enda þótt / jafnvel þótt
Even Though and Even if
Jafnvel þótt það rigni förum við út. (Even if it rains, we will go out.) rigni is subjunctive.
How It Works
jafnvel þótt: even if, even though.
- Jafnvel þótt það rigni förum við út. (Even if it rains, we will go out.)
- Ég myndi ekki gera það jafnvel þótt þú borgaðir mér. (I wouldn't do it even if you paid me.)
enda þótt: although. It states a real fact and sounds careful and written:
- Hann kom, enda þótt hann væri veikur. (He came, even though he was ill.)
Which subjunctive? Use the present subjunctive for now and the future: rigni, hafi. Use the past subjunctive for the past or for something unreal: væri, borgaðir.
Word order. When the clause comes first, it takes the first place, so the main clause starts with its verb: Jafnvel þótt það rigni förum við út. See verb-second word order.
Not the same as enda. On its own, enda means "and after all" and gives a reason. Only enda þótt means "although".
Examples (5)
- Jafnvel þótt það rigni förum við út.
Even if it rains, we will go out.
Word by Word: Even though it rain go we out.
- Hann kom, enda þótt hann væri veikur.
He came, even though he was ill.
Word by Word: He came, end though he were ill.
- Ég myndi ekki gera það jafnvel þótt þú borgaðir mér.
I wouldn't do it even if you paid me.
Word by Word: I would not do it even though you paid me.
- Enda þótt hún hafi búið hér lengi talar hún litla íslensku.
Although she has lived here a long time, she speaks little Icelandic.
Word by Word: End though she have lived here long speaks she little Icelandic.
- Jafnvel þó að ég flýti mér næ ég ekki strætó.
Even if I hurry, I won't catch the bus.
Word by Word: Even though that I hurry me reach I not bus.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative after jafnvel þótt.
Jafnvel þótt það rignir förum við út.Jafnvel þótt það rigni förum við út.jafnvel þótt takes the subjunctive: rigni, not rignir.
Keeping the subject first in the main clause.
Jafnvel þótt það rigni við förum út.Jafnvel þótt það rigni förum við út.The fronted clause takes the first place, so the verb förum comes next and the subject after it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Even though builds on although.
Related Patterns
- endaAnd After All (Enda)
enda alone means "and after all", not "although".
Level 5 - The Present Subjunctive
The subjunctive forms used for now and the future.
Level 3 - The Past Subjunctive
The subjunctive forms used for the past and for unreal events.
Level 3 - The Verb Comes Second
Why the main clause starts with its verb.
Level 1 - hvort sem ... eðaWhether or Not (Hvort Sem)
Another way to say something happens either way.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice enda þótt / jafnvel þótt in Bubblegum
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