Aunque + subjunctive in the sense "Even though ..."
As Inma says, sometimes it is quite difficult to draw a 'sharp line' between occasions when we should, and when we should not use the subjunctive.
My grammar book [by Butt & Benjamin] offers a simple and interesting guideline to help decide which would be best in the context of "aunque, referring to present [and also past] events". As is to be expected, expressing something in the subjunctive "strengthens the concession". Thus, they suggest that if you can translate it as "even though ...", then the subjunctive will be more appropriate:
"Even though you don't like films, you will like this one" >
"Aunque no te gusten las películas, ésta te va a gustar".
The Butt & Benjamin "rule" is of course quite consistent here with the concept of "shared information which is known both by the speaker and by the listener".
Butt & Benjamin cite another example [quoting a Peruvian Scholar]:
"I'll never blame Octavia, even though I may have tried to sometimes" >
"Jamás culparé a Octavia, aunque lo haya intentado alguna vez".
I have done two tests now where I have chosen "estaba imprimido", but it tells me I've chosen "estaba imprimiendo", so it is counted as an error. I don't know why that is happening.
Regarding the hints in the tests. Sometimes the hint says to conjugate in "El pretérito Perfecto Compuesto" and other times just "El pretérito Perfecto". If I enter El pretérito Perfecto simple it's incorrect. The study buttons take you to the same lesson, and seem to be asking for the same answer, am I missing something?
Your sample answer is “nosotros nos llamarse …… “ but you mark it as an incorrect answer in the quiz
¿Porqué es "su primer crucero" en vez de "sus"? Viajeros es plural, si?
Using an online translator to translate "Then it can be demonstrated that the statement is true."
I get "Entonces se puede demostrar que la afirmación es verdadera."
In the English translation it is optional whether you say "it can be demonstrated" or "one can demonstrate".
Is this the same construct as the one covered in this lesson? If so, should there be examples of it above? If not, is there a lesson that covers this one?
Thank you!
As Inma says, sometimes it is quite difficult to draw a 'sharp line' between occasions when we should, and when we should not use the subjunctive.
My grammar book [by Butt & Benjamin] offers a simple and interesting guideline to help decide which would be best in the context of "aunque, referring to present [and also past] events". As is to be expected, expressing something in the subjunctive "strengthens the concession". Thus, they suggest that if you can translate it as "even though ...", then the subjunctive will be more appropriate:
"Even though you don't like films, you will like this one" >
"Aunque no te gusten las películas, ésta te va a gustar".
The Butt & Benjamin "rule" is of course quite consistent here with the concept of "shared information which is known both by the speaker and by the listener".
Butt & Benjamin cite another example [quoting a Peruvian Scholar]:
"I'll never blame Octavia, even though I may have tried to sometimes" >
"Jamás culparé a Octavia, aunque lo haya intentado alguna vez".
Before I did this exercise I studied the difference between these verb forms and still managed to get it wrong on almost every occasion. Not only am I not progressing, I'm actually getting worse. Thanks everyone for all your kind responses and help, it's much appreciated.
How would the the Lawless Spanish staff recommend that learners practice conjugations?
The question asked for imperfect for Ir with subjects of "tu y Marcos", and I put "ibais". This was counted wrong and the correct answer given as "iban". I could understand both being counted as correct, but why is "ibais" incorrect?
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