mesmo que + Subjunctive
Even if: Mesmo Que
Mesmo que + subjunctive means even if: Mesmo que mo pidas, non o farei (even if you ask me, I will not do it).
How It Works
Even if
Mesmo adds emphasis (even), and mesmo que introduces a possibility that would not change the result: Mesmo que chova, iremos de excursión (even if it rains, we will go on the trip).
Choosing the tense
- Present or future possibility: present subjunctive. Mesmo que mo pidas, non o farei.
- Unlikely or imaginary situation: imperfect subjunctive with the conditional in the main clause. Mesmo que tivese cartos, non compraría ese coche.
Never use the future indicative after mesmo que.
Other forms with the same meaning
- mesmo se + indicative: Mesmo se chove, saímos a correr. It follows the rules of se, so it never takes the present subjunctive.
- mesmo aínda que + subjunctive, a stronger form of aínda que.
- mesmo + gerund: Mesmo sabendo a verdade, non dixo nada (even though he knew the truth, he said nothing).
Mesmo que or aínda que?
For a fact the speaker accepts (although), aínda que + indicative is the usual choice. Use mesmo que with the subjunctive when you mean "even if". For the adjective and adverb meanings of mesmo, see eu mesmo, o mesmo.
Examples (6)
- Mesmo que mo pidas, non o farei.
Even if you ask me, I will not do it.
Pidas is present subjunctive; mo (me + o) goes before the verb after que.
- Mesmo que chova, iremos de excursión.
Even if it rains, we will go on the trip.
A future possibility takes the present subjunctive: chova.
- Mesmo se chove, saímos a correr.
Even if it rains, we go out running.
After mesmo se, use the indicative, as after se.
- Mesmo que tivese cartos, non compraría ese coche.
Even if I had the money, I would not buy that car.
An imaginary situation takes the imperfect subjunctive and the conditional.
- Mesmo sabendo a verdade, non dixo nada.
Even though he knew the truth, he said nothing.
Mesmo + gerund expresses the same idea without a conjunction.
- Ven á festa, mesmo que sexa un anaco.
Come to the party, even if it is only for a little while.
Sexa is the subjunctive of ser.
Common Mistakes
Using the future indicative after mesmo que.
Mesmo que choverá mañá, iremos.Mesmo que chova mañá, iremos.A future possibility after mesmo que takes the present subjunctive, never the future.
Using the present subjunctive after mesmo se.
Mesmo se chova, iremos.Mesmo se chove, iremos.Se never takes the present subjunctive. Use mesmo se + indicative, or mesmo que + subjunctive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Mesmo que introduces a possible circumstance that would not change the outcome.
Related Patterns
- por moito que + SubjunctiveHowever Much: Por Moito Que
Another concessive, meaning however much.
Level 5 - se + Imperfect SubjunctiveHypothetical Conditions
The same imperfect subjunctive is used for imaginary situations.
Level 4 - eu mesmo / o mesmoMesmo: Self and Same
Other meanings of the word mesmo.
Level 3 - malia / a pesar deDespite: Malia and a Pesar De
Concessive expressions followed by a noun or infinitive.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice mesmo que + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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