Concession (AQA A-Level Spanish): Revision Notes
Concession
Overview
Concession in Spanish (la concesión) allows you to express contrast or opposition in your communication. You use concessive structures when something happens in spite of a difficulty, obstacle or opposing circumstance. These constructions are particularly valuable in discursive essays, opinion writing and sophisticated spoken Spanish, making them an important feature at A-Level.
While you may already be familiar with "aunque" (although/even though), Spanish offers several alternative concessive structures that demonstrate linguistic range and precision. Mastering these alternatives will significantly enhance the sophistication of your written and spoken Spanish.
Think of concessive structures as linguistic tools that allow you to acknowledge obstacles or opposing factors while still asserting your main point. They add nuance and sophistication to your arguments, showing that you can consider multiple perspectives simultaneously.
Brief reminder of "aunque"
Before exploring other concessive structures, it's useful to recall how "aunque" works as a reference point:
Structure 1: Aunque + indicative (for facts)
- Aunque es caro, lo compré. (Although it's expensive, I bought it.)
Structure 2: Aunque + subjunctive (for uncertainty or opinion)
- Aunque sea caro, lo compraría. (Even if it were expensive, I would buy it.)
The key difference is whether you're stating a fact (indicative) or expressing doubt, possibility or opinion (subjunctive).
Concessive structures other than "aunque"
Por muy / por mucho / por muchos / por muchas + adjective/noun + que
This structure highlights how significant or extreme the difficulty or opposition is. It adds strong emphasis to your concession and is considered a high-level, exam-rewarding construction.
Structure formation
For adjectives:
- por muy + adjective + que + subjunctive verb
For nouns:
- por mucho/a(s) + noun + que + subjunctive verb
The form of "mucho" must agree with the gender and number of the noun it accompanies.
This construction always requires the subjunctive mood after "que". It shows strong emphasis and is particularly impressive in exams because it demonstrates sophisticated grammatical control and stylistic awareness.
Example sentences
Por muy difícil que sea, lo intentaré. (However difficult it may be, I will try it.)
In this sentence, "por muy difícil que" emphasizes the potential degree of difficulty, but the speaker commits to trying regardless. The subjunctive "sea" is required because this expresses possibility rather than established fact.
Por mucho dinero que tenga, no será feliz. (However much money he/she may have, he/she won't be happy.)
Here, "por mucho dinero que" stresses the quantity of money. The subjunctive "tenga" indicates this is a hypothetical amount, and the speaker argues that happiness doesn't depend on wealth.
Por muchas veces que lo explique, no lo entiende. (However many times I explain it, he/she doesn't understand.)
This example uses the feminine plural "muchas" to agree with "veces" (times). The subjunctive "explique" shows this is an ongoing, repeated action, yet the result (lack of understanding) remains constant.
A pesar de / a pesar de que
This is a neutral register structure that you can use in various contexts to express concession without particular emphasis on formality or intensity.
Structure 1: A pesar de + noun or infinitive
When followed directly by a noun or an infinitive verb, you simply use "a pesar de" without "que".
A pesar del problema, seguimos adelante. (Despite the problem, we continued.)
This sentence uses "a pesar de" + noun (el problema). The concession is straightforward: the problem existed, but it didn't prevent progress.
A pesar de tener miedo, habló. (Despite being afraid, he/she spoke.)
Here, "a pesar de" is followed by an infinitive (tener). This structure works when the subject is the same in both clauses - the same person has fear and speaks.
Structure 2: A pesar de que + conjugated verb
When you need to use a fully conjugated verb, add "que" after "a pesar de".
A pesar de que llovía, salimos. (Despite the fact that it was raining, we went out.)
The indicative "llovía" is used here because the rain is presented as an established fact. The weather was definitely raining.
A pesar de que sea difícil, vale la pena. (Even though it may be difficult, it's worth it.)
The subjunctive "sea" appears here because the difficulty is hypothetical or uncertain. The speaker acknowledges potential difficulty without confirming it as fact.
Mood choice
Your choice between indicative and subjunctive with "a pesar de que" depends on meaning:
Mood Selection Guide:
- Indicative when presenting established facts
- Subjunctive when expressing uncertainty, opinion or hypothetical situations
Pese a / pese a que
This structure functions much like "a pesar de" but carries a more formal tone. You'll encounter it more frequently in written Spanish than in everyday conversation.
Pese a las dificultades, lo logró. (Despite the difficulties, he/she achieved it.)
This example shows "pese a" + noun. The formal register makes this structure suitable for essays, reports and formal speech.
Pese a que no estuviera de acuerdo, aceptó. (Despite not being in agreement, he/she accepted.)
Here, "pese a que" is followed by a subjunctive verb. The imperfect subjunctive "estuviera" indicates past uncertainty or a contrary-to-fact situation.
Like "a pesar de que", you can use either indicative or subjunctive after "pese a que", depending on whether you're stating facts or expressing uncertainty.
Si bien
This advanced, formal structure typically appears in written Spanish. You use it to concede a point before introducing a contrasting idea.
Si bien es cierto que hay problemas, también hay soluciones. (While it's true that there are problems, there are also solutions.)
The structure acknowledges the validity of the first point (problems exist) before pivoting to contrast it with another perspective (solutions also exist). Notice that "si bien" is typically followed by the indicative mood, as it usually introduces factual concessions.
This construction is particularly effective in argumentative writing where you want to acknowledge an opposing viewpoint before presenting your counter-argument.
Comparison of concessive structures
Understanding the register and mood requirements of each structure helps you choose appropriately:
| Structure | Register | Mood |
|---|---|---|
| aunque | neutral | indicative / subjunctive |
| por muy / mucho que | emphatic | subjunctive |
| a pesar de | neutral | noun / infinitive |
| a pesar de que | neutral | indicative / subjunctive |
| pese a / pese a que | formal | indicative / subjunctive |
| si bien | formal | indicative |
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistake 1: Using indicative after "por muy... que"
❌ Por muy difícil que es, lo haré.
✓ Por muy difícil que sea, lo haré.
(However difficult it may be, I'll do it.)
The structure "por muy/mucho que" always requires the subjunctive. Remember that you're emphasizing potential difficulty, not stating an established fact.
Mistake 2: Forgetting "que" after "por muy" / "por mucho"
❌ Por muy difícil, lo intentaré.
✓ Por muy difícil que sea, lo intentaré.
(However difficult it may be, I'll try it.)
The complete structure requires "que" to link to the subjunctive verb.
Mistake 3: Translating "despite" literally as "aunque"
While "aunque" can sometimes translate "despite", structures like "a pesar de" or "pese a" are often more natural and precise translations of "despite" in Spanish. Varying your concessive structures demonstrates better command of the language.
Mistake 4: Overusing "aunque"
If you only use "aunque" for all concessive meanings, you miss opportunities to demonstrate linguistic range. Incorporate the other structures to show sophistication and variety in your Spanish.
Practice examples
Example 1: Using "por muy difícil que"
Por muy complicado que sea, continuaremos. (However complicated it may be, we will continue.)
The subjunctive "sea" after "por muy complicado que" emphasizes the potential degree of complication while showing determination to persist.
Example 2: Using "a pesar de los problemas"
A pesar de los problemas, tuvieron éxito. (Despite the problems, they were successful.)
This uses "a pesar de" + noun to show a straightforward concession. Problems existed but didn't prevent success.
Example 3: Transforming sentences
You can express the same idea using different concessive structures:
Original: Aunque es caro, lo compré. (Although it's expensive, I bought it.)
Alternative 1: A pesar de que es caro, lo compré. (Despite the fact that it's expensive, I bought it.)
Alternative 2: Por muy caro que sea, vale la pena. (However expensive it may be, it's worth it.)
Each version conveys concession but with subtle differences in emphasis and register.
Key Points to Remember:
- Concession expresses contrast when something happens despite an obstacle or opposing factor
- "Por muy/mucho que" adds strong emphasis and always requires the subjunctive - it's a high-level structure that impresses examiners
- "A pesar de" takes a noun or infinitive, while "a pesar de que" takes a conjugated verb with mood choice depending on certainty
- "Pese a" and "si bien" are formal alternatives best suited to written Spanish
- Varying your concessive structures demonstrates linguistic sophistication and improves your range in essays and oral discussion
- Always check your mood choice: subjunctive for uncertainty/possibility, indicative for established facts