DELE B2 Concessive Clauses Spanish: Practice Test & Review
Concessive clauses express contrast: they say that something happens despite an obstacle. Spanish has a full system of concessive connectors, and each one takes a different mood — indicative or subjunctive — depending on whether the obstacle is presented as a fact or as a hypothesis.
This page gives you a five-part practice quiz: an evaluation set to see where you stand, three practice sets to drill the connectors and moods, and a challenge set to confirm mastery. The grammar review below covers the main connectors, the indicative versus subjunctive distinction, and the fixed expressions that appear on the exam.
Concessive clauses appear in every B2 reading passage that involves argument, contrast, or concession. Master the mood distinction and you can handle any concessive sentence the exam throws at you. Ready? Start with the evaluation set below.
Grammar Guide
The Rule
Concessive clauses express contrast: they say that something happens despite an obstacle. Spanish has several concessive connectors, and each one takes either the indicative or the subjunctive depending on whether the obstacle is presented as a fact or as a hypothesis. The mood is the key to the meaning.
The Main Connectors
| Connector | Mood | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aunque | Indicative or subjunctive | Although | Neutral |
| A pesar de que | Indicative or subjunctive | Despite the fact that | Neutral |
| Por mucho que | Subjunctive only | No matter how much | Neutral |
| Por más que | Subjunctive only | No matter how much | Neutral |
| Si bien | Indicative | Although | Formal |
| Aun cuando | Subjunctive | Even when | Formal |
| Pese a que | Indicative or subjunctive | Despite | Formal |
Aunque — Indicative vs Subjunctive
Aunque is the most common concessive connector, and it takes either mood depending on what the speaker wants to say.
| Mood | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative | The obstacle is a fact | Aunque llueve, voy a salir. | Although it is raining, I am going to go out. |
| Subjunctive | The obstacle is a hypothesis or unknown | Aunque llueva, voy a salir. | Even if it rains, I am going to go out. |
The indicative presents the obstacle as something the speaker knows to be true. The subjunctive presents it as a possibility, a hypothesis, or something the speaker does not know for certain.
This distinction is one of the most tested points on the B2 exam. The same connector, two moods, two meanings.
A pesar de que — Indicative vs Subjunctive
A pesar de que works the same way as aunque.
| Mood | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative | The obstacle is a fact | A pesar de que llueve, salimos. | Despite the fact that it is raining, we are going out. |
| Subjunctive | The obstacle is a hypothesis | A pesar de que llueva, saldremos. | Even if it rains, we will go out. |
Note the difference in form: a pesar de que has a que, while a pesar de (without que) is followed by a noun or infinitive. A pesar del frío, salimos. A pesar de estar cansado, salió.
Por mucho que and Por más que — Subjunctive Only
Por mucho que and por más que always take the subjunctive. They express an extreme hypothesis: no matter how much something happens, the result does not change.
| Example | Translation |
|---|---|
| Por mucho que estudies, no aprobarás. | No matter how much you study, you will not pass. |
| Por más que lo intentes, no lo conseguirás. | No matter how much you try, you will not achieve it. |
The subjunctive is required because the obstacle is presented as a hypothesis, not as a fact. Even if the speaker knows the person studies a lot, the structure presents it as an extreme case.
Other Concessive Connectors
Si bien takes the indicative and is formal: Si bien es cierto que…, aunque también… (Although it is true that…, also…). It is common in argumentative writing.
Aun cuando takes the subjunctive and is formal: Aun cuando llueva, saldremos. (Even if it rains, we will go out.)
Pese a que takes either mood, like aunque, and is formal: Pese a que llueve, salimos.
Fixed Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A pesar de todo | Despite everything | Fixed phrase |
| Aun así | Even so | Connector, not a clause |
| De todos modos | Anyway | Connector |
| En cualquier caso | In any case | Connector |
| Por mucho que + subjunctive | No matter how much | Always subjunctive |
Common Mistakes
Using indicative after por mucho que.
Incorrect: Por mucho que estudias, no apruebas.
Correct: Por mucho que estudies, no apruebes.
Por mucho que always takes the subjunctive.
Using subjunctive after aunque when the obstacle is a fact.
Incorrect: Aunque llueva ahora mismo, voy a salir. (if it is actually raining)
Correct: Aunque llueve ahora mismo, voy a salir.
Use the indicative when the obstacle is presented as a known fact.
Confusing a pesar de and a pesar de que.
Incorrect: A pesar de que el frío, salimos.
Correct: A pesar del frío, salimos.
Correct: A pesar de que hace frío, salimos.
A pesar de + noun or infinitive. A pesar de que + clause.
Using aunque with the future.
Incorrect: Aunque lloverá, saldremos.
Correct: Aunque llueva, saldremos.
After aunque with future meaning, use the subjunctive, not the future.
Quick Decision Chart
| Ask yourself | Answer | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Is the obstacle a fact? | Yes | Aunque / a pesar de que + indicative |
| Is the obstacle a hypothesis? | Yes | Aunque / a pesar de que + subjunctive |
| Does the connector mean no matter how much? | Yes | Por mucho que / por más que + subjunctive |
| Is the connector followed by a noun or infinitive? | Yes | A pesar de (no que) |
| Is the connector followed by a clause? | Yes | A pesar de que + verb |
| Is the register formal? | Yes | Si bien / pese a que / aun cuando |
Two Sentences That Show the Difference
Aunque llueve, voy a salir.
Although it is raining, I am going to go out.
Indicative: the rain is a fact the speaker knows.
Aunque llueva, voy a salir.
Even if it rains, I am going to go out.
Subjunctive: the rain is a hypothesis, not a fact.
Por mucho que estudies, no aprobarás.
No matter how much you study, you will not pass.
Subjunctive only: the effort is presented as an extreme hypothesis.
A pesar de que estudió mucho, suspendió.
Despite the fact that he studied a lot, he failed.
Indicative: the effort is a fact.
