Concessive Connectors:

Imagine you are at a job interview. You want to say you have the skills, even though you lack experience. Or you're ordering food and want something spicy, even though you shouldn't. Concessive connectors create a bridge between two conflicting ideas. The first part sets up an expectation. The second part (the main clause) surprises us by happening anyway. It’s like a grammar traffic light that stays green even when it should be red. Most of these connectors trigger the subjunctive mood. This is because the "concession" is often seen as a condition or a hypothetical hurdle. It’s not just a flat fact; it’s a circumstance being weighed. Some, like apesar de, prefer the infinitive. Mastering which one goes where is the real trick here. It’s the difference between sounding like a tourist and sounding like a local.

1. 1Identify the obstacle (e.g., the rain) and the action (e.g., going out).
2. 2Choose your connector based on the mood required.
3. 3For embora, ainda que, and mesmo que, use the Subjunctive.
4. 4Example: Embora + chova (Present Subjunctive) + eu vou sair.
5. 5For apesar de, use the Infinitive.
6. 6Example: Apesar de + chover (Infinitive) + eu vou sair.
7. 7For se bem que, you can usually use the Indicative.
8. 8Example: Se bem que + está (Indicative) + frio, eu vou à praia.
9. 9Place the connector at the start or in the middle of the sentence.
10. 10Use a comma if the concessive clause comes first!

Use these connectors when you want to sound polite but firm. They are perfect for business negotiations. "Even though the price is high, the quality is worth it." They are also great for daily social life. "Even though I'm tired, I'll go to your party." You'll hear them in news reports and formal writing constantly. Use embora when you want to sound a bit more polished. Use mesmo que for hypothetical situations in the future. If you're talking about a physical fact that happened, apesar de is your best friend. It’s very common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese. Basically, use them whenever life throws a curveball and you keep swinging anyway.

Don't use these if there is no real conflict. If you're just adding information, use e (and). If you want a direct contrast without the "surprising" element, use mas (but). Concessive connectors are heavier than mas. Don't overdo them in a casual text to a friend about what pizza to get. It might sound a bit too dramatic! Also, avoid using them if you aren't sure about the mood yet. If you're in a rush, a simple mas is safer than a butchered subjunctive. Finally, don't use apesar de with a conjugated verb directly. It always needs that infinitive or a noun to follow it.

One big mistake is using the Indicative with embora. Native speakers might understand you, but it sounds "crunchy" to their ears. Another classic is forgetting the de in apesar de. People often just say apesar que, which is less common and often wrong. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they are tired! Don't feel bad if you do too. Another trap is mixing up embora and contudo. Contudo is just a fancy way to say "but." It doesn't function the same way grammatically. Think of it like a grammar traffic light; if you use the wrong bulb, nobody knows when to go.

Let's compare mas and embora. Mas is a coordinator. It joins two independent thoughts. "It's raining, but I'm going out." Embora is a subordinator. It makes one part of the sentence dependent on the other. "Although it's raining, I'm going out." The focus shifts! With embora, the emphasis is on your determination to go out. With mas, the focus is equal on the rain and the going out. Also, contrast apesar de with por causa de. One is for obstacles (apesar de), the other is for reasons (por causa de). Don't tell your boss you were late "despite" traffic if you actually mean "because" of it!