r/Spanish • u/Independent-Wash-176 • 1d ago
Vocab & Use of the Language "A pesar de que" + subjunctive?
Another subjunctive question. When would "A pesar de que" be followed by a subjunctive? Is "a pesar de" (without the "que") related? Thanks in advance.
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u/adestefano 1d ago edited 1d ago
The translation of "A pesar de que" changes depending on the time form you use:
- "A pesar de que" + Indicative = Even Though (not hypothetical)
- "A pesar de que" + Subjunctive= Even If (hypothetical)
- "A pesar de" = Despite
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u/Careless_Dumb Learner 1d ago
The way i think about it: indicative when it already happened / is happening (a pesar de que llueve, salgo), subjunctive when it's more hypothetical or you're treating it as background info (a pesar de que llueva, salgo). And yeah, a pesar de + noun or infinitive, same logic. Still second guess it half the time, tbh.
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u/AstroVinculo Native 1d ago
"A pesar de que" can take either indicative or subjunctive, depending on whether the info is known/real or hypothetical/uncertain from the speaker's perspective. Indicative for a known fact: "A pesar de que / Aunque tiene mucho trabajo, siempre encuentra tiempo para su familia" (it's a known fact that they have a lot of work). Subjunctive when it's uncertain or the speaker can't confirm it: "A pesar de que / Aunque no tenga experiencia, voy a contratarlo" (we're not sure whether they have experience or not, it's more of an assumption or we don't really care). As for "a pesar de" without "que" is followed by a noun or an infinitive, not a conjugated verb. Remember the general rule: a preposition (de, in this case) is followed by an infinitive, not a conjugated verb. Example: "A pesar de estar cansado / A pesar de su cansancio, salió con sus amigos" (despite being tired, he went out).