jakkoli + Predicate

The word jakkoli (and its equally standard, interchangeable variant jakkoliv) functions as a subordinating conjunction and an adverb of degree and manner. In its primary role, it introduces a concessive clause, meaning it presents a condition that is irrelevant to the outcome of the main clause.

It attaches to a predicate in three main ways:

• Full verbal predicate: Modifying an action verb to mean 'however much' or 'in whatever way' (e.g., jakkoli se snažil or ať to děláš jakkoli).
• Nominal predicate: Modifying an adjective with a copula verb (e.g., jakkoli je to drahé).
• Elided predicate (verbless clause): Attaching directly to an adjective or adverb where the verb 'to be' is omitted for brevity (e.g., jakkoli drahé).

Word Order and the "Ať už" Construction:
When acting as the sole subordinating conjunction, jakkoli occupies the first syntactic position of the concessive clause. However, remember that Czech second-position enclitics (like se, by, ho) must immediately follow it (e.g., jakkoli se snažil). It also frequently appears later in the clause when paired with the subordinating conjunction ať, which is very frequently combined with už (e.g., Ať už je to jakkoli drahé... or Ať už se snažil jakkoli...). This Ať už ... jakkoli construction is arguably a more common way to express 'no matter how...' or 'in whatever way...' in modern Czech. The main clause frequently uses a correlative conjunction like přesto, přece, or přece jen to reinforce the contrast.

Register and Usage:
When used as a standalone subordinating conjunction, this pattern is considered formal or bookish (knižní). While you will encounter it frequently in written texts like journalism, academic writing, and literature, it is not archaic (unlike the archaic variant jakkolivěk). In casual spoken Czech, native speakers strongly prefer simpler alternatives like i když. However, its secondary use as a simple adverb (meaning 'in any way') is stylistically neutral.

Important Grammatical Notes:
While it often uses the indicative mood for factual concessions, it can also take the conditional mood for hypothetical situations (e.g., jakkoli by se snažil). In formal, journalistic, and academic writing, jakkoli is frequently used purely to mean 'although' and is fully interchangeable with ačkoli or přestože, without necessarily emphasizing degree or manner. Additionally, learners from other Slavic languages should note that Czech does not use the expletive (pleonastic) negative to mean 'no matter how'. You use an affirmative verb for an affirmative meaning (e.g., jakkoli se snažil). However, jakkoli can take a negative verb if the underlying meaning of the clause is actually negative (e.g., jakkoli to nebylo snadné).

Punctuation (Commas):
Czech comma rules are strict here. When jakkoli introduces a concessive clause, that clause must be separated by commas from the main clause (e.g., Jakkoli je to těžké, musíme to zkusit.). Furthermore, when jakkoli is used in an elided (verbless) predicate inserted into a sentence, it must be enclosed by commas on both sides (e.g., Každá otázka, jakkoli nepodstatná, bude zodpovězena.).

Non-Concessive Usage:
Note that jakkoli also has a secondary, non-concessive meaning as a simple adverb meaning 'in any way' or 'at all' in negative or conditional sentences. In this adverbial use, it does not introduce a clause and therefore takes no comma (e.g., Nechci to jakkoli komentovat - I don't want to comment on it in any way). Additionally, it can be used attributively within a noun phrase to directly modify an adjective. In this role, it often follows a preposition (e.g., bez jakkoli velkého úsilí - without any great effort, or s jakkoli dobrým úmyslem - with any good intention).

Common Confusion: Jakkoli vs. Jakýkoli:
Learners frequently confuse the invariable adverb/conjunction jakkoli with the declinable pronoun/adjective jakýkoli (or jakýkoliv), meaning 'any' or 'any kind of'. Remember that jakkoli never declines and modifies verbs, adjectives, or adverbs, whereas jakýkoli must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies (e.g., jakéhokoli, jakýmkoli).