the concession across degrees.

How It Works

Makar padao snijeg, doći ću. presents snow as an obstacle that will not prevent arrival. A participial form in this pattern does not automatically refer to a completed past event; the whole construction supplies the hypothetical meaning.

Ma koliko combines with a degree or amount: Ma koliko zadatak bio težak, pokušat ćemo. It leaves the degree open while keeping the main assertion valid. Koliko god can express a similar concession.

Use a comma after an initial concessive clause. Distinguish these clauses from ordinary fact-based iako or premda statements and from an actual condition whose fulfilment determines whether the main event occurs.

Examples (3)

  1. Makar padao snijeg, doći ću na sastanak.

    Even if it snows, I will come to the meeting.

  2. Ma koliko se trudio, ne uspijeva otvoriti staklenku.

    However hard he tries, he cannot open the jar.

  3. Ma koliko zadatak bio težak, nećemo odustati.

    However difficult the task may be, we will not give up.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

makar / ma kolikoLevel 6Even if and However Much

Learn This First

Advanced concessive markers develop the relation between an admitted circumstance and a main claim.

Words in This Pattern

makar