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aunque / al margen de que / más allá de que + subjuntivo |
As discussed previously, expressions of the type sustantivo+de que are often followed by the subjunctive. This is largely due to the fact that the information being commented on is already known or considered topical —see tema y rema.
-El hecho de que seas rico puede ser decisivo — The fact you are rich may be decisive [The listener probably already knows that he or she is rich; this fact is merely being commented on]
-La explicación de que no tengas amigos está en tu comportamiento — The explanation to your not having any friends is in your behaviour [The listener probably already knows that he or she doesn't have friends; this fact is merely being commented on]
Similarly, as discussed previously, with the conjunctions aunque and a pesar de que, the subjunctive is used when the information is already known by the listener, has low informative value, or there is doubt about its veracity. Note that a pesar de que tends to be used with the indicative in the majority of cases, while aunque is preferred in contexts that call for the subjunctive.1-2
Many grammar books suggest that aunque+subjuntivo translates as 'even if', and with the indicative as 'although'; and while in the majority of cases this is true, especially when referring to prospective events or present or past information that is not yet known by the speaker, aunque +subjuntivo is sometimes better translated as 'even though' – this is because we are not doubting the veracity of this information or referring to a hypothetical situation, but rather reiterating what is already topical and thought to be known by the listener.
In other words, by using the subjunctive the speaker's main intention is not to assert or declare the information, but rather to comment on or disregard it.
"Depende, en concreto, de que la información que se exprese con 'aunque', 'pese a' o 'a pesar de que' se interprete como componente fundamental de la aserción, o bien como parte del trasfondo informativo, es decir, de lo que se da por conocido o por experimentado". RAE
"Efectivamente, en estos contextos el indicativo tiende a utilizarse cuando el hablante asevera o anuncia el hecho designado en la subordinada, bien porque este hecho es desconocido por el interlocutor, bien porque el hablante quiere remarcarlo y otorgarle relevancia informativa. [...] La posibilidad de utilizar los dos modos aumenta a medida que los hechos designados en la oración subordinada son conocidos por el interlocutor y no aportan información nueva alguna". GDLE
-Aunque (A pesar de que) seas mi mujer, no te pienso ayudar — Even though you are my wife, I don't intend to help you [Not informing or reaffirming; information obviously known by the listener]
-Tú naciste en París, ¿no es así? - Sí, pero, aunque naciera en Francia, me considero español — You were born in Paris, weren't you? - Yes, but even though I was born in France, I consider myself Spanish [Already topical; not central to the assertion]
-Aunque sea español no me gustan los toros — Even though I'm Spanish I don't like bullfights [The speaker probably assumes the listener is already aware of the fact he or she is Spanish; either that or the they wish to communicate the information casually or disregard it, as if the listener already knew it]
→Aunque soy español no me gustan los toros — Although I'm Spanish I don't like bullfights [Informing or reasserting this fact]
-Aunque (a pesar de que) me pagues, no pienso ayudarte — Even if you pay me, I won't help you [Not yet known; future reference]
Other expressions that follow a similar logic are 'al margen de que' and 'más allá de que': the subjunctive is used when the information is either already known (tema), has little informative value or is considered irrelevant, or is not yet known (see non-declaration).
-Al margen de que cause cáncer, este alimento no es sano — Regardless of whether it causes cancer, this food is not healthy [Not declaring that it causes cancer; that fact is either already known to the listener, not certain, or considered irrelevent to the fact that it's not healthy; ≈independientemente de que]
→Al margen de que causa cáncer, este alimento no es sano — Apart from the fact that it causes cancer, this food is not healthy [Informing, declaring or reaffirming that it causes cancer; central to the assertion]
-Más allá de que sea un derecho, es una necesidad básica — Beyond it being a right, it is a basic need [Not declaring that it is a right; that fact is either already known to the listener, not certain, or considered irrelevant to the fact that it's a basic need]
→Más allá de que es un derecho, es una necesidad básica — Beyond the fact that it's a right, it is a basic need [Informing, reaffirming, or emphasizing that it is a right; central to the assertion]
These expressions are also frequently followed by relative/adjective clauses (as opposed to noun clauses); once again, use of the subjunctive amounts to saying 'independientemente de'.
-Al margen de lo que ha decidido tu padre, no estaría de más que pidiéramos otra opinión [≈Aparte de lo que ha decidido]
→Al margen de lo que haya decidido tu padre, no estaría de más que pidiéramos otra opinión [≈Independientemente de lo que haya decidido; disregarding the decision, either because it is not yet known or because the speaker deems it irrelevant]
-Más allá de las ideas que tienen sobre este tema, van a aportar mucho al proyecto [≈Aparte de eso]
→-Más allá de las ideas que tengan sobre este tema, van aportar mucho al proyecto [≈Independientemente de eso]
See also: si bien/aunque, pese a
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-aunque / al margen de que / más allá de que - subjuntivo / indicativo-
