Spanish grammar
Polemic aunque: the subjunctive for a fact you wave aside
Grant a known fact and wave it aside, the way debaters do.
From the scene Aunque tenga razón… (He may well be right…)
In short
Aunque + subjunctive can wave aside a known fact. Aunque + indicative gives news, or adds an afterthought like pero.
Your turn
Which one goes with granted he's nothing to you?
Options: aunque tenga razón · aunque sea una polémica · aunque no sea nada suyo
Show answer
granted he's nothing to you → aunque no sea nada suyo
How it works
You know aunque + indicative for a fact and + subjunctive for "even if".
Good to know
The debating angle: the subjunctive can also present a fact already on the table as irrelevant: aunque tenga razón, me da igual.
Good to know
The indicative presents the fact as news: aunque usted no lo sabe. Added as an afterthought, aunque + indicative works like pero.
granted he is right, so what aunque tenga razón
Ramón
Aunque tenga razón, me da igual. Un bebé no gruñe: protesta.
He may well be right: I don't care. A baby doesn't grumble: it protests.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), me da igual. Un bebé no gruñe: protesta.
Options: Aunque no sea nada suyo · Aunque sea una polémica · Aunque tenga razón
Show answer
Ramón
Aunque tenga razón, me da igual. Un bebé no gruñe: protesta.
He may well be right: I don't care. A baby doesn't grumble: it protests.
granted he's nothing to you aunque no sea nada suyo
Tomás
Aunque no sea nada suyo, gruñe igualito que usted.
He may be nothing to do with you, but he grumbles just like you.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), gruñe igualito que usted.
Options: Aunque tenga razón · Aunque sea una polémica · Aunque no sea nada suyo
Show answer
Tomás
Aunque no sea nada suyo, gruñe igualito que usted.
He may be nothing to do with you, but he grumbles just like you.
granted it is a controversy aunque sea una polémica
Nuria
Don Ramón, aunque sea una polémica, es un honor.
Don Ramón, it may be a controversy, but it's an honour.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Don Ramón, (blank), es un honor.
Options: aunque tenga razón · aunque no sea nada suyo · aunque sea una polémica
Show answer
Nuria
Don Ramón, aunque sea una polémica, es un honor.
Don Ramón, it may be a controversy, but it's an honour.
news: although you don't know it aunque usted no lo sabe
Your turn
What goes with aunque usted no lo sabe?
Options: granted he's nothing to you · news: although you don't know it · granted he is right, so what
Show answer
aunque usted no lo sabe → news: although you don't know it
afterthought, like pero aunque el abuelo gruñía menos
Tomás
Por los dos. Aunque el abuelo gruñía menos.
After both of you. Though Grandad grumbled less.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Por los dos. (blank).
Options: Aunque el abuelo gruñía menos · Aunque tenga razón · Aunque no sea nada suyo
Show answer
Tomás
Por los dos. Aunque el abuelo gruñía menos.
After both of you. Though Grandad grumbled less.
Common mistake
Not tiene or tendría here. Ramón does not admit Tomás is right: he only grants it to brush it aside.
Aunque tenga razón, me da igual. Un bebé no gruñe: protesta.
He may well be right: I don't care. A baby doesn't grumble: it protests.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| granted he is right, so what | aunque tenga razón |
|---|---|
| granted he's nothing to you | aunque no sea nada suyo |
| granted it is a controversy | aunque sea una polémica |
| news: although you don't know it | aunque usted no lo sabe |
| afterthought, like pero | aunque el abuelo gruñía menos |
More lines from the story
- RamónPues mira: aunque gruña, es guapísimo. Clavadito a mí.Well, look: he may grumble, but he's gorgeous. The spitting image of me.
- TomásElenita, a Doña Elena: no se calla. Y Ramoncito, a Don Ramón.Elenita takes after Doña Elena: she never stops talking. And Ramoncito after Don Ramón.