per quanto / per quel che
Limiting Clauses (Per Quanto, Per Quel Che)
Limiting clauses (proposizioni limitative) restrict the validity of a statement to a specific field or degree of knowledge. They act as 'hedges' to clarify that you are only speaking within the boundaries of what you know or what concerns you.
How It Works
Limiting clauses are essential for nuanced communication in Italian. They allow you to qualify your statements so you don't sound overly assertive about things you aren't 100% sure of.
1. Common Synonyms
Several expressions are used interchangeably to limit a statement:
- Per quanto / A quanto: Both mean 'as far as' or 'from what'. A quanto is particularly frequent in modern spoken Italian.
- Per quel che / Per quello che: 'For what' or 'as far as'.
- Secondo quanto: 'According to what' (more formal).
2. Mood Selection: Indicative vs. Subjunctive
Limiting clauses primarily use the indicative mood when expressing a fact or a certain limit of knowledge:
- Per quanto ne so... (As far as I know...)
The subjunctive is used in more formal contexts or to emphasize a sense of subjectivity and caution:
- Per quanto io ne sappia... (As far as I may know...)
3. The Role of 'Ne'
In expressions like per quanto ne so, the particle ne is crucial. It functions as a complement of topic, meaning 'about it' or 'concerning that matter.' Omitting it often sounds unnatural to native speakers.
4. Implicit Limiting Clauses
You can also limit a statement regarding a specific activity using in quanto a or per quanto riguarda followed by a noun or an infinitive:
- In quanto a cantare, non ha rivali. (As for singing, he has no rivals.)
5. Limiting vs. Concessive
It is vital to distinguish this from the concessive use of 'per quanto' (meaning 'although'):
- Limiting: Per quanto ne so, è partito. (As far as I know, he left.) -> Uses Indicative.
- Concessive: Per quanto sia stanco, lavora. (Although he is tired, he works.) -> Requires Subjunctive.
Examples (5)
- Per quanto ne so, il ristorante è chiuso il lunedì.
As far as I know, the restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Word by Word: For how much of-it I know, the restaurant is closed the Monday.
This is the most common everyday use of the limiting clause using the indicative mood.
- A quanto ne dicono i giornali, la situazione sta migliorando.
From what the newspapers say about it, the situation is improving.
Word by Word: To how much of-it say the newspapers, the situation is improving.
The variant 'A quanto' is very common in spoken Italian and is interchangeable with 'Per quanto'.
- Per quel che mi riguarda, possiamo andare anche adesso.
As far as I'm concerned, we can go even now.
Word by Word: For that which me concerns, we can go also now.
The phrase 'per quel che mi riguarda' is a standard way to express a personal opinion or limit the statement to one's own perspective.
- Per quanto io ne sappia, non ci sono ancora novità.
As far as I am aware, there is no news yet.
Word by Word: For how much I of-it know (subjunctive), not there are yet news.
Using the subjunctive 'sappia' instead of the indicative 'so' makes the sentence sound more formal and cautious.
- In quanto a cucinare, Marco è un vero disastro.
As for cooking, Marco is a real disaster.
Word by Word: In how much to to-cook, Marco is a real disaster.
Limiting clauses can also be formed implicitly using 'In quanto a' followed by an infinitive.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out 'ne' in the usual fixed phrase.
Per quanto so, lui non viene.Per quanto ne so, lui non viene.The usual fixed phrase is 'per quanto ne so', where 'ne' means 'about it' ('as far as I know about it'). 'Per quanto so' is also heard, but it is less common and less standard.
Confusing limiting 'per quanto' with concessive 'per quanto'.
Per quanto ne so, sia intelligente.Per quanto ne so, è intelligente.If you mean 'as far as I know' (limiting), use the indicative. If you mean 'although' (concessive), you must use the subjunctive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn these limiting clauses, you need to be comfortable with the Present Subjunctive, as it is the standard mood used after these expressions. Additionally, since these phrases often limit a statement based on the speaker's knowledge, familiarity with the verb 'sapere' and basic relative pronoun structures is essential.
- Present Subjunctive
The pattern 'per quanto' and 'per quel che' typically requires the use of the subjunctive to express a limitation on knowledge or claims.
Level 3 - sapere / conoscereSapere vs. Conoscere
These limiting clauses are most frequently used with the verb 'sapere' (e.g., 'per quanto io sappia') to define the boundaries of what the speaker knows.
Level 1 - che / cuiRelative Pronouns 'Che' and 'Cui'
Understanding the relative pronoun 'che' is necessary to grasp the structure of 'per quel che' (for that which).
Level 2
Related Patterns
- ne (argomento)'Ne' for the Topic Discussed
The particle 'ne' is almost always required in limiting clauses to refer to the topic being discussed.
Level 2 - nei confronti di / per quanto riguardaComplex Prepositional Phrases
These are complex prepositional phrases that perform a similar function of defining the scope or topic of a sentence.
Level 4 - Indicative vs Subjunctive
Understanding when to use the indicative (certainty/facts) versus the subjunctive (subjectivity) is key to using limiting clauses correctly.
Level 3 - nonostante / sebbene / benché + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Concessive Conjunctions
These concessive conjunctions are often confused with 'per quanto' because 'per quanto' can also function as a concessive.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Sources
Practice per quanto / per quel che in Bubblegum
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