għalkemm

Although

Level 4

Use għalkemm before a clause; each predicate keeps its own tense, agreement and negation.

How It Works

Għalkemm means “although”. It introduces a circumstance against which the main outcome is unexpected. The conjunction has no agreement endings: verbs agree with their respective subjects, which can be different. A concession can concern a completed past event, a recurring situation or a future circumstance. Its main clause can be affirmative or negative.

Optional xorta, “all the same”, strengthens the contrast. Compare għax kienet għajjiena, “because she was tired”, with għalkemm kienet għajjiena, “although she was tired”. The reason explains an outcome; the concession introduces a circumstance whose expected consequence is set aside. Read the verb forms for time reference: għalkemm itself supplies neither a past tense nor an unreal condition.

Examples (3)

  1. Għalkemm Rita kienet għajjiena, ħarġet.

    Although Rita was tired, she went out.

    Going out runs against the expectation created by tiredness.

  2. Għalkemm Lara taħdem bil-lejl, ssib ħin għall-kotba.

    Although Lara works at night, she finds time for books.

    Both imperfect predicates describe recurring circumstances.

  3. Għalkemm se tagħmel ix-xita, se noħorġu.

    Although it is going to rain, we will go out.

    The concession and outcome both have future reference.

How It Connects

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

għalkemmLevel 4Although

Learn This First

Introduce concession as acknowledging a circumstance while presenting an unexpected outcome. The past, recurring and future examples show that għalkemm supplies this relationship while the predicates retain their own time and agreement.