Concessive Clauses: A Summary

Concessive Clauses: A Summary Concessive clauses are adverbial clauses, so called because they admit or concede something, in spite of which the statement made in the main clause is and continues to be true. The truth of the main clause is being emphasized by contrast. This idea of contrast must, of course, appear in a correct English translation. (1) QUAMQUAM is used to introduce a clause expressing what is admitted as fact. This being the case, the verb in the concessive clause will be indicative. TAMEN is often written into the main clause to mark very clearly the contrast ROMANI QUAMQUAM ITINERE ET AESTU FESSI ERANT, TAMEN OBVIAM HOSTIBUS PROCEDUNT. "Although the Romans were tired out from the journey and heat, nonetheless they advance(d) to meet the enemy." (2) ETSI, TAMETSI, ETIAMSI are all compounds of SI, and they introduce a certain kind of conditional clause (i.e. the protasis of a condition) which, in context, amounts to a concession. The use of mood and tense in such clauses is, of course, governed by the rules which govern conditional clauses in general. ETIAMSI NON ADIUVES, HAEC FACERE POSSIM. "Even if you should not help, I would (nevertheless) be able to do this." ETSI, however, is also used in the sense of 'although': ETSI MONS CEVENNA ITER IMPEDIEBAT, TAMEN AD FINES ARVERNORUM PERVENIT (Caesar). "Although the Cevennes were in the way of the march, nevertheless (Caesar) arrived at the frontier of the Arverni." (3) QUAMVIS [originally = quam vis, 'as you will'] quamvis was originally a separate clause in a sentence, but it has become a compound subordinate connective. It introduces a clause which is really a volitive subjunctive or a jussive subjunctive (present and perfect subjunctive, usually—though very occasionally an imperfect). QUAMVIS SIT MAGNA EXSPECTATIO, TAMEN EAM VINCES. "Let the expectation be as great as you choose, nonetheless you will surpass it." "Although the exlpectation is great, nevertheless you will surpass it. " LICET [an impersonal verb, 'granted that', 'although'] is followed by the subjunctive, without the need to write a further connective (i.e. do NOT write 'licet ut'): LICET UNDIQUE PERICULA IMPENDEANT, TAMEN SUBIBO. "Granted that dangers threaten on all sides, nonetheless I will face them." (4) QUI-clauses and CUM-clauses can express a concessive idea: EGO, QUI SERUS ADVENISSEM, NON TAMEN DESPERANDUM ESSE ARBITRATUS SUM. "Though I had arrived late, nevertheless I did not think that I had to despair. " CUM TE SEMPER DILEXERIM, TUM HODIE MULTO PLUS DILIGO. "Although I have always loved you, even so today I love you far more."