Breakdown of Le chasseur était sceptique ; toujours est-il qu'il avait peur.
être
to be
il
he
avoir peur
to be afraid
sceptique
skeptical
Questions & Answers about Le chasseur était sceptique ; toujours est-il qu'il avait peur.
What exactly does toujours est-il que add to this sentence that a simple mais (but) wouldn't?
While mais simply contrasts the two ideas, toujours est-il que (the fact remains that / be that as it may) does more: it acknowledges the first statement as true or possible (he was indeed skeptical), but forcefully pivots to an undeniable fact that stands regardless of it (he was still afraid). It's an excellent B2-level tool for returning to your main point after making a concession.
Since toujours est-il que ends in que, why doesn't it trigger the subjunctive for the next verb?
Because it expresses certainty! The phrase translates to "the fact remains that," meaning it is used to assert something as an objective truth or reality. The subjunctive is generally reserved for doubt, desire, or subjectivity. Therefore, toujours est-il que is always followed by the indicative mood (here, the imperfect avait).
Why are both verbs (était and avait) in the imperfect tense rather than the passé composé?
The imperfect (l'imparfait) is used here because both "being skeptical" and "being afraid" describe ongoing states of mind or background conditions in the past. They aren't single, completed events with a clear start and end. If the sentence instead described a sudden action, like "he got scared" or "he jumped," you would use the passé composé.
Quick refresher: why does the second half use avait (had) instead of était (was) for "was afraid"?