Even though in Italian
We all know how useful the expression even though is. And this is exactly why today we will learn how to use it in Italian.
Grammatically, a sentence that uses this construction is called a concessive clause.
This means that it expresses an idea or a fact that is real but has no effect on the fact or idea expressed in the main part of the sentence.
Anche se è giovane, è molto interessante.
Even though he is young, he is very interesting.
Anche se ha iniziato a piovere, siamo andati al parco.
Even though it started raining, we went to the park.
Anche se is not always at the beginning of the sentence:
Andrò a lavorare oggi anche se non sto bene.
I will go to work today even though I am not feeling well.
How to use anche se?
Anche se is used with the indicative mood (indicativo), while other expressions used in concessive clauses use the subjunctive mood (congiuntivo), like sebbene, nonostante, malgrado.
This means it is actually the easiest one to remember and use, without worrying about difficult conjugations.
Marco continua a lavorare anche se è stanco.
Marco keeps on working even though he is tired.
Anche se sono libera stasera, non andrò alla festa.
Even though I am free tonight, I will not go to the party.
In this case, the verbs in the concessive clause (the one starting with anche se) and the main clause will be in the indicative form.
How to form anche se with subjunctive?
Careful though… It is never that easy, is it?
Anche se can actually also be used with the congiuntivo in some cases, but the meaning changes a little!
Anche se + subjunctive becomes the Italian equivalent of even if and it is used when the fact or idea we are talking about could be true or false, could happen or not happen.
Anche se fosse stanco, Marco continuerebbe a lavorare.
Even if he were tired, Marco would keep on working.
Anche se fossi libera stasera, non andrei alla festa.
Even if I were free tonight, I would not go to the party.
Have you noticed? When the verb in the concessive clause is in the subjunctive mood, the verb in the main sentence takes the conditional (condizionale), as it only expresses a possibility too.
Anche se: more examples
It is quite simple:
- Anche se + indicativo = even though / although
Anche se non parla molto, Giacomo non è timido.
Even though he does not talk much, Giacomo is not shy.
Sono andata ad arrampicare anche se mi fa male la spalla.
I went climbing even though my shoulder hurts.
- Anche se + congiuntivo = even if
Anche se mi chiamasse, non le parlerei.
Even if she called, I would not talk to her.
Andrei a trovarlo anche se mi dicesse di no.
I would go visit him even if he said no.
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