Por Mais Que: Use This Portuguese ‘Even Though’ Pattern — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Use por mais que when effort or degree does not change the result
Por mais que can mean “no matter how much,” “however much,” or “even though.” It introduces a concession: one fact is true, but it does not change the result in the main clause. The following verb commonly appears in the subjunctive.
The word mais can change to match the noun: por mais que (with a verb or idea), por mais que eu tente; por mais tempo que (however long); por mais perguntas que (however many questions).
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Por mais que eu pratique, ainda fico nervoso antes da prova. | No matter how much I practice, I still get nervous before the exam. |
| Por mais tempo que a gente espere, a loja não vai abrir hoje. | No matter how long we wait, the store won’t open today. |
| Por mais perguntas que você tenha, pode perguntar. | No matter how many questions you have, you can ask. |
Compare por mais que with mesmo assim
Por mais que introduces a dependent clause that sets up the concession. Mesmo assim means “even so” and usually connects two complete ideas. Both can express contrast, but they occupy different positions in the sentence.
In standard Brazilian Portuguese, the subjunctive is common after por mais que because the clause presents a conceded condition or degree. Conjugate the verb for its subject: eu tente, você tente, nós tentemos.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Por mais que estivesse cansada, ela terminou a leitura. | Even though she was tired, she finished the reading. |
| Estava cansada. Mesmo assim, terminou a leitura. | She was tired. Even so, she finished the reading. |
| Por mais que pareça difícil, podemos dividir a tarefa. | Even if it seems difficult, we can divide the task. |
Remember: Use por mais que + subjunctive to introduce a concession; use mesmo assim to connect a contrast as ‘even so.’
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
No matter how much I practice, I still get nervous before the exam.
Show a Portuguese answer
Por mais que eu pratique, ainda fico nervoso antes da prova.
No matter how long we wait, the store won’t open today.
Show a Portuguese answer
Por mais tempo que a gente espere, a loja não vai abrir hoje.
No matter how many questions you have, you can ask.
Show a Portuguese answer
Por mais perguntas que você tenha, pode perguntar.
Even though she was tired, she finished the reading.
Show a Portuguese answer
Por mais que estivesse cansada, ela terminou a leitura.
She was tired. Even so, she finished the reading.
Show a Portuguese answer
Estava cansada. Mesmo assim, terminou a leitura.
Even if it seems difficult, we can divide the task.
Show a Portuguese answer
Por mais que pareça difícil, podemos dividir a tarefa.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Use por mais que + subjunctive to introduce a concession; use mesmo assim to connect a contrast as ‘even so.’
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Por Mais Que: Use This Portuguese ‘Even Though’ Pattern lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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