oricât

No Matter How Much

Level 5

Use oricât to express that an outcome remains the same regardless of the degree, quantity, or effort involved. It translates to 'no matter how much' or 'however much.'

How It Works

The pattern oricât is used to create concessive clauses where the intensity of an action or the quantity of an object does not change the result in the main clause.

1. Usage with Verbs (Adverbial)
When modifying a verb, it remains oricât. It most frequently appears with the conditional to show a hypothetical effort.
Example: Oricât aș încerca, nu reușesc. (No matter how much I might try, I don't succeed.)

2. Usage with Adjectives/Adverbs (Degree)
When modifying an adjective or adverb, you must use the particle de.
Pattern: oricât de + [adjective]
Example: Oricât de greu ar fi, voi continua. (No matter how hard it might be, I will continue.)

3. Usage with Nouns (Pronominal Adjective)
When it precedes a noun, it must agree in gender and number (oricât, oricâtă, oricâți, oricâte). While it lacks singular Genitive and Dative forms, a plural genitive/dative adjective form is oricâtor.
Example: ajutorul oricâtor oameni (the help of however many people).

4. Mood Selection and Punctuation

  • Conditional-Optative: The standard choice for hypothetical or potential situations.
  • Indicative: Used for real, recurring, or habitual facts (e.g., Oricât mănâncă, nu se îngrașă).

Punctuation Rule: Clauses introduced by oricât are always separated from the main clause by a comma, regardless of their position in the sentence.

Examples (5)

  1. Oricât de mult ar costa, tot îl cumpăr.

    No matter how much it costs, I'm still buying it.

    Word by Word: However much of much it would cost, still it I buy.

    Here, 'oricât de' modifies the adverb 'mult' (much) to show degree.

  2. Oricâte greșeli ai face, te voi ierta.

    No matter how many mistakes you make, I will forgive you.

    Word by Word: However many mistakes you would make, you I will forgive.

    'Oricâte' is the feminine plural form agreeing with 'greșeli' (mistakes).

  3. Oricât aș alerga, nu pot să-l ajung.

    However much I might run, I can't catch up to him.

    Word by Word: However much I would run, not I can to him reach.

    'Oricât' acts as an adverb modifying the verb 'a alerga' (to run).

  4. Oricâți bani ai avea, fericirea nu se cumpără.

    No matter how much money you have, happiness cannot be bought.

    Word by Word: However many money you would have, happiness not itself buys.

    'Oricâți' agrees with the masculine plural noun 'bani' (money).

  5. Oricât de obosită ar fi, ea tot citește.

    No matter how tired she is, she still reads.

    Word by Word: However much of tired she would be, she still reads.

    Note the use of 'de' before the adjective 'obosită'.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the particle 'de' before adjectives.

    Oricât greu ar fi...
    Oricât de greu ar fi...

    In Romanian, when 'oricât' modifies an adjective or adverb, the connector 'de' is mandatory.

  • Failing to agree 'oricât' with the following noun.

    Oricât mere ai mânca...
    Oricâte mere ai mânca...

    Since 'mere' (apples) is a neuter plural noun, 'oricât' must change to the feminine/neuter plural form 'oricâte'.

How It Connects

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

oricâtLevel 5No Matter How Much

Learn This First

Recognize the unrestricted meaning of the ori- series. Interpret a concession without assuming that every concessive clause takes the subjunctive.

Words in This Pattern

oricât