aínda que

Although and Even if: Aínda Que

Level 4

Aínda que introduces an obstacle that does not stop the main action. With the indicative it is a real fact: Aínda que chove, saio (although it is raining, I am going out).

How It Works

What it does

Aínda que introduces a difficulty that does not stop what the main clause says. The clause can come first or second: Aínda que é tarde, imos tomar un café or Imos tomar un café, aínda que é tarde.

Indicative or subjunctive?

  • Indicative: the speaker presents the obstacle as a fact. Aínda que chove, saio a correr (although it is raining, I am going running).
  • Present subjunctive: the obstacle is only possible, or the speaker does not care whether it is true. Aínda que chova, sairei a correr (even if it rains, I will go running).
  • Past subjunctive: an imagined situation, often with the conditional. Aínda que tivese cartos, non compraría ese coche (even if I had money, I would not buy that car).

A possible future obstacle. When you do not know whether it will happen, use the present subjunctive: aínda que chova mañá (even if it rains tomorrow), not aínda que choverá.

Other ways to say it. Galician also uses aínda + gerund and aínda con + infinitive with the same meaning: Aínda sendo fácil, custoume (even though it was easy, it was hard for me). For despite, see malia and a pesar de.

Not the same as aínda. On its own, aínda means still or yet. It is the que that makes it a conjunction.

Pronouns. Aínda que starts a subordinate clause, so the pronoun goes before the verb: Aínda que o sabe, non o di (although he knows it, he does not say it).

Examples (6)

  1. Aínda que chove, saio a correr.

    Although it is raining, I am going running.

    Word by Word: Although that it-rains, I-go-out to run.

    Chove is indicative: the rain is a real fact.

  2. Aínda que chova, sairei a correr.

    Even if it rains, I will go running.

    Chova is subjunctive: the rain is only a possibility.

  3. Aínda que é tarde, imos tomar un café.

    Although it is late, we are going to have a coffee.

    The speaker accepts that it is late, so the verb is indicative.

  4. Aínda que tivese cartos, non compraría ese coche.

    Even if I had money, I would not buy that car.

    An imagined situation takes the past subjunctive tivese and the conditional compraría.

  5. Non cho vou dicir, aínda que mo pidas mil veces.

    I am not going to tell you, even if you ask me a thousand times.

    Mo is me + o. The pronoun goes before pidas because of aínda que.

  6. Aínda que o sabe, non o di.

    Although he knows it, he does not say it.

    The pronoun o goes before sabe inside the aínda que clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the future indicative for a possible future obstacle.

    Aínda que choverá mañá, sairemos.
    Aínda que chova mañá, sairemos.

    When the future obstacle is only possible (even if), aínda que takes the present subjunctive (chova), not the future indicative (choverá).

  • Putting the pronoun after the verb in the aínda que clause.

    Aínda que sábeo, non o di.
    Aínda que o sabe, non o di.

    Aínda que is a subordinating conjunction, so the pronoun goes before the verb.

How It Connects

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

aínda queLevel 4Although and Even if: Aínda Que

Learn This First

Aínda que introduces a concession, with mood distinguishing asserted facts from possibilities.

Words in This Pattern

aínda que