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Lesson 211 of 238

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Even so in Spanish

Justin and Yako are still arguing about schedules, and today the argument grows up.

You'll learn five ways to concede a real point and still keep yours: even if, despite, all the same, that doesn't change the fact that, and I'll grant that.

Michael referees from behind the counter.

By the end of this lesson

Concede a point and keep yours.

  • Aunque ___, ___Even if ___, ___
  • A pesar de ___, ___Despite ___, ___
  • Con todo, ___All the same, ___
  • Eso no quita que ___That doesn't change the fact that ___
  • Reconozco que ___I'll grant that ___

Scene — the morning shift

Evening at Café Laurel. The morning-shift talk is still going, now with coffee number two.

Yako defends the night, Justin defends the dawn, and Michael listens from the counter with a cloth over his shoulder.

Yako gestures toward the window while Justin leans forward at the table and Michael wipes the counter behind them.

Learn — concede and hold

These five connectors all do the same job from different angles: you hand over a point, then take your own back.

Watch what each one concedes and what it refuses to.

  1. Yako raises a paw in a firm concession-plus-counterargument gesture while Justin listens with arms crossed.

    Aunque ___, ___

    Even if ___, ___

    When to use it: Open with this to grant a condition, then add what still happens anyway.

    Before a verb, aunque takes the indicative for facts and the subjunctive for hypotheticals.

  2. Justin holds up a finger making a despite-everything point while Yako droops a little.

    A pesar de ___, ___

    Despite ___, ___

    When to use it: Use it before a noun to name the obstacle you're pushing past.

    A pesar de always keeps its de; before a whole clause you stretch it to a pesar de que.

  3. Yako shrugs with both paws in an all-the-same gesture while Michael watches from the counter.

    Con todo, ___

    All the same, ___

    When to use it: A slightly formal connector: concede what was said, then return to your point.

    It leans written; aun así is the everyday spoken twin of con todo.

  4. Justin plants both hands on the table insisting on a stubborn fact while Yako leans back.

    Eso no quita que ___

    That doesn't change the fact that ___

    When to use it: Say it to concede the point out loud, then hold your ground with what stays true.

    The verb after que normally lands in the subjunctive: eso no quita que sea difícil.

  5. Yako nods generously granting a point while Justin smiles and Michael raises his coffee cup from the counter.

    Reconozco que ___

    I'll grant that ___

    When to use it: Say it to grant the other side a real point before you come back at them.

    First person and a touch formal, so it sounds like you're conceding on purpose.

    Say it: The z sounds like an s in Mexico: reh-koh-NOHS-koh.

Story — a schedule argument

Watch both sides give ground without losing. Every highlighted line either concedes a point or holds one.

The job question comes up again and, once more, nobody finishes it. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Evening light. Two empty cups, one full one, and the schedule argument back for round three.
  2. Yako¿Sigue dura la chamba con el horario nuevo?Is work still rough with the new schedule?
  3. JustinReconozco que tiene sus ventajas. Salgo a las dos.I'll grant that it has its advantages. I'm out at two.
  4. YakoAunque madrugas mucho, llegas cansado.Even if you get up early, you arrive tired.
  5. JustinSí. Aun así, no me quejo.Yeah. Even so, I'm not complaining.
  6. MichaelA pesar de todo el tráfico, siempre llega puntual.Despite all the traffic, he always arrives on time.
  7. YakoEso no quita que madrugar sea horrible.That doesn't change the fact that getting up early is horrible.
  8. JustinCon todo, prefiero la mañana.All the same, I prefer the morning.
  9. Michael collects the empty cups and leans in.
  10. Michael¿Y el turno de la tarde que te ofrecieron?And the afternoon shift they offered you?
  11. JustinBuena pregunta. Todavía no lo resuelvo.Good question. I still haven't worked it out.
  12. YakoAunque te ofrezcan más dinero, pierdes las mañanas.Even if they offer you more money, you lose the mornings.
  13. JustinEso no quita que necesite el dinero.That doesn't change the fact that I need the money.
  14. MichaelCon todo, la decisión es tuya.All the same, it's your decision.
  15. YakoReconozco que la noche es mejor.I'll grant that the night is better.
  16. JustinCada quien con lo suyo.We'll agree to disagree.

Practice — give a little

Nine exercises are waiting for you here: listen, match, reply, and put a real exchange back in order.

Each one asks you to give a little and keep a little, just like the lines do.

0 of 9 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Aunque ___, ___Drop the English here
    A pesar de ___, ___Drop the English here
    Con todo, ___Drop the English here
    Aun así, ___Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Yako says waking up early is awful. Deep down, you agree, and you want to grant him that point before answering.

  4. What does it mean?

    Eso no quita que ___

  5. Fill the gap

    Despite ___, ___

    A pesar ____ ___, ___

  6. Pick the reply

    Yako says:

    Aunque madrugas mucho, llegas cansado.

    Even if you get up early, you arrive tired.

    And you reply with:

  7. True or false?

    Con todo works like aun así: it concedes what was said, then turns back to the speaker's point.

  8. Which one doesn’t belong?

  9. Put the chat in order

    1. YakoWhat comes first?
    2. Justin…
    3. Yako…
    4. Justin…
    5. Michael…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

Say it — hold your line

Now you're Justin, holding your side of the schedule argument. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and say the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the model. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Yako¿Cómo ves el horario nuevo?How do you see the new schedule?
  2. Justin (you)Admit it has one good side: you finish early.

    Reconozco que ___

    I'll grant that ___

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Aunque ___, ___Even if ___, ___
A pesar de ___, ___Despite ___, ___
Con todo, ___All the same, ___
Eso no quita que ___That doesn't change the fact that ___
Reconozco que ___I'll grant that ___
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these concede-and-hold connectors handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your aunque, a pesar de and con todo sharp.

Open Yak Cards