por más/mucho que + Subjunctive
Concessive Clauses
Use 'por más/mucho que' + subjunctive to mean 'no matter how much' or 'however much'.
How It Works
The phrases 'por más que' and 'por mucho que' are used to create concessive clauses, similar to saying 'no matter how much' or 'however much' in English. They emphasize that despite a great effort or a high degree of a quality, the result in the main clause remains unaffected. This structure always requires the verb that follows it to be in the subjunctive mood.
There are a few common structures:
- Por más/mucho que + Verb (subjunctive): This is used when emphasizing an action.
Example: Por más que intente, no puedo abrir la puerta. (No matter how much I try, I can't open the door.) - Por mucho/a/os/as + Noun + que + Verb (subjunctive): This is used when emphasizing the quantity of a noun. Note that 'mucho' must agree in gender and number with the noun.
Example: Por muchos libros que leas, no lo sabrás todo. (No matter how many books you read, you won't know everything.) - Por muy + Adjective/Adverb + que + Verb (subjunctive): This is used to emphasize a quality or a manner. 'Más' can also be used here, but 'muy' is very common.
Example: Por muy rápido que corras, no ganarás. (However fast you run, you won't win.)
The tense of the subjunctive verb depends on the main clause:
- If the main clause is in the present, future, or is a command, use the present subjunctive.
- If the main clause is in the past (e.g., imperfect, preterite) or conditional, use the imperfect subjunctive.
Example (past): Por más que estudiara, no aprobó el examen. (No matter how much he studied, he didn't pass the exam.)
Examples (5)
- Por más que estudie, no apruebo el examen.
No matter how much I study, I don't pass the exam.
Word by Word: For more that I-study (subjunctive), not I-pass the exam.
'Estudie' is in the present subjunctive, triggered by 'por más que'.
- Por mucho que corras, no llegarás a tiempo.
However much you run, you won't arrive on time.
Word by Word: For much that you-run (subjunctive), not you-will-arrive on time.
- Por muy inteligente que sea, a veces comete errores.
However intelligent she may be, she sometimes makes mistakes.
Word by Word: For very intelligent that she-is (subjunctive), at times she-makes mistakes.
Here, the structure 'por muy + adjective + que' is used to emphasize a quality.
- Por muchos amigos que tenga, siempre se siente solo.
No matter how many friends he has, he always feels lonely.
Word by Word: For many friends that he-has (subjunctive), always himself he-feels lonely.
Notice how 'muchos' agrees with the plural noun 'amigos'.
- Por más que se lo explicara, no me entendía.
No matter how much I explained it to him, he didn't understand me.
Word by Word: For more that to-him it I-explained (imp. subj.), not me he-understood.
This example uses the imperfect subjunctive 'explicara' (the '-se' form 'explicase' is also possible) because the main clause is in the past imperfect tense ('entendía').
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative where the subjunctive suggests a hypothetical effort.
Different MeaningPor más que intento, no puedo hacerlo.Por más que intente, no puedo hacerlo.'Por más que intento, no puedo hacerlo' is correct. The indicative states that I really do try. The subjunctive, 'por más que intente', treats the effort as hypothetical or future.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn 'por más/mucho que + subjunctive', a learner needs a solid grasp of present subjunctive conjugations. They also need to understand the concept of concessive clauses (expressing 'no matter how much' or 'regardless of'), which is typically first introduced with 'aunque'. Finally, familiarity with 'más' as an intensifier helps in understanding the structure of the phrase.
- aunque + Indicative/SubjunctiveAunque Mood Choice
Understanding how concessive clauses (even if/no matter how) function and the logic behind choosing the subjunctive mood is essential before learning more complex concessive markers.
Level 3 - más + Adjective + queComparatives with Más
This pattern uses 'más' and 'mucho' in a comparative-like structure to intensify the concessive meaning.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- a pesar de que/pese a queDespite (Concessive)
Similar to 'por más que', these phrases mean 'despite'. They are often used with the indicative when referring to a known fact, which contrasts with the mandatory subjunctive use of 'por más que'.
Level 5 - -ara/-aras/-ara/-áramos/-arais/-aranImperfect Subjunctive -AR (-ra)
This is directly related because when the main clause of a 'por más que' sentence is in the past or conditional, the verb in the concessive clause must be in the imperfect subjunctive.
Level 4 - cualquiera que + SubjunctiveWhatever/Whoever
Like 'por más que', 'cualquiera que' ('whoever', 'whatever') introduces an indefinite or hypothetical element and also requires the subjunctive. This shows a broader pattern of indefiniteness triggering the subjunctive mood.
Level 4 - si + Imperfect Subjunctive + ConditionalUnreal Si Clauses (Present)
This structure is used for unreal or hypothetical conditions. It's related because it demonstrates another key use of the imperfect subjunctive in hypothetical contexts, similar to how 'por más que' uses it for past or hypothetical obstacles.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice por más/mucho que + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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