Breakdown of Ainda que a gramática seja difícil, não deves desistir.
ser
to be
não
not / no
difícil
difficult
dever
should / ought to
Questions & Answers about Ainda que a gramática seja difícil, não deves desistir.
Why do we use seja instead of é here?
The phrase ainda que (even if or even though) introduces a condition or obstacle and always requires the verb that follows it to be in the subjunctive mood. Seja is the present subjunctive of ser (to be).
Does ainda que mean 'even if' or 'even though' in this sentence?
It can mean both! Portuguese uses ainda que for both hypothetical situations (even if) and established facts (even though). Either way, it triggers the subjunctive mood.
Why is the second verb, deves, in the normal present tense instead of the subjunctive?
The subjunctive mood is only triggered inside the specific part of the sentence that contains ainda que. The second part of the sentence (não deves desistir) is the main clause giving a direct piece of advice, so it just uses the normal indicative mood.
Can I use embora instead of ainda que here?
Yes, you could say Embora a gramática seja difícil. Both phrases introduce an obstacle and require the subjunctive. Embora is more common in daily conversation, while ainda que adds a nice variety and can sound a bit more formal or emphatic.