Overcoming Disadvantages
When you want to express that an action was achieved despite a clear obstacle or contrast, you can use a concessive gerund. To form this, use the word aun (even) followed directly by a gerund (-ando or -iendo).
Notice that aun in this context is written without an accent mark, unlike aún (still).
| Even having that disadvantage, they managed to win the tournament. | Aun teniendo esa desventaja, lograron ganar el torneo. |
Pushing Through Physical Setbacks
This structure is perfect for describing people pushing through physical setbacks, like an esguince (sprain) or having to cojear (limp). The aun + gerund phrase sets up the disadvantage, and the rest of the sentence highlights the accomplishment.
| Even having a sprain, the player qualified for the championship. | Aun teniendo un esguince, el jugador se clasificó para el campeonato. |
| Even limping, my sister was able to finish the race. | Aun cojeando, mi hermana pudo terminar la carrera. |
Even when the obstacle requires physical assistance, the grammar remains the same.
| Even walking with a crutch, the tourist visited the whole museum. | Aun caminando con una muleta, el turista visitó todo el museo. |
Performing Through Exhaustion
You will also frequently use this pattern to talk about pushing through states of fatiga (fatigue) or agotamiento (exhaustion) to successfully derrotar (defeat) an opponent or rendir (perform) well.
| Even feeling enormous fatigue, the team defeated the rival. | Aun sintiendo una enorme fatiga, el equipo derrotó al rival. |
| Even suffering exhaustion, the workers finished the building. | Aun sufriendo agotamiento, los trabajadores terminaron el edificio. |
| Even sleeping little, she performs a lot in the office. | Aun durmiendo poco, ella rinde mucho en la oficina. |
Succeeding Anyway
Sometimes the disadvantage is simply having a bad day on the field. The aun + gerund structure smoothly conveys how a team can achieve their goals despite their own poor performance.
| Even playing badly, they managed to qualify. | Aun jugando mal, lograron clasificarse. |
