Le subordinate: concessive, finali, consecutive
Le subordinate: concessive, finali, consecutive means “"although", "so that", "so … that" clauses — and which take the subjunctive”. Three clause types that argumentative Italian needs constantly, and the key is knowing which mood each takes. Formation: concessiva (benché/sebbene/nonostante + congiuntivo) · finale (affinché/perché + congiuntivo) · consecutiva (così/tanto … che + indicativo) — finale con stesso soggetto: per + infinito
"although", "so that", "so … that" clauses — and which take the subjunctive
B2Formation
concessiva (benché/sebbene/nonostante + congiuntivo) · finale (affinché/perché + congiuntivo) · consecutiva (così/tanto … che + indicativo) — finale con stesso soggetto: per + infinito
Explanation
Three clause types that argumentative Italian needs constantly, and the key is knowing which mood each takes. (1) Concessive ("although / even though"): benché, sebbene, nonostante, malgrado, per quanto — all take the subjunctive: benché piova, usciamo (although it's raining, we're going out). The everyday anche se, by contrast, takes the indicative (anche se piove). (2) Final ("so that / in order that"): affinché, perché (in its purpose meaning) take the subjunctive: te lo spiego affinché tu capisca. But if the subject is the same in both clauses, Italian uses per + infinitive instead: studio per imparare (I study in order to learn). (3) Consecutive ("so … that"): così / tanto / talmente … che take the indicative because they state a real result: era così stanco che si è addormentato (he was so tired that he fell asleep).
Examples
Note
Watch the concessive split: benché/sebbene → subjunctive, but anche se → indicative, even though both translate "although". And the final clause has the same-subject shortcut as the perfect infinitive: use per + infinitive (per capire) when the subject doesn't change, affinché + subjunctive only when it does.
FAQ
Le subordinate: concessive, finali, consecutive — what does it mean and how is it used?
"although", "so that", "so … that" clauses — and which take the subjunctive. Three clause types that argumentative Italian needs constantly, and the key is knowing which mood each takes. (1) Concessive ("although / even though"): benché, sebbene, nonostante, malgrado, per quanto — all take the subjunctive: benché piova, usciamo (although it's raining, we're going out). The everyday anche se, by contrast, takes the indicative (anche se piove). (2) Final ("so that / in order that"): affinché, perché (in its purpose meaning) take the subjunctive: te lo spiego affinché tu capisca. But if the subject is the same in both clauses, Italian uses per + infinitive instead: studio per imparare (I study in order to learn). (3) Consecutive ("so … that"): così / tanto / talmente … che take the indicative because they state a real result: era così stanco che si è addormentato (he was so tired that he fell asleep).
Le subordinate: concessive, finali, consecutive — how do you form it?
concessiva (benché/sebbene/nonostante + congiuntivo) · finale (affinché/perché + congiuntivo) · consecutiva (così/tanto … che + indicativo) — finale con stesso soggetto: per + infinito
Le subordinate: concessive, finali, consecutive — any usage notes?
Watch the concessive split: benché/sebbene → subjunctive, but anche se → indicative, even though both translate "although". And the final clause has the same-subject shortcut as the perfect infinitive: use per + infinitive (per capire) when the subject doesn't change, affinché + subjunctive only when it does.