B2 · Upper intermediate

Subjunctive in concessive and purpose clauses

When 'aunque' takes the indicative or the subjunctive, and how to correctly use para que, con tal de que, a menos que and sin que.

Aunque: indicative versus subjunctive

Aunque (although/even though) can be followed by the indicative OR the subjunctive — the meaning changes!

Aunque + indicative: the speaker considers the fact true/known. Translate as 'although'.
Aunque + subjunctive: the fact is unknown, hypothetical or irrelevant to the conclusion. Often translate as 'even if/even though'.

Zin	Betekenis
Aunque llueve, salgo a correr.	Het regent echt (weet ik zeker) — toch ga ik lopen.
Aunque llueva, saldré a correr.	Ik weet niet of het gaat regenen, maar het maakt niet uit — ik ga sowieso.

Examples

Aunque hace frío, vamos a la playa.Although it's cold, we're going to the beach.

Aunque haga frío mañana, iremos a la playa.Even if it's cold tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.

Aunque no tiene mucho dinero, siempre invita a sus amigos.Although he doesn't have much money, he always treats his friends.

Other concessive expressions: por mucho/más que, a pesar de que

Por mucho/más que (however much, no matter how much) follows the same logic as aunque: subjunctive for a hypothetical or general statement, indicative for a concrete, confirmed fact. In practice, at B2 level the subjunctive is usually chosen, since it involves a general, repeated or uncertain situation.

A pesar de que (despite the fact that) works just like aunque: indicative for a certain fact, subjunctive for something uncertain or not yet happened.

Examples

Por mucho que estudies, no aprobarás si no practicas.No matter how much you study, you won't pass if you don't practice.

Por más que insistió, no cambié de opinión.No matter how much he insisted, I didn't change my mind.

A pesar de que llueve, vamos a salir.Despite the fact that it's raining, we're going out.

A pesar de que llueva mañana, saldremos.Even if it rains tomorrow, we'll go out.

Purpose clauses: para que, a fin de que

Para que and a fin de que (so that, in order that) express a purpose and always require the subjunctive, when the subordinate clause has a different subject than the main clause.

If the sentence has only one subject, use para + infinitive instead (no que, no subjunctive).

Examples

Te lo explico para que lo entiendas.I'm explaining it to you so that you understand it.

Trabaja mucho a fin de que sus hijos tengan una vida mejor.He works a lot so that his children have a better life.

Estudio para aprobar el examen.I study to pass the exam. (same subject → infinitive)

Con tal de que, a menos que, sin que

These three connectors always require the subjunctive, regardless of whether the fact is known or not:

con tal de que (provided that)
a menos que (unless)
sin que (without)

Examples

Iré contigo con tal de que no lleguemos tarde.I'll go with you provided that we don't arrive late.

No aprobarás a menos que estudies más.You won't pass unless you study more.

Salió de la habitación sin que nadie lo viera.He left the room without anyone seeing him.

💡 Tips

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With 'aunque': indicative = I'm sure it's true (although); subjunctive = uncertain or irrelevant (even if/even though).

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Para que, a fin de que, con tal de que, a menos que and sin que ALWAYS require the subjunctive as soon as there are two different subjects.

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One subject? Then use the infinitive form: para + infinitive, sin + infinitive (no que needed).

🎯 Practise this topic with 10 interactive exercises (10)

Related grammar

The imperfect subjunctive

How to form the imperfect subjunctive and use it after past-tense main clauses, after 'como si', and in polite requests.

The pluperfect subjunctive

How to form hubiera/hubiese + past participle and use it for unreal past situations and regret.

Ser and estar: advanced use

Adjectives that change meaning with ser/estar, and the fixed expressions 'estar de' and 'ser de'.

Sequence of tenses (correlación de tiempos) with the subjunctive

Which subjunctive tense in the subordinate clause matches which tense in the main clause.

← The pluperfect subjunctive The passive voice (voz pasiva) →

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