Question 1

Why do we use the indicative verb echan instead of the subjunctive echen after por más que?

Accepted Answer

With phrases like por más que or por mucho que, you use the indicative when declaring a known, experienced fact. The speaker knows for a certainty that they are currently applying fertilizer. If this were a hypothetical situation or a future possibility (like 'no matter how much they might pour tomorrow'), you would use the subjunctive echen.

Question 2

Could I use por mucho que in this sentence instead?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Por mucho que echan abono means exactly the same thing. Both por más que and por mucho que are interchangeable here to mean 'no matter how much' or 'even though', and both follow the exact same rules for choosing between the indicative and subjunctive.

Question 3

Why use es instead of está for 'is not fertile'?

Accepted Answer

We use the verb ser (es) because being fertile is treated as an inherent characteristic or permanent quality of the land. Using estar would suggest a temporary state, but the speaker is making a general statement about the fundamental nature of this field.

Question 4

I usually see echar translated as 'to throw'. Does it always mean 'to pour' with things like fertilizer?

Accepted Answer

Echar is a very versatile 'catch-all' verb for putting, tossing, or adding one thing to another. While 'to throw' is its most literal translation, when talking about gardening or farming (like adding abono, water, or seeds), it naturally translates to 'to pour', 'to spread', or 'to apply'.

Por más que echan abono, el campo no es fértil.

Breakdown of Por más que echan abono, el campo no es fértil.

Questions & Answers about Por más que echan abono, el campo no es fértil.

Learn Por más que echan abono, el campo no es fértil and more in Spanish