Although and in spite of: αν και, παρόλο που, ας
Concession is when one thing hinders another and it happens anyway. Greek builds it in three ways, which do not interchange in tone. For example: “Αν και διαφωνώ, θα το δεχτώ” — Although I don't agree, I will accept it. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Concession is when one thing hinders another and it happens anyway. Greek builds it in three ways, which do not interchange in tone.
αν και (an ke) — "although", the plainest: Αν και έβρεχε (an ke évrekhe), πήγαμε (pígame). It stands at the start of the clause, and no θα (tha) follows it, just as after αν (an).
παρόλο που (parólo pu) and μολονότι — "despite the fact that". The first is conversational, the second bookish. Παρόλο που τον προειδοποίησα (parólo pu ton proidopíisa), επέμεινε (epémine).
παρά (pará) with a noun — "in spite of": Παρά τις δυσκολίες, τα κατάφερε (ta katáfere). After παρά comes the accusative, as after every preposition.
Apart stands ας (as) — a particle of conversational concession: Ας λέει ό (as léi ó),τι θέλει (ti théli) — let him say what he wants. The same ας elsewhere means "let's": Ας πάμε (as páme). What tells them apart is not the form but whether you are conceding or proposing.
And ακόμα κι αν (akóma ki an) — "even if": concession fused with a condition. Ακόμα κι αν διαφωνείς, άκουσέ με. After it, as after αν, the future goes without θα.
Common to all: the main clause needs no "but". Αν και έβρεχε, αλλά πήγαμε (alá pígame) is the classic slip of a speaker whose other language says "although ... yet".
Table
| the turn | the tone | what follows |
|---|---|---|
| αν και | plain | a verb, without θα |
| παρόλο που | conversational | a verb |
| μολονότι | bookish | a verb |
| παρά | any | a noun in the accusative |
| ακόμα κι αν | plain | a verb, without θα |
By example
- Αν και διαφωνώ, θα το δεχτώan ke diafonó, tha to dekhtóAlthough I don't agree, I will accept it
- Παρόλο που τον προειδοποίησα, επέμεινεparólo pu ton proidopíisa, epémineAlthough I warned him, he insisted
- Ακόμα κι αν έχεις δίκιο, μην υψώνεις τη φωνήakóma ki an ékhis díkio, min ipsónis ti foníEven if you are right, don't raise your voice
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Although and in spite of: how does it work in Greek?
Concession is when one thing hinders another and it happens anyway. Greek builds it in three ways, which do not interchange in tone.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Αν και διαφωνώ, θα το δεχτώ” (an ke diafonó, tha to dekhtó) — Although I don't agree, I will accept it. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.