não obstante

Notwithstanding

Level 6

Não obstante is a high-register formal link used in academic, legal, or literary Portuguese. It functions as both a preposition (despite) and a conjunction (however).

How It Works

Não obstante is one of the most formal connectors in the Portuguese language, often found in legal texts and academic writing. A common formal variant is nada obstante, which carries the same meaning.

It serves three primary grammatical roles:

1. Prepositional (Concessive): Followed by a noun phrase or an infinitive, it is synonymous with apesar de (despite).
Example: Não obstante a chuva, saímos.

2. Conjunctional (Adversative): It acts like contudo or no entanto (however/nevertheless). In this role, it can appear at the start of a clause or intercalated (placed after the verb or between parts of the sentence) for stylistic emphasis.
Example: Tentamos tudo; não conseguimos, não obstante, o resultado esperado.

3. Conjunctional (Concessive): It can function as a synonym for embora (although). In this case, it introduces a subordinate clause and typically requires the subjunctive mood to express the concessive idea.
Example: Não obstante o autor seja famoso, o livro é ruim.

Examples (6)

  1. Não obstante os esforços da equipa, o projeto foi cancelado.

    Notwithstanding the team's efforts, the project was canceled.

    Word by Word: Not withstanding the efforts of the team, the project was canceled.

    Here, 'não obstante' acts as a preposition followed by a noun phrase (os esforços).

  2. O réu confessou o crime; não obstante, a defesa pediu a sua absolvição.

    The defendant confessed to the crime; nevertheless, the defense asked for his acquittal.

    Word by Word: The defendant confessed the crime; not withstanding, the defense asked the his acquittal.

    In this sentence, it acts as an adversative conjunction, similar to 'however' or 'nevertheless'.

  3. A situação é grave; não pretendemos, não obstante, desistir do plano.

    The situation is serious; we do not intend, however, to give up on the plan.

    Word by Word: The situation is serious; not we intend, not withstanding, to desist of the plan.

    This demonstrates the intercalated placement of the connector, positioned between the verb and the infinitive.

  4. Não obstante ter sido avisado, ele decidiu arriscar.

    Despite having been warned, he decided to take the risk.

    Word by Word: Not withstanding to have been warned, he decided to risk.

    This shows the use with an infinitivo pessoal construction.

  5. Não obstante a lei seja clara, há margem para interpretação.

    Although the law is clear, there is room for interpretation.

    Word by Word: Not withstanding the law be clear, there is margin for interpretation.

    An example of 'não obstante' used as a concessive conjunction with the subjunctive.

  6. Nada obstante o frio intenso, os atletas completaram a prova.

    Notwithstanding the intense cold, the athletes completed the race.

    Word by Word: Nothing withstanding the cold intense, the athletes completed the race.

    'Nada obstante' is a formal variant of 'não obstante' used here in a prepositional role.

Common Mistakes

  • Pluralizing the expression to match a plural noun.

    Não obstantes os problemas, seguimos em frente.
    Não obstante os problemas, seguimos em frente.

    'Não obstante' is an adverbial/prepositional phrase and is invariable. It never changes to 'obstantes'.

  • Adding the preposition 'de' after the expression.

    Não obstante de ser tarde, ele ligou.
    Não obstante ser tarde, ele ligou.

    Unlike 'apesar de', 'não obstante' does not require the preposition 'de'. Adding it is a common hypercorrection.

  • Using 'inobstante' in formal writing.

    Inobstante a crise, a empresa cresceu.
    Não obstante a crise, a empresa cresceu.

    While 'inobstante' is frequently used in legal circles, it is not recognized by official language academies. Stick to 'não obstante' for standard formal Portuguese.

How It Connects

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

não obstanteLevel 6Notwithstanding

Learn This First

To understand 'não obstante', a learner needs a solid grasp of how to express contrast and concession in Portuguese. Since this is a level 6 (highly formal/literary) connector, the learner should already be familiar with common contrastive conjunctions (mas, porém) and intermediate formal connectors (no entanto, contudo). Familiarity with 'apesar de' is also helpful as 'não obstante' often functions as its formal synonym.

Words in This Pattern

não obstanteobstante