A concessive sentence defeats an expectation: rain would normally stop a walk, yet the walk happens. Greek can put the obstacle before or after the main clause, reinforce the outcome with παρ' όλα αυτά/ωστόσο “nevertheless,” and distinguish factual “although” from hypothetical “even if.”
The complete inventory and its register ranking belong to concessive conjunctions. This page focuses on how a concessive clause and its main clause work together as a sentence.
Front the obstacle to create an expectation
A fronted concessive clause makes the obstacle the frame. The listener hears the expected constraint first, then its contradiction. In writing, put a comma after the fronted clause.
Αν και έβρεχε από το πρωί, τα παιδιά έπαιξαν στον κήπο.
an ke évreche apó to proí, ta pedhiá épeksan ston kípo
Although it had been raining since morning, the children played in the garden.
Παρόλο που είχε λίγο χρόνο, διάβασε προσεκτικά όλη τη σύμβαση.
parólo pu íche lígho chróno, dhiávase prosektiká óli ti símvasi
Even though she had little time, she read the entire contract carefully.
Μολονότι η έρευνα βρίσκεται σε αρχικό στάδιο, τα πρώτα ευρήματα είναι σημαντικά.
molonóti i érevna vrískete se archikó stádhio, ta próta evrímata íne simandiká
Although the research is at an early stage, the first findings are significant. (formal)
These factual conjunctions ordinarily take the indicative because the obstacle is asserted as real. Their register differs even when the concessive relation is the same.
Put the concession last to qualify the main claim
A following concessive clause announces the main point first, then acknowledges a fact that counts against it. It often resembles an afterthought or qualification.
Θα κρατήσουμε το παλιό τραπέζι, αν και πιάνει πολύ χώρο.
tha kratísume to palió trapézi, an ke piáni polí chóro
We'll keep the old table, although it takes up a lot of space.
Η παράσταση άρεσε στο κοινό, παρόλο που κράτησε σχεδόν τρεις ώρες.
i parástasi árese sto kinó, parólo pu krátise schedhón tris óres
The audience liked the performance, even though it lasted almost three hours.
Reordering changes information flow: Αν και πιάνει πολύ χώρο… starts with the size problem; Θα κρατήσουμε…, αν και πιάνει… commits first, then concedes the drawback.
Resume the obstacle with παρ' όλα αυτά or ωστόσο
Greek may explicitly mark the second half as the unexpected result. Παρ' όλα αυτά is neutral “nevertheless/despite all that.” Ωστόσο is common in careful, journalistic, and academic prose (formal). Both are adverbials in the main clause, not subordinating conjunctions.
Παρόλο που το κόστος της επισκευής ήταν υψηλό, παρ' όλα αυτά αποφασίσαμε να την κάνουμε.
parólo pu to kóstos tis episkevís ítan ipsiló, par óla aftá apofasísame na tin kánume
Although the cost of the repair was high, nevertheless we decided to go ahead with it.
Μολονότι τα δεδομένα είναι περιορισμένα, ωστόσο διακρίνεται μια σαφής τάση.
molonóti ta dhedhoména íne periorizména, ostóso dhiakrínete mia safís tási
Although the data are limited, a clear trend is nevertheless visible. (formal/academic)
The resumptive adverb is optional. Using both markers is rhetorically heavier but grammatical: the first marks the obstacle, the second signals that the conclusion survives it. One marker often suffices.
The same adverbials can link two independent sentences:
Η διαδρομή ήταν δύσκολη. Παρ' όλα αυτά, έφτασαν πριν νυχτώσει.
i dhiadhromí ítan dhískoli. par óla aftá, éftasan prin nichtósi
The route was difficult. Nevertheless, they arrived before nightfall.
Η μέθοδος έχει αδυναμίες· ωστόσο, παραμένει χρήσιμη για την αρχική ανάλυση.
i méthodhos échi adhinamíes; ostóso, paraméni chrísimi ya tin archikí análisi
The method has weaknesses; however, it remains useful for the initial analysis. (academic)
Factual “although” versus hypothetical “even if”
Αν και is one fixed concessive expression. It normally presents the obstacle as a fact. Plain αν is conditional: it leaves the condition open and says what follows if it holds.
Αν και φυσάει δυνατά, το πλοίο αναχώρησε κανονικά.
an ke fisái dhinatá, to plío anachórise kanoniká
Although it is very windy, the ship departed as scheduled. (the wind is factual)
Αν φυσήξει πιο δυνατά, το πλοίο μπορεί να καθυστερήσει.
an fisíksi pio dhinatá, to plío borí na kathisterísi
If the wind gets stronger, the ship may be delayed. (open condition)
For “even if,” Greek adds the meaning that the result will survive a possible obstacle. Ακόμα κι αν is neutral; κι ας is conversational and often adds determination or defiance.
Ακόμα κι αν αλλάξει το πρόγραμμα, θα έρθουμε αύριο.
akóma ki an aláksi to próghrama, tha érthume ávrio
Even if the schedule changes, we'll come tomorrow.
Κι ας διαμαρτύρεται, εγώ θα πω την αλήθεια.
ki as dhiamartírete, eghó tha po tin alíthia
Even if he complains, I'm going to tell the truth. (conversational, determined)
Factual concession normally has an indicative clause. Hypothetical ακόμα κι αν follows ordinary conditional aspect choices, while κι ας contains the particle ας. See all conditional types.
Concession versus direct contrast
Αλλά/όμως oppose assertions but do not subordinate an obstacle. Compare Το σπίτι είναι μικρό αλλά φωτεινό with Αν και το σπίτι είναι μικρό, χωράμε όλοι: only the second invokes the defeated expectation that a small house will not fit everyone. See αλλά, όμως, παρά.
Common Mistakes
1. Omitting που from παρόλο που. Before a finite clause, the full conjunction is required.
❌ Παρόλο ήταν κουρασμένος, έμεινε ως το τέλος.
Incorrect—παρόλο needs που before the concessive clause.
✅ Παρόλο που ήταν εξαντλημένος, έμεινε ως το τέλος.
parólo pu ítan eksandliménos, émine os to télos
Even though he was exhausted, he stayed until the end.
2. Replacing αν with ότι after ακόμα κι. The hypothetical concessive frame is ακόμα κι αν.
❌ Ακόμα κι ότι χιονίσει, θα ξεκινήσουμε νωρίς.
Incorrect—the fixed expression meaning ‘even if’ ends in αν.
✅ Ακόμα κι αν χιονίσει, θα ξεκινήσουμε νωρίς.
akóma ki an chionísi, tha ksekinísume norís
Even if it snows, we'll set off early.
3. Breaking agreement inside the fixed resumptive phrase. The expression is παρ' όλα αυτά, with plural όλα.
❌ Η τιμή ήταν υψηλή· παρ' όλο αυτά, το αγοράσαμε.
Incorrect—the fixed phrase requires plural όλα before αυτά.
✅ Η τιμή ήταν υψηλή· παρ' όλα αυτά, το αγοράσαμε.
i timí ítan ipsilí; par óla aftá, to aghorásame
The price was high; nevertheless, we bought it.
Key Takeaways
- Front a concessive clause to frame the obstacle; place it last to qualify a main claim already made.
- Παρ' όλα αυτά and formal ωστόσο can resume the obstacle and highlight the unexpected main-clause result.
- Αν και is factual “although”; plain αν is “if”; ακόμα κι αν/κι ας express “even if/even though” with added stance.
- Concession defeats an expectation; direct contrast merely opposes two assertions.
Related Topics
- Concession: αν και, παρόλο που, μολονότιB1 — Greek concession presents a fact or possibility that might have blocked the main event but did not, using αν και, παρόλο που, μολονότι, ενώ, and even-if expressions.
- Contrast: αλλά, όμως, παράB1 — Choose αλλά or μα for ordinary opposition, mobile όμως for ‘however,’ and negative-frame παρά for corrective ‘not X but rather Y.’
- All Conditional Types and MixedC1 — Combine Greek conditional time frames and recognize concessive, negative, να-based, participial, and asyndetic alternatives to ordinary αν-clauses.