A single concession in Spanish is straightforward: aunque llueva, iré. The advanced move — the move that marks an argumentative essay, an opinion column, or a confident speaker — is chaining concessions: stacking aunque, aun así, a pesar de eso, con todo, and por más que in sequence to grant ground point by point and then push past every objection. This page covers the principal links in the chain, the order they typically come in, and the rhetorical effect of stringing them together. By the end you should be able to read a El País editorial without losing track of who is conceding what.
The architecture of a concessive chain
A typical chain has three slots:
- A leading concession that opens by granting something to the opposing position. Spanish reaches for aunque, si bien, por más que, or a pesar de que.
- (Optional) A deepening concession that grants further ground, often introduced by e incluso, y aunque también, por mucho que.
- A resumptive marker that reasserts the speaker's main claim. Spanish reaches for aun así, a pesar de todo, con todo, de todas formas, no obstante, sin embargo.
The rhetorical engine: the speaker grants the opponent's strongest points to make the eventual rebuttal look stronger and more reasonable. The chain is a one-step or two-step concession followed by a hard-edged conclusion.
Aunque los datos son preocupantes, y aun reconociendo que el sector lleva tres años en pérdidas, aun así no veo razones para liquidar la empresa.
Although the figures are worrying, and even acknowledging that the sector has been losing money for three years, I still don't see grounds for winding up the company.
That single sentence has the full three-slot architecture: aunque opens, aun reconociendo deepens, aun así resumes the speaker's position.
The leading concession
These markers open the chain by acknowledging a fact or hypothesis the opponent might raise.
Aunque (everyday + formal)
The default concession marker. Takes the indicative for granted facts, the subjunctive for hypotheticals or discounted facts.
Aunque entiendo tu postura, sigo pensando que te equivocas.
Although I understand your position, I still think you're wrong.
Aunque llueva mañana, la manifestación seguirá adelante.
Even if it rains tomorrow, the demonstration will go ahead.
Si bien (formal/written)
A formal alternative to aunque, very common in journalism and essays. Almost always takes the indicative; sounds bookish in speech.
Si bien el informe reconoce el problema, no propone soluciones concretas.
While the report acknowledges the problem, it doesn't propose concrete solutions.
A pesar de que (mid-register, written and spoken)
Slightly more emphatic than aunque — "in spite of the fact that." With nouns or infinitives, a pesar de (without que).
A pesar de que llevo años pidiendo el cambio, nadie me hace caso.
In spite of the fact that I've been requesting the change for years, no one pays me any attention.
A pesar del cansancio, terminó la maratón.
Despite the exhaustion, he finished the marathon.
Por más que / por mucho que (mid-register)
Concession of degree — "however much, no matter how much." Strongly prefers the subjunctive (the only mood available for hypothetical or future concessions); the indicative is reserved for a real, completed past event (por más que insistió, no le abrieron). See Concesivas avanzadas for the full treatment.
Por más que insistas, no voy a cambiar de opinión.
No matter how much you insist, I'm not going to change my mind.
The deepening concession
Optional, but characteristic of polished argumentation. The deepening concession grants further ground in the same direction as the lead.
Aunque la oferta es interesante, e incluso aceptando que el sueldo es competitivo, no me convence el horario.
Although the offer is interesting, and even granting that the salary is competitive, I'm not sold on the schedule.
Aunque los precios han bajado, y por mucho que los proveedores se esfuercen, la calidad sigue siendo desigual.
Although prices have come down, and however hard the suppliers try, quality is still uneven.
Si bien la propuesta es razonable, y aun admitiendo que cuenta con amplio respaldo, conviene estudiar las consecuencias antes de votarla.
While the proposal is reasonable, and even acknowledging that it has broad support, the consequences should be studied before it is put to a vote.
The deepening concession is often a non-finite construction (aun reconociendo, aun admitiendo, aun aceptando) — Spanish uses the gerund of reconocer, admitir, aceptar, contar con with the modifier aun to mean "even acknowledging that…". The aun (no accent) is crucial — aún (with accent) is the temporal "still / yet" and not interchangeable.
The resumptive marker
After granting, the speaker reasserts the main claim with a resumptive marker. This is the rhetorical hinge of the chain.
Aun así (everyday + formal)
The default. "Even so." No accent on aun.
Aunque el examen fue difícil, aun así saqué un notable.
Although the exam was hard, I still got a B+.
A pesar de eso / a pesar de todo (mid-register)
Slightly more emphatic. The phrase points back to the concessions just granted.
Aunque me han ofrecido un sueldo mejor, y aunque el equipo me cae bien, a pesar de todo prefiero quedarme donde estoy.
Although they've offered me a better salary, and although I like the team, in spite of all that I prefer to stay where I am.
Con todo (formal/literary)
A more elegant alternative to a pesar de todo. Common in opinion pieces.
Si bien el plan tiene méritos, y aunque se ha discutido en varios foros, con todo, no ha logrado el consenso necesario.
While the plan has merits, and although it has been debated in various forums, even so it has not achieved the necessary consensus.
No obstante / sin embargo (formal/written)
The most formal resumptive markers, common in news, essays, and academic prose. No obstante is more emphatic than sin embargo.
Aunque los indicadores macroeconómicos han mejorado, sin embargo, el desempleo juvenil sigue siendo el más alto de la Unión Europea.
Although the macroeconomic indicators have improved, youth unemployment is nevertheless still the highest in the European Union.
A pesar de las protestas, no obstante, el gobierno aprobó la reforma.
Despite the protests, the government nonetheless approved the reform.
De todas formas / de todos modos (informal-to-neutral)
Conversational resumptives. Common in everyday speech and informal writing.
Aunque me dijo que no podía venir, de todas formas voy a llamarle esta tarde para confirmarlo.
Although he told me he couldn't come, I'm going to call him this afternoon anyway to confirm.
A typology of chains by length
Two-link chain (most common)
A leading concession + a resumptive marker. This is the standard pattern in spoken argumentation and everyday writing.
Aunque me cae bien, aun así no le presto el coche.
Although I like him, I still don't lend him the car.
Por más que me lo expliques, sigo sin entenderlo.
No matter how much you explain it, I still don't get it.
Three-link chain (argumentative)
Lead + deepening + resumption. Standard in opinion writing, formal speeches, and polished argument.
Aunque la sentencia es legalmente impecable, y aun reconociendo que el juez ha aplicado correctamente la norma, a pesar de eso conviene replantear la propia norma.
Although the ruling is legally impeccable, and even acknowledging that the judge correctly applied the rule, even so the rule itself deserves to be rethought.
Four-link chain (rhetorical)
Lead + two deepenings + resumption. Mainly oratorical or persuasive writing.
Aunque entiendo las razones del Gobierno, y aun aceptando que las cuentas no admiten más gasto, y por más que se nos prometa una rectificación a medio plazo, con todo, los servicios públicos no pueden seguir esperando.
Although I understand the government's reasons, and even granting that the books can't take more spending, and however much we're promised a medium-term correction, even so public services cannot keep waiting.
Mood inside the chain
Each link in the chain takes the mood its conjunction demands, independently of the others:
- Aunque — indicative for granted fact, subjunctive for hypothesis or discounted fact.
- Si bien — almost always indicative.
- A pesar de que — indicative for fact, subjunctive for hypothesis (rare).
- Por más que / por mucho que — subjunctive by default; indicative only for a real, completed past event.
- Aun reconociendo / admitiendo / aceptando — non-finite, no mood choice.
The mood does not cascade across the chain. Each concession picks its own. A chain with Aunque llueve (indicative) … y por mucho que insistas (subjunctive) … aun así (no clause) is perfectly normal — the mood split mid-chain reflects the speaker's stance toward each granted point.
Aunque sé que tienes razón, y por más que me lo repitas, aun así no me da la gana de aceptarlo.
Although I know you're right, and however much you repeat it, I still don't feel like accepting it.
Note: Aunque sé — indicative, granted fact. Por más que me lo repitas — subjunctive, hypothetical degree. Both are right; they reflect different epistemic stances toward the two granted points.
Register and rhythm
Chained concessions are characteristic of measured, argumentative Spanish — the register of editorials, courtroom argument, parliamentary speech, and well-crafted essays. They are rarely used in casual conversation, where Spaniards prefer a single concession plus a coordinator: aunque sé que tienes razón, paso.
Within formal writing, the rhythm matters. Three-link chains are the sweet spot — they grant enough to sound reasonable but resolve before the reader gets lost. Four-link chains start to feel ostentatious. Mixing finite (aunque) with non-finite (aun reconociendo) links is a hallmark of polished prose.
How this differs from English
English builds the same architecture — although X, and even granting Y, nevertheless Z — but uses a smaller set of markers and rarely chains more than two. The Spanish toolkit is broader (aunque, si bien, a pesar de que, por más que, por mucho que, aun reconociendo, aun aceptando) and chains more freely.
The crucial mismatch: English chained concession often relies on the same word repeated (although … although … still), which Spanish dislikes — native writers vary the markers (aunque … si bien … con todo) to avoid repetition. Translating chained English concessions into chained Spanish by repeating aunque sounds wooden; varying the markers is what makes the Spanish sound native.
Also, the English semi-fixed phrase that said has no direct Spanish equivalent — Spanish uses dicho esto, aclarado esto, con todo, or aun así depending on the rhetorical role.
Common Mistakes
❌ Aunque sé que tienes razón, aún así no te lo voy a aceptar.
Incorrect accent — aun (no accent) is the concessive 'even'; aún (with accent) is the temporal 'still'.
✅ Aunque sé que tienes razón, aun así no te lo voy a aceptar.
Although I know you're right, even so I'm not going to accept it.
❌ Aunque llueva mañana, aunque haga frío, aunque pase lo que pase, voy a ir.
Awkward — repeating aunque three times sounds wooden; vary the markers.
✅ Aunque llueva mañana, por mucho frío que haga, pase lo que pase, voy a ir.
Even if it rains tomorrow, however cold it is, whatever happens, I'm going.
❌ Por más que insistes, no voy a cambiar de opinión.
Incorrect — por más que always takes the subjunctive.
✅ Por más que insistas, no voy a cambiar de opinión.
However much you insist, I'm not going to change my mind.
❌ A pesar de que lluvia, salimos.
Incorrect — a pesar de que takes a finite verb (llueve / llovía), not a bare noun. Use a pesar de la lluvia if you want the noun.
✅ A pesar de la lluvia, salimos.
In spite of the rain, we went out.
❌ Si bien la propuesta sea razonable, conviene estudiarla.
Incorrect — si bien takes the indicative, not the subjunctive.
✅ Si bien la propuesta es razonable, conviene estudiarla.
While the proposal is reasonable, it deserves study.
Key Takeaways
- A concessive chain has three slots: lead concession (aunque, si bien, a pesar de que, por más que), optional deepening (often non-finite: aun reconociendo, aun aceptando), and resumption (aun así, a pesar de eso, con todo, no obstante).
- Each link picks its own mood independently; the chain does not enforce a global mood.
- Variety of markers is the mark of native-style chains; repeating aunque three times sounds wooden.
- Aun (no accent) = "even" (concession). Aún (with accent) = "still" (time). Getting this wrong is the most common written error.
- The register is firmly argumentative — editorials, speeches, essays — and rare in casual speech.
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