The main rule
Aunque + indicative: a fact you present as true and as news for the listener. Aunque + present subjunctive: a hypothesis or something you do not know. Aunque + imperfect subjunctive, with a conditional in the main clause: a case you think is unlikely or untrue (Aunque tuviera dinero, no lo compraría).
| Connector | + indicative | + subjunctive | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| aunque | a fact, new to the listener | a hypothesis, an unknown, or a known fact that does not matter | Aunque llueve, salimos. Aunque llueva, saldremos. |
| a pesar de que | a fact (the usual choice) | a possible case, less common | A pesar de que llovía, salimos. |
| aun cuando | a fact, formal | a hypothesis (= incluso si) | Aun cuando llueva, saldremos. |
| por más que, por mucho que | a repeated real fact | a future hypothesis | Por más que lo intento, no me sale. Por mucho que corras, no llegarás. |
| tanto si ... como si | always | never the present subjunctive | Tanto si llueve como si no, saldremos. |
| a pesar de | no verb: a noun or an infinitive | no verb | A pesar de la lluvia, salimos. A pesar de estar cansada, siguió. |
Aunque: a fact or a hypothesis
English uses "although" for a fact and "even if" for a hypothesis, but both take the same verb form: "Even if it rains tomorrow" has no special mood. Spanish marks the difference on the verb. With a fact you state, the indicative: Aunque llueve, vamos a salir (it is raining now and you are telling someone who has not looked outside), Aunque estaba cansada, fui al gimnasio. With something you do not know, the present subjunctive, even though the sentence is about the future: Aunque llueva mañana, iremos, Aunque cueste mucho, lo compraré (you do not know the price yet).
The honest nuance: the subjunctive also appears with a fact you already know when the speaker treats it as unimportant. Aunque sea caro, lo compro means "I know it is expensive, but that does not change anything." So the subjunctive does not always mean "unknown". The indicative, though, is reserved for a fact you present as true and informative. If you do not know, use the subjunctive; if you are announcing a fact, use the indicative.
The unlikely case
For a case you think is unlikely or false, Spanish uses the imperfect subjunctive in the aunque clause and a conditional in the main clause: Aunque tuviera dinero, no lo compraría ("Even if I had the money, I would not buy it"; in fact I have none). It matches English "even if I had" and "would". Compare Aunque tenga dinero, no lo comprará, where having the money is a real possibility. Do not use the imperfect indicative (*aunque tenía dinero, no lo compraría) or a conditional (*aunque tendría) after aunque here.
A pesar de que and aun cuando
A pesar de que ("in spite of the fact that") usually takes the indicative for a fact: A pesar de que llovía, salimos. Aun cuando is a more formal way to say incluso si and usually takes the subjunctive for a hypothesis: Aun cuando llueva, saldremos. Notice that aun here has no accent: with an accent, aún means "still".
Por más que and por mucho que
These mean "however much" or "no matter how much". For a future hypothesis they take the subjunctive: Por mucho que corras, no llegarás a tiempo. For a real, repeated fact you will also hear the indicative: Por más que lo intento, no me sale. Recognise both, and use the subjunctive when you are looking ahead.
Tanto si ... como si
"Whether ... or not" is tanto si ... como si and takes the indicative after both si: Tanto si llueve como si no, saldremos, Tanto si te gusta como si no, lo haremos. English "whether it rains" has no mood, so there is no reason to reach for the subjunctive, but learners who have just met aunque llueva often do. The present subjunctive never follows si.
A pesar de + noun or infinitive
A pesar de is followed by a noun or an infinitive, never by a conjugated verb: A pesar de la lluvia, salimos, A pesar de estar cansada, siguió. With a conjugated verb you need que: A pesar de que estaba cansada, siguió. When the subject is the same, both ways are correct. When it changes, use a pesar de que: A pesar de que Ana estaba cansada, Luis siguió. The de is always there.
Between two sentences
Aunque and a pesar de que join two clauses in one sentence: Aunque llovía mucho, salimos. After a full stop, Spanish uses sin embargo, aun así or de todos modos (also de todas formas), with a comma: Llovía mucho. Aun así, salimos. English "however" often has no commas, but Spanish writes Sin embargo, with one. And never start the second sentence with aunque or a pesar de before a comma.
Examples
- Aunque llueve, vamos a salir. Although it is raining, we are going out.
- Aunque estaba cansada, fui al gimnasio. Although I was tired, I went to the gym.
- Aunque llueva mañana, iremos al campo. Even if it rains tomorrow, we will go to the country.
- Aunque cueste mucho, lo compraré. Even if it costs a lot, I will buy it.
- Aunque tuviera dinero, no lo compraría. Even if I had the money, I would not buy it.
- Por mucho que corras, no llegarás a tiempo. However fast you run, you will not arrive on time.
- Tanto si llueve como si no, saldremos. Whether it rains or not, we will go out.
- A pesar de la lluvia, salimos. In spite of the rain, we went out.
- Llovía mucho. Aun así, salimos. It was raining hard. Even so, we went out.
- No tengo mucha hambre. De todos modos, comeré algo contigo. I am not very hungry. Still, I will eat something with you.
Quick check
Ask one question: do I know whether it is true, and am I telling it as news? Yes: indicative. No, or it is only a possibility: subjunctive. If the main clause is a conditional (no lo compraría), use the imperfect subjunctive.
Common mistakes
Tanto si llueva como si no, saldremos.Tanto si llueve como si no, saldremos. tanto si takes the indicativeA pesar la lluvia, salimos.A pesar de la lluvia, salimos. the de is part of the connectorA pesar de que la lluvia, salimos.A pesar de la lluvia, salimos. que needs a verb, a noun needs deA pesar de estoy cansado, voy.A pesar de que estoy cansado, voy. a conjugated verb needs quePor mucho que estudiar, no aprobará.Por mucho que estudie, no aprobará. por mucho que needs a conjugated verbAunque estar cansada, fue.Aunque estaba cansada, fue. aunque needs a conjugated verbNo sé qué tiempo hará, pero aunque llueve mañana, iremos.No sé qué tiempo hará, pero aunque llueva mañana, iremos. you do not know, so the subjunctive
Questions and answers
Does aunque take the indicative or the subjunctive?
Both. The indicative presents a fact as true and new (Aunque llueve); the subjunctive is for a hypothesis, something you do not know, or a known fact that does not matter (Aunque llueva, Aunque sea caro).
What is the difference between aunque llueve and aunque llueva?
Aunque llueve states that it is raining and tells it as news. Aunque llueva treats rain as a possibility you cannot confirm, usually about tomorrow or later.
What is the difference between aunque tenga and aunque tuviera?
Aunque tenga dinero treats having the money as possible. Aunque tuviera dinero treats it as unlikely or untrue and goes with a conditional: no lo compraría.
Does tanto si ... como si take the subjunctive?
No. It takes the indicative after both si: Tanto si llueve como si no, saldremos. The present subjunctive (*tanto si llueva) is a mistake there.
What is the difference between a pesar de and a pesar de que?
A pesar de takes a noun or an infinitive (a pesar de la lluvia, a pesar de estar cansada). A pesar de que takes a conjugated verb (a pesar de que llovía).
How do I say however or even so after a full stop?
Use sin embargo, aun así or de todos modos, followed by a comma: Llovía. Aun así, salimos. Inside one sentence use aunque or a pesar de que.