aunque + Indicative/Subjunctive
Aunque Mood Choice
Aunque + indicative presents an obstacle as an assertion.
Aunque + subjunctive can present a possibility or set aside an obstacle, even a known one.
How It Works
Mood after aunque reflects how the speaker presents the obstacle.
1. Indicative: Asserting the Obstacle
Aunque está lloviendo, vamos a la playa. (Even though it is raining, we are going to the beach.)
The speaker states that it is raining and contrasts this with the decision to go.
2. Subjunctive: A Possible Obstacle
Aunque esté lloviendo mañana, iremos a la playa. (Even if it is raining tomorrow, we will go to the beach.)
The rain is presented as a possibility that will not change the plan.
3. Subjunctive: Setting Aside a Known Obstacle
Aunque no me creas, te digo la verdad. (Even though you do not believe me, I am telling you the truth.)
The speaker can already know about the listener’s disbelief. The subjunctive sets that obstacle aside: it does not change the claim to be telling the truth.
So the subjunctive does not always mean even if or mark an unreal event. A future main clause does not automatically require it either: Aunque es difícil, lo intentaré mañana can assert a known difficulty. Compare a different trigger such as es posible que, which directly introduces a possibility.
Examples (5)
- Aunque llueve, voy a dar un paseo.
Even though it's raining, I'm going for a walk.
Word by Word: Although it rains, I go to give a walk.
The indicative llueve presents the rain as an asserted fact. A speaker could instead use the subjunctive to set known rain aside as background.
- Aunque llueva mañana, voy a dar un paseo.
Even if it rains tomorrow, I'm going for a walk.
Word by Word: Even if it rain tomorrow, I go to give a walk.
Subjunctive ('llueva') is used because the rain tomorrow is a possibility, not a certainty.
- Compré el coche aunque era muy caro.
I bought the car even though it was very expensive.
Word by Word: I bought the car although it was very expensive.
The indicative era asserts the high price as part of the information. A known past obstacle can also take the subjunctive when the speaker backgrounds it.
- Compraría el coche aunque fuera muy caro.
I would buy the car even if it were very expensive.
Word by Word: I would buy the car even if it were very expensive.
Compraría and fuera give this example a hypothetical reading: the possible high price would not prevent the purchase.
- Aunque no me creas, te digo la verdad.
Even though you don't believe me, I'm telling you the truth.
Word by Word: Although not me you believe, to you I tell the truth.
Subjunctive ('creas') is used here. While it might seem like a fact, the speaker is downplaying the importance of the other person's belief, treating it as a surmountable or irrelevant obstacle. This is a common nuance.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the verb in the infinitive after aunque.
Aunque llover mañana, saldré.Aunque llueva mañana, saldré.This aunque clause needs a conjugated verb. For the possible rain tomorrow, use llueva. Choosing the subjunctive here does not mean that every future main clause requires it.
Using the wrong person form of the subjunctive.
Aunque yo estén cansado, iré a la reunión.Aunque yo esté cansado, iré a la reunión.With yo, the present subjunctive of estar is esté, not estén. Both Aunque estoy cansado and Aunque esté cansado can be valid; they present the tiredness differently.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn 'aunque', a learner must first understand the difference between the indicative and subjunctive moods. This requires the ability to conjugate verbs in both moods (Present Tense and Present Subjunctive) and a basic understanding of how conjunctions connect clauses.
Related Patterns
- a pesar de que/pese a queDespite (Concessive)
A pesar de que and pese a que also introduce a concession. They can take either mood; they are not restricted to the indicative.
Level 5 - si + Imperfect Subjunctive + ConditionalUnreal Si Clauses (Present)
This si pattern describes hypothetical conditions. Aunque can also introduce a hypothetical obstacle, but its subjunctive has known-background uses as well.
Level 4 - cuando/después de que/hasta que + SubjunctiveTemporal Subjunctive
These expressions also connect clauses, but their mood patterns must be learned separately. Aunque does not simply choose its mood according to past versus future time.
Level 3 - por más/mucho que + SubjunctiveConcessive Clauses
These are related concessive expressions. They can frame an obstacle as irrelevant to the outcome; do not infer that all concessions are unreal.
Level 4 - es posible que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Possibility
Es posible que introduces a possibility and selects the subjunctive. Aunque has additional subjunctive uses, including known information treated as background.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice aunque + Indicative/Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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