To talk about doing something despite an obstacle, we use a concessive clause. In Portuguese, "even if" is translated as mesmo que.
| even if | mesmo que |
Because mesmo que presents a hypothetical, unlikely, or unconfirmed scenario, the following verb must be in the subjunctive mood.
| We will march today, even if it rains. | Nós vamos marchar hoje, mesmo que chova. |
| Any person can protest, even if they are afraid. | Qualquer pessoa pode protestar, mesmo que tenha medo. |
Clause Order
The mesmo que clause can appear in the middle of the sentence or right at the beginning. When it starts the sentence, use a comma to separate the two halves.
| Even if the police arrest the leader, we will protest. | Mesmo que a polícia prenda o líder, nós protestamos. |
| Even if the demonstration is peaceful, the police arrest the protesters. | Mesmo que a manifestação seja pacífica, a polícia prende os manifestantes. |
In the Past
If the hypothetical situation is framed in the past, mesmo que requires the imperfect subjunctive instead of the present subjunctive.
| Even if the leader marched, nothing would change. | Mesmo que o líder marchasse, nada mudava. |
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