The touchstones of Spanish cooking are deceptively simple: incalculable variety, traditional recipes handed down through the generations, and an innate willingness to experiment and see what comes out of the kitchen laboratory. A Culinary Feastįood and wine are national obsessions in Spain, and with good reason. That's where the country's charms are most likely to take hold. And everywhere you go, villages of timeless beauty perch on hilltops, huddle in valleys and cling to coastal outcrops as tiny but resilient outposts of Old Spain. The wildly beautiful cliffs of Spain’s Atlantic northwest are offset by the charming coves of the Mediterranean. The Pyrenees and the Picos de Europa are as beautiful as any mountain range on the continent, while the snowcapped Sierra Nevada rises up improbably from the sun-baked plains of Andalucía these are hiking destinations of the highest order. Spain’s diverse landscapes stir the soul. ( As intelligent as they may be, they never make good decisions)įor our purposes, it is enough to remember the phrase “por más que” and know that, whether you use the indicative or subjunctive, you will be understood.Passionate, sophisticated and devoted to living the good life, Spain is both a stereotype come to life and a country more diverse than you ever imagined. Por muy inteligentes que sean, nunca toman buenas decisiones.( As intelligent as they may be, they never make good decisions) Por mucho que sean inteligentes, nunca toman buenas decisiones.( As much as I love him, I can’t accept his betrayal) Por mucho que lo ame, no acepto su traición.You’ll also find that there is some variance with the phrase itself: “por más que” is commonly said “por mucho que” and, in Spain, it is often rendered “por muy +adj+ que…”: In practice, native speakers will not make much distinction between use of indicative or the subjunctive (with the previously mentioned caveat that, in Spain, the subjunctive is preferred in all cases). The indicative implies that the verb is quantifiable… in other words, if pressed, I could tell you how many times I’ve tried to “apagar el coraje” or “pasar bocado.” The subjunctive throws these statements into an infinite realm: “His thirst isn’t going away no matter how much water he drinks (whatever amount that may be).” In each of these examples, it is possible to swap the indicative with the subjunctive and vice versa. ( No matter how I try, I can’t take a bite) Por más que intento, no logro pasar bocado.( No matter how much I try, I can’t stop being angry) Por más que intento, no se me apaga el coraje.( He keeps being thirsty no matter how much water he drinks) No se le quita la sed por más que tome agua.Here are a few examples from my personal notes: The shades in meaning are compounded a bit by the fact that, in Spain, native speakers tend to use the subjunctive exclusively, whereas in Latin America both forms are common. You can generally use either the indicative or the subjunctive and you will be correct. In the second example, however, we are saying “however many times I might try”, implying that an infinite amount of effort would not be enough to “encontrar el problema.” Use of the subjunctive casts an additional layer of doubt on the situation… it’s like throwing the word “may” into the sentence: “No matter how I may try.”Īlthough this may seem confusing at first, “por más que” offers the speaker a rare opportunity in Spanish. In the first example, “por más que intento“, we are basically saying “despite the many times I try”, thereby affirming that all attempts to this point have not succeeded. You’ll notice that BOTH the indicative and the subjunctive can follow “por más que” but, like all things in Spanish, there are subtle nuances behind their meanings. Por más que le diga, no quiere entender. Por más que le digo, no quiere entender.Por más que intente, no logro encontrar el problema. Por más que intento, no logro encontrar el problema.Examples in English include “As much as I try, I can’t seem to find the problem” / “No matter how much I tell her, she doesn’t want to understand.” These sentences in Spanish would be rendered as follows: The phrase “por más que + verbo” is part of a two clause construction and means “As much as…” or “No matter how much…”.
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