per quanto
Lemma: per quanto
Translation: although; even though; however much; as much as; to the extent that (conjunction)
Etymology: Derived from the combination of the preposition 'per' (for, through) and the interrogative/relative adjective 'quanto' (how much, as much as). The combination creates a concessive conjunction that acknowledges one fact while introducing a contrasting element. The structure parallels English 'for as much as' or 'for however much', though it's used more commonly in Italian.
Example Usage
Per quanto mi sforzi, non riesco a capire questo problema.
Although I try hard, I can't understand this problem.
Per quanto sia intelligente, commette ancora degli errori.
As intelligent as he is, he still makes mistakes.
Per quanto costoso, vale la pena comprarlo.
However expensive it is, it's worth buying.
Farò del mio meglio, per quanto difficile possa essere.
I'll do my best, however difficult it may be.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'per' as 'for' and 'quanto' as 'how much' – together they mean 'for however much' which leads to the concessive meaning.
- Imagine saying 'for all that' (per quanto) something is true, something else is also true.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
Used frequently in both written and spoken Italian to express concession. It's an important conjunction for constructing complex sentences and expressing nuanced thoughts in academic, literary, and everyday contexts.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Per quanto' expresses concession (although, even though), while 'in quanto' expresses reason or cause (because, insofar as).
Notes: Both are common conjunctions but serve different logical functions in sentence construction.
Mnemonic: 'Per quanto' introduces a contrast (despite X, Y happens), while 'in quanto' introduces a reason (Y happens because of X).
Explanation: 'Per quanto' alone is a concessive conjunction, while 'per quanto riguarda' is a fixed phrase meaning 'as far as... is concerned' or 'regarding'.
This word:
Per quanto mi impegni, non riesco a imparare il cinese.
However much I try, I can't learn Chinese.
Confused word:
Per quanto riguarda il progetto, abbiamo fatto progressi.
Regarding the project, we've made progress.
Notes: 'Per quanto riguarda' is used to introduce a topic or shift focus in a conversation or text.
Mnemonic: When you add 'riguarda' (concerns/regards), you're changing the meaning from concession to topic introduction.