Question 1

Why do we use the conditional serait here instead of the imperfect?

Accepted Answer

The phrase quand bien même (even if) is always followed by the conditional mood to express a hypothetical situation. This is a key difference from même si (even if), which requires the imperfect tense for the same type of hypothesis.

Question 2

If toute means 'completely' or 'all' here, shouldn't it be the invariable adverb tout?

Accepted Answer

Usually, the adverb tout is invariable. However, there is a quirky French rule: when it modifies a feminine adjective that begins with a consonant or aspirated 'h', it must agree in gender and number. Since puissante is feminine and starts with a consonant, tout becomes toute.

Question 3

Could I rewrite this sentence using même si?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but you would need to change the verb tense in the first clause. Because même si takes the imperfect for hypotheses, the sentence would become: Même si elle était toute puissante... Both mean the same thing, but quand bien même is slightly more formal and emphatic.

Question 4

Why does the 'i' in super-héroïne have a tréma (two dots)?

Accepted Answer

The tréma tells you to pronounce that vowel separately from the one before it. Without it, the oi combination would be pronounced like the 'wa' sound in oiseau. The tréma ensures it is pronounced as two distinct vowel sounds.

Quand bien même elle serait toute puissante, la super-héroïne cacherait sa faiblesse.

Breakdown of Quand bien même elle serait toute puissante, la super-héroïne cacherait sa faiblesse.

Questions & Answers about Quand bien même elle serait toute puissante, la super-héroïne cacherait sa faiblesse.

Learn Quand bien même elle serait toute puissante, la super-héroïne cacherait sa faiblesse and more in French