Breakdown of Per quanto noi modifichiamo l'impostazione, lo schermo resta nero.
nero
black
noi
we
lo schermo
the screen
restare
to stay, to remain
modificare
to modify
per quanto
no matter how much / although (degree)
l'impostazione
the setting (f)
Questions & Answers about Per quanto noi modifichiamo l'impostazione, lo schermo resta nero.
I thought per quanto requires the subjunctive, but modifichiamo looks like the normal present tense. What's going on?
You are right that per quanto triggers the subjunctive. However, for all verbs, the noi form in the present subjunctive is exactly the same as the present indicative. So, modifichiamo is indeed the subjunctive here, even though it shares its form with the indicative.
Could I use sebbene or nonostante instead of per quanto here?
You could, and the grammar would remain correct because they all trigger the subjunctive. But per quanto adds the specific nuance of degree or effort, meaning 'no matter how much'. It emphasizes the repeated or significant attempts to change the setting.
Does per quanto need to agree in gender or number with l'impostazione?
Why is the pronoun noi explicitly included here?
In the subjunctive mood, subject pronouns are often included because the singular forms (io, tu, lui/lei) share the exact same conjugation, which can cause ambiguity. While the noi form is unique and doesn't strictly need the pronoun for clarity, including it here adds emphasis: no matter how much we try to adjust it, it stays black.
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