Facing Obstacles: A pesar de que & Pese a que
When planning a major event like a wedding, things do not always go smoothly. To talk about obstacles that you will overcome, you can use the concessive phrases a pesar de que and pese a que. Both mean "even though" or "even if."
The grammar trick is choosing between the indicative and the subjunctive mood. The choice depends entirely on whether the obstacle is a real, established fact or a hypothetical possibility.
Known Facts (The Indicative)
When the obstacle is a known fact or something that has already happened, use the indicative. In this case, a pesar de que and pese a que translate to "even though" or "despite the fact that."
| Even though the priest is strict, the religious wedding will be beautiful. | A pesar de que el sacerdote es estricto, la boda religiosa será hermosa. |
| Even though the civil wedding was short, we realize that it was unforgettable. | Pese a que la boda civil fue corta, nos damos cuenta de que fue inolvidable. |
Hypothetical Obstacles (The Subjunctive)
If the obstacle is a hypothetical scenario, something unknown, or an event that has not happened yet, you must use the subjunctive. Here, the phrases translate to "even if." It shows that if this potential obstacle arises, it still will not change the outcome.
| Even if it rains tomorrow, we will solve any contingency. | A pesar de que llueva mañana, solucionaremos cualquier eventualidad. |
| Even if we don't foresee the weather, we will cope with the problem. | Pese a que no preveamos el clima, sobrellevaremos el problema. |
Sentence Order
You've seen these clauses at the beginning of a sentence, but you can also place them in the middle. The rule remains exactly the same: use the indicative for facts and the subjunctive for hypotheticals.
| The religious ceremony is tomorrow, even though we had a civil wedding today. | La ceremonia religiosa es mañana, a pesar de que tuvimos una boda civil hoy. |
| The priest will speak again, even if no one listens to him. | El sacerdote volverá a hablar, a pesar de que nadie lo escuche. |