Breakdown of El capitán duerme a pesar de que hay una tormenta.
una
a, an (feminine)
haber
to be (there is / there are)
dormir
to sleep
la tormenta
the storm
Questions & Answers about El capitán duerme a pesar de que hay una tormenta.
Why do we use the indicative hay here instead of the subjunctive?
We use the indicative with a pesar de que when we are stating a known, established fact. In this sentence, the storm is definitely happening right now, so we use the indicative hay (there is). If we were talking about a hypothetical or unlikely storm, we would use the subjunctive (haya).
Could I drop the que and just say a pesar de hay una tormenta?
No, because hay una tormenta contains a conjugated verb (hay). When you follow this connector with a clause that has a conjugated verb, you must use the full phrase a pesar de que. If you wanted to drop the que, you would have to follow it with just a noun or infinitive, like a pesar de la tormenta (despite the storm).
Could I use aunque instead of a pesar de que in this sentence?
Yes, they are practically interchangeable in this context! Both can mean "even though." However, a pesar de que is often a bit more emphatic, similar to saying "despite the fact that" in English.
The translation says "The captain sleeps." Could duerme also mean he is sleeping right now?