čo ako / nech ... akokoľvek
No Matter How
Both patterns say that the result stays the same whatever the degree or the choice. Čo ako goes with a verb. Nech goes with a verb and a -koľvek word such as akokoľvek, čokoľvek, kdekoľvek or ktokoľvek.
How It Works
Čo ako + verb. Čo ako means however much, no matter how hard. The effort is real, but the result is the opposite of what you would expect:
- Čo ako sa snažil, nepodarilo sa mu to. (No matter how hard he tried, he didn't succeed.)
- Nepomohli mu, čo ako ich prosil. (They didn't help him, however much he begged them.)
It is close in meaning to hoci + veľmi: hoci sa veľmi snažil.
Nech + verb + a -koľvek word. Nech with a word ending in -koľvek means however, whatever, wherever or whoever:
- Nech je to akokoľvek ťažké, zvládneme to. (However hard it is, we'll manage.)
- Nech sa stane čokoľvek, budem pri tebe. (Whatever happens, I'll be by your side.)
- Nech ide kamkoľvek, všade ho spoznajú. (Wherever he goes, people recognize him.)
The -koľvek words are the same ones as in ktokoľvek, čokoľvek. The verb after nech is usually in the present tense.
The comma. Both clauses are subordinate, so a comma separates them from the main clause, whichever comes first.
Compare aj keď (even though), which describes one real fact, and aj keby (even if), which describes an imagined one.
Examples (6)
- Čo ako sa snažil, nepodarilo sa mu to.
No matter how hard he tried, he didn't succeed.
Word by Word: What how self he-tried, not-succeeded self to-him it.
- Nepomohli mu, čo ako ich prosil.
They didn't help him, however much he begged them.
Word by Word: They-not-helped him, what how them he-begged.
- Čo ako napínal sluch, nepočul nič.
However hard he strained his ears, he heard nothing.
Word by Word: What how he-strained hearing, he-not-heard nothing.
A sentence by Tatarka quoted in the academic morphology.
- Nech je to akokoľvek ťažké, zvládneme to.
However hard it is, we'll manage.
Word by Word: Let is it however hard, we-will-manage it.
- Nech sa stane čokoľvek, budem pri tebe.
Whatever happens, I'll be by your side.
Word by Word: Let self happens whatever, I-will-be by you.
- Nech ide kamkoľvek, všade ho spoznajú.
Wherever he goes, people recognize him.
Word by Word: Let goes wherever, everywhere him they-recognize.
Common Mistakes
Dropping -koľvek after nech.
Nech je to ako ťažké, zvládneme to.Nech je to akokoľvek ťažké, zvládneme to.With nech, the question word needs -koľvek: akokoľvek, čokoľvek, kdekoľvek.
Leaving out the comma between the clauses.
Nech sa stane čokoľvek budem pri tebe.Nech sa stane čokoľvek, budem pri tebe.The nech clause is a subordinate clause, so a comma separates it from the main clause.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before No Matter How, learn Anyone at All. akokoľvek is built like ktokoľvek.
Related Patterns
- hociAlthough: Hoci
Hoci + veľmi is the plain way to say what čo ako says.
Level 3 - aj keď / i keďEven Though
Aj keď introduces one real fact that does not change the result.
Level 4 - aj kebyEven if: Aj Keby
Aj keby introduces an imagined condition that would not change the result.
Level 4 - nech + Present TenseLet Him or Her: Nech
The nech in nech ... akokoľvek is the same particle, followed by the present tense.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice čo ako / nech ... akokoľvek in Bubblegum
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