Concessive conjunctions express the idea of "although / even though": they introduce an obstacle or counter-argument that, surprisingly, does not prevent the main clause from being true. In Portuguese this is one of the cleanest rules in the whole grammar — concessive conjunctions almost all take the subjunctive. The trick is knowing which words are conjunctions in the first place, because the most common one English speakers reach for, apesar de, is not a conjunction at all.
Why concession takes the subjunctive
A concessive clause does not assert its content as the main point — it backgrounds it. You "concede" the obstacle and then push past it. Because the clause is not the asserted, foregrounded reality, Portuguese marks it with the subjunctive, the mood of the non-asserted.
Compare with causal clauses: "because it's raining" (porque está chovendo) asserts the rain as the operative reason → indicative. "Even though it's raining" (embora esteja chovendo) concedes the rain but treats it as not decisive → subjunctive. Same weather, opposite mood, because of how the clause functions in the argument.
embora — the core "although"
Embora is the default concessive conjunction in writing and careful speech. It is followed directly by a subjunctive verb.
Embora esteja chovendo, vamos sair mesmo assim.
Even though it's raining, we're going out anyway.
Embora ele seja jovem, tem muita experiência.
Although he's young, he has a lot of experience.
Embora não tivessem dinheiro, conseguiram viajar.
Although they had no money, they managed to travel. (past — imperfect subjunctive)
The tense of the subjunctive follows the timeframe: present subjunctive (esteja, seja) for present/future, imperfect subjunctive (tivessem) for the past.
ainda que / mesmo que — "even if / even though"
Ainda que and mesmo que lean toward "even if," adding emphasis to the concession — they often introduce a condition that is hypothetical or extreme. Both take the subjunctive.
Mesmo que você não goste, precisa terminar o projeto.
Even if you don't like it, you need to finish the project.
Ainda que custasse o dobro, eu compraria.
Even if it cost twice as much, I'd buy it.
Mesmo que ele peça desculpas, não vou perdoar.
Even if he apologizes, I won't forgive him.
Mesmo que is the most common of the two in everyday Brazilian speech; ainda que is a touch more (formal)/(literary).
por mais que / por menos que — "no matter how much"
Por mais que ("no matter how much / however much") and its mirror por menos que ("however little") express that the obstacle, however intense, fails to change the outcome. They take the subjunctive.
Por mais que eu tente, não consigo entender física quântica.
No matter how hard I try, I can't understand quantum physics.
Por mais que ele estude, sempre tira nota baixa.
However much he studies, he always gets a low grade.
Por menos que ela ganhe, sempre consegue economizar um pouco.
However little she earns, she always manages to save a bit.
nem que — "even if (it kills me)"
Nem que is an emphatic, colloquial concessive meaning "even if," typically with an extreme or sacrificial scenario. It takes the subjunctive and is very alive in Brazilian speech.
Eu vou terminar isso hoje, nem que eu tenha que virar a noite.
I'm going to finish this today, even if I have to pull an all-nighter.
A gente vai te ajudar, nem que seja só com um pouco.
We'll help you, even if it's only a little.
conquanto / posto que — the formal and archaic edge
Conquanto is (literary)/(formal) for "although" and takes the subjunctive — you will meet it in essays and older prose, but it is rare in speech.
Conquanto fosse tarde, ninguém parecia disposto a ir embora.
Although it was late, no one seemed willing to leave. (literary)
Posto que is tricky: historically concessive ("although"), in modern Brazilian usage it has drifted toward a causal meaning ("since / given that") and is often used with the indicative. Because of this ambiguity, careful writers avoid it; recognize it but prefer embora.
se bem que — the colloquial exception that takes the indicative
Here is the one concessive conjunction that breaks the pattern. Se bem que ("although / then again") is highly colloquial and takes the indicative, not the subjunctive. It often works as an afterthought that qualifies what was just said.
Não vou à festa. Se bem que, pensando melhor, talvez eu apareça.
I'm not going to the party. Although, on second thought, maybe I'll show up.
Ele é meio antipático, se bem que sempre me ajuda quando preciso.
He's a bit unfriendly — then again, he always helps me when I need it.
apesar de is a PREPOSITION — never "apesar de que"
This is the most important warning on the page. Apesar de means "despite / in spite of," but it is a preposition, not a conjunction. A preposition is followed by a noun or an infinitive, never by a conjugated clause. The phrase "apesar de que" is a frequent and stubborn error.
Apesar da chuva, fomos à praia.
Despite the rain, we went to the beach. (preposition + noun)
Apesar de estar cansado, ele continuou trabalhando.
Despite being tired, he kept working. (preposition + infinitive)
When the subjects differ and you need a personal infinitive, Portuguese still uses apesar de + the personal (inflected) infinitive, not a que-clause:
Apesar de eles terem chegado tarde, conseguimos começar a tempo.
Despite their having arrived late, we managed to start on time. (personal infinitive)
If you want a full clause with a conjugated verb, switch to a real conjunction (embora, mesmo que) + subjunctive. So: apesar de chover (preposition + infinitive) = embora chova (conjunction + subjunctive). Same meaning, two completely different structures.
Common Mistakes
❌ Embora está chovendo, vamos sair.
Incorrect — 'embora' requires the subjunctive, not the indicative.
✅ Embora esteja chovendo, vamos sair.
Even though it's raining, we're going out.
❌ Apesar de que ele é jovem, tem experiência.
Incorrect — 'apesar de' is a preposition; 'apesar de que' does not exist.
✅ Embora ele seja jovem, tem experiência.
Although he's young, he has experience.
❌ Por mais que eu tento, não consigo.
Incorrect — 'por mais que' takes the subjunctive (tente), not the indicative.
✅ Por mais que eu tente, não consigo.
No matter how hard I try, I can't.
❌ Mesmo que ele pede desculpas, não perdoo.
Incorrect — 'mesmo que' requires the subjunctive (peça).
✅ Mesmo que ele peça desculpas, não perdoo.
Even if he apologizes, I won't forgive.
Key Takeaways
- Concessive conjunctions (
embora,ainda que,mesmo que,por mais que,por menos que,nem que,conquanto) all take the subjunctive, because the conceded clause is non-asserted. - The lone exception is colloquial
se bem que, which takes the indicative. Apesar deis a preposition (+ noun or infinitive). There is no "apesar de que"; useembora- subjunctive for a full clause.
- Match the subjunctive tense to the timeframe: present subjunctive for present/future, imperfect subjunctive for the past.
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Start learning Portuguese→Related Topics
- Concession Markers (Embora, Ainda Que)B1 — How Brazilian Portuguese concedes a point — 'embora' and 'ainda que' take the subjunctive, 'apesar de' takes a noun or infinitive, and 'mesmo assim' links back.
- Conjunctions and Mood SelectionB1 — The master table mapping each Brazilian Portuguese conjunction to the mood it governs — indicative, subjunctive, or future subjunctive — and the assertion principle that predicts them all.
- Subjunctive with Triggering ConjunctionsB1 — Conjunctions like para que, antes que, embora, and caso that always force the subjunctive in Brazilian Portuguese.
- The Subjunctive in BR Portuguese: OverviewA2 — What the subjunctive is, why Brazilian Portuguese keeps all three of its tenses fully alive, and what triggers it.
- Adversative Conjunctions (Mas, Porém, Contudo)A2 — The full set of contrast conjunctions in Brazilian Portuguese — mas, porém, contudo, todavia, no entanto, entretanto — graded by register, plus the mobile-adverbial behavior of porém and the special word senão.