C2 Prepositions & Connectors 13 min read Medium

Sophisticated Contrast: Despite... with (Con + Infinitivo)

Use con + infinitive to elegantly emphasize a surprising irony or contradiction in formal or literary Spanish.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'A pesar de' or 'Pese a' followed by an infinitive to express contrast when the subject remains the same.

  • Use 'A pesar de' + infinitive for general contrast: 'A pesar de estudiar, falló'.
  • Use 'Pese a' + infinitive for a more formal or journalistic tone: 'Pese a llover, salimos'.
  • Ensure the subject of the main clause is the same as the implied subject of the infinitive.
A pesar de + [Infinitive] + , + [Main Clause]

Overview

At the C2 level of Spanish proficiency, communication transcends mere fluency and enters the realm of precision, nuance, and stylistic elegance. The con + infinitivo construction is a hallmark of this advanced stage. It is a highly sophisticated and somewhat formal concessive clause used to express a strong, often ironic, contrast between a known quality and a surprising outcome.

Think of it not just as saying "despite" or "even though," but as conveying the more complex idea of: "Given the degree of this particular quality, the resulting action is paradoxical or unexpected."

Its function is to create a sense of disbelief or to highlight an inconsistency. While structures like aunque or a pesar de state a contrast neutrally, con + infinitivo adds an editorial layer, commenting on the surprising nature of the contrast itself. For example, Con ser el estudiante más preparado, no supo contestar la pregunta más básica. (Despite being the most prepared student, he didn't know how to answer the most basic question.) The sentence implies that his level of preparation makes his failure particularly noteworthy and ironic.

This structure is frequently found in literature, academic discourse, formal speeches, and journalism, where it serves as a concise and potent tool for argumentation and analysis.

Mastering this construction signals a deep understanding of Spanish syntax and rhetoric. It allows a speaker or writer to move beyond simple statements of fact and into the more complex territory of logical and emotional emphasis. It is, in essence, a grammatical tool for expressing a value judgment about the relationship between two conflicting ideas.

How This Grammar Works

Linguistically, con + infinitivo functions as a concessive prepositional phrase. A concessive clause introduces a fact that should logically oppose or prevent the fact stated in the main clause, yet fails to do so. The preposition con, which typically indicates accompaniment or means ("with"), is used here in a more abstract, almost causal sense.
It introduces a characteristic as if it were a tool or an advantage that, against all odds, proved insufficient.
This is the core of its rhetorical power: the structure sets up an expectation and immediately subverts it. The infinitive verb in the phrase acts as a nominalized verb, meaning the action or state (like ser, tener, saber) is treated like a noun—an abstract concept. So, in the phrase Con ser tan fuerte..., you are effectively saying, "With the (fact of) being so strong..." This nominalization allows the preposition con to govern the entire idea.
The inclusion of an intensifier, most commonly tan or tanto/a/os/as, is crucial to the structure's typical force. These words magnify the quality being discussed, thereby amplifying the paradox. The statement Con tener tanto dinero, vive como un mendigo (Despite having so much money, he lives like a beggar) is more potent than a simple Aunque tiene dinero... because tanto emphasizes the sheer volume of his wealth, making his lifestyle choice all the more shocking and illogical from the speaker's perspective.
Essentially, the grammar works by presenting a quality (ser listo, tener experiencia) not as a simple descriptor, but as a potent factor that enters into a logical equation and mysteriously fails to produce the expected result. This failure is the central message. The structure doesn't just link two clauses; it judges their relationship, infusing it with irony, surprise, or even a hint of criticism.

Formation Pattern

1
The structure follows a clear and consistent pattern, which is essential to its correct implementation. The most common form places the concessive phrase at the beginning of the sentence to build tension and emphasize the coming contrast. An intensifier is nearly always present to achieve the desired rhetorical effect.
2
The fundamental formula is:
3
Con + [Verb in Infinitive] + (Intensifier + Attribute) + , + [Main Clause with Unexpected Outcome]
4
Let's break this down into a more detailed table. Note that the attribute (adjective or noun) must agree in gender and number with the subject of the main clause, even though that subject appears later in the sentence.
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| Component | Description | Example (Subject: un(m) director) | Example (Subject: una(f) empresa) |
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| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
7
| Preposition | Always con. | Con | Con |
8
| Infinitive | A verb describing a state or quality. Most common are ser, tener, saber, parecer. | ser | tener |
9
| Intensifier | Optional but highly recommended for C2-level expression. tan is used with adjectives; tanto/a/os/as with nouns. | tan | tanta |
10
| Attribute | An adjective or noun that describes the subject. This is the key agreement point. | prestigioso (agrees with director) | reputación (here, tanta agrees with reputación) |
11
| Comma | Mandatory. It separates the introductory phrase from the main clause. | , | , |
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| Main Clause | The statement that presents the surprising or paradoxical outcome. | su última película fue un fracaso. | acabó en bancarrota. |
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Complete Examples:
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With ser + adjective: Con ser tan caros esos zapatos, se rompieron en una semana. (The adjective caros is masculine plural because it refers to zapatos, the subject of se rompieron).
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With tener + noun: Con tener tanta prisa, se paró a mirar todos los escaparates. (tanta agrees with the feminine noun prisa).
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With saber + noun: Con saber tantos idiomas, solo viaja a países de habla hispana. (tantos agrees with the masculine noun idiomas).
17
Without an intensifier: Con ser familia, apenas se hablan. (While grammatically correct, this phrasing is less common and carries a slightly less dramatic, more matter-of-fact tone of surprise.)
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This pattern is rigid. Adhering to it, especially concerning the agreement between the attribute and the subject of the main clause, is critical for correct usage.

When To Use It

This construction is a specialized tool, not an everyday replacement for aunque. Its use is dictated by register, context, and intent. Employ it when you need to inject a note of sophisticated commentary, analysis, or irony into your communication.
1. Formal and Academic Writing: This is the natural habitat of con + infinitivo. In an essay, thesis, or formal report, it allows you to present a counterargument or a surprising data point with analytical weight.
  • Example: Con ser una teoría bien documentada, sus conclusiones han sido refutadas por estudios recientes. (Despite being a well-documented theory, its conclusions have been refuted by recent studies.)
2. Journalism and Opinion Pieces: Columnists and analysts in reputable Spanish-language newspapers like El País or La Nación use this structure to critique, question, and highlight contradictions in politics, economics, or culture.
  • Example: Con tener la mayoría en el parlamento, el gobierno no ha logrado aprobar su ley estrella. (Despite having a majority in parliament, the government has failed to pass its flagship law.)
3. Professional and Business Contexts: In a business meeting or a formal email, it can be used to tactfully point out a discrepancy between planning and results. It frames the issue not as a personal failure but as a paradoxical outcome worthy of analysis.
  • Example: Con tener un presupuesto tan generoso para el proyecto, apenas hemos cumplido el 50% de los objetivos. (Despite having such a generous budget for the project, we have barely met 50% of the objectives.)
4. Intellectual or Literary Discussion: When analyzing a film, a book, or a piece of art, this grammar helps articulate complex critiques by highlighting incongruities between intent and execution, or character and action.
  • Example: Es un personaje fascinante. Con parecer tan vulnerable, manipula a todos a su alrededor. (He's a fascinating character. Despite seeming so vulnerable, he manipulates everyone around him.)
5. Sophisticated Irony or Self-Deprecation: In more casual, but still educated, conversation, it can be used for ironic or humorous effect. It’s a way of showing linguistic flair, often with a self-aware, slightly dramatic tone.
  • Example (in a message): Con pasarme toda la noche estudiando para el examen, me quedé dormido y no llegué. (After spending all night studying for the exam, I overslept and didn't make it.)
Use it when the contrast you are highlighting is genuinely surprising, significant, or ironic. Its power lies in its ability to make the listener or reader pause and consider the inconsistency you are presenting.

Common Mistakes

Given its rigid structure and advanced nature, learners can fall into several predictable traps. Avoiding these is key to using the construction effectively and sounding natural.
1. Failure of Agreement: This is the most common error. The adjective in the con phrase must agree in gender and number with the subject of the main clause. Learners often forget this look-ahead agreement.
  • Incorrect: *Con ser tan bueno la película, no tuvo éxito.
  • Reasoning: The adjective bueno is incorrectly masculine singular. It must agree with la película (feminine singular).
  • Correct: Con ser tan buena la película, no tuvo éxito.
2. Inserting an Unnecessary que: Influenced by other subordinate clause structures, learners may incorrectly try to insert que after con, attempting to conjugate the following verb. This breaks the pattern entirely.
  • Incorrect: *Con que era tan listo, no lo entendió.
  • Reasoning: The structure requires a preposition followed by a nominalized infinitive, not a conjugated verb in a subclause.
  • Correct: Con ser tan listo, no lo entendió.
3. Using a Gerund or Conjugated Verb instead of the Infinitive: Similar to the mistake above, learners might substitute the infinitive with another verb form.
  • Incorrect: *Con teniendo tanto tiempo, no hizo nada.
  • Correct: Con tener tanto tiempo, no hizo nada.
4. Inappropriate Context: Using this formal, emphatic structure for a simple, non-surprising contrast sounds unnatural and pretentious. It's designed for paradox, not sequence.
  • Unnatural: *Con llover, salí con paraguas. (It was raining, so I went out with an umbrella.) This lacks any sense of irony. A simple Como llovía... is sufficient.
  • Reasoning: The structure is reserved for situations where the outcome defies the premise. Rain and umbrellas are a logical pairing, not a contradiction.
5. Confusing it with con lo que: The phrase con lo que is different; it means "with the result that" or "so," indicating a logical consequence, not a contrast. This is a common point of confusion.
  • Con lo que (Consequence): Estudió mucho, con lo que aprobó fácilmente. (He studied a lot, so he passed easily.)
  • Con (Contrast): Con estudiar tanto, suspendió. (Despite studying so much, he failed.)
Mastering this grammar requires a conscious focus on these specific points, particularly the forward-looking adjective agreement and the strict con + infinitive pattern.

Real Conversations

While most common in formal contexts, con + infinitivo can appear in educated speech and writing, adding a specific flavor to the interaction. Here are a few scenarios where it would sound natural.

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Scenario 1

Professional Work Email
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Subject

Análisis post-mortem de la campaña Q3

Hola equipo,

Quiero analizar los resultados de la campaña "Verano Digital". Los datos de interacción inicial fueron excepcionalmente altos, pero la tasa de conversión final estuvo por debajo del 1%.

Debemos investigar a fondo qué ocurrió. Con tener un producto tan sólido y una segmentación de audiencia tan precisa, este resultado es, como mínimo, desconcertante. Propongo una reunión el martes para desglosar el embudo de conversión y encontrar el punto de fricción.

Saludos,

Carla

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Usage Note

Here, Carla uses the structure to frame a business problem analytically, highlighting the paradox between strong setup and poor results without assigning blame.*
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Scenario 2

WhatsApp Chat Between University Students
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Lucía

¿Viste la nota de Javi en Termodinámica? Un 4.
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Marcos

¿En serio? Pero si es una máquina. Se sabe el libro de memoria.
L

Lucía

Ya. Es que no entiendo nada. Con saberse hasta las comas del manual, va y suspende. O se puso muy nervioso o el examen era imposible.
M

Marcos

Qué fuerte. Pobre chaval.
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Usage Note

Lucía uses the phrase for dramatic, informal emphasis among peers. It elevates her expression of surprise from a simple "I can't believe it" to a more rhetorically powerful statement.*
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Scenario 3

Literary Analysis in a Book Club
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Moderator

¿Qué opinan de la decisión de Fermina Daza de rechazar a Florentino Ariza al principio?
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Member

A mí me pareció una decisión muy humana. Florentino era la personificación del ideal romántico, pero a la vez era inexperto y no tenía posición social. Con ser un personaje tan poético y apasionado, en la práctica no le ofrecía ninguna seguridad. Fermina, aunque enamorada, fue pragmática.
U

Usage Note

The book club member uses the structure to articulate a nuanced literary critique, contrasting the character's romantic appeal with his practical shortcomings.*

Quick FAQ

Q: Can I really use any verb in the infinitive?

While technically possible, the vast majority of cases use stative verbs that describe a quality or possession. The most common are, by far, ser, tener, saber, and parecer. Using action-oriented verbs like correr or comer is grammatically feasible but often sounds forced, as the structure is better suited to contrasting a state with an outcome (e.g., Con correr tan rápido, llegó el último is possible but less idiomatic than Con ser tan rápido...).

Q: Is this structure used equally in Spain and Latin America?

Yes, it is a recognized and standard feature of educated Spanish across the entire Spanish-speaking world. However, its frequency can be slightly higher in Peninsular Spanish, particularly in formal journalism and academic writing. In any region, its use is a marker of a high formal register.

Q: How does negation work with this pattern?

Typically, the con phrase remains positive to establish the quality, and the main clause is negative to show the surprising lack of a result. For example, Con ser tan rico, no es feliz. (Despite being so rich, he isn't happy). Negating the con phrase is very rare and would fundamentally change the meaning, as the structure relies on a positive quality failing to produce a positive outcome.

Q: Can the con clause be placed at the end of the sentence?

Yes, it is grammatically possible, but far less common. Placing it at the end shifts the emphasis. The standard order (Con ser tan listo, no lo entiende) builds suspense. The inverted order (No lo entiende, con ser tan listo) presents the surprising fact first and then adds the reason for the surprise as an appendix or afterthought. The initial position is much more stylistically powerful.

Q: How important is this for the DELE C2 exam?

Extremely. Correctly and appropriately using advanced concessive structures like con + infinitivo is a clear indicator of C2-level competence. Examiners look for candidates who can not only form the structure correctly (with proper agreement) but also use it in a context where its specific nuance—irony and surprise—is warranted. It's a high-value item for both the written and oral sections.

Q: How does it compare to other concessive clauses?

This is a crucial point for advanced learners. Each structure has a different nuance:

| Structure | Nuance & Usage |
| :--- | :--- |
| Aunque + Indicative/Subjunctive | The most neutral and versatile connector. A simple statement of contrast. Aunque es rico, no tiene coche. (Fact + Fact) |
| A pesar de + Infinitive/Noun | Also neutral and very common. A direct equivalent to "despite." A pesar de ser rico, no tiene coche. (Slightly more formal than aunque.) |
| Por muy que + Subjunctive | Expresses "No matter how..." It implies a hypothetical or generalized obstacle that is overcome. Por muy rico que sea, no podrá comprar la felicidad. (Focuses on the impossibility of the quality achieving the goal). |
| Con + Infinitive | Emphatic and ironic. Focuses on the paradox of a specific, known quality failing to produce an expected result. Con ser tan rico, no tiene coche. (Implies surprise: "For someone that rich, it's shocking he has no car.") |

Formation of Concessive Prepositional Phrases

Connector Verb Form Example
A pesar de
Infinitive
A pesar de trabajar
Pese a
Infinitive
Pese a estudiar
A pesar de
Perfect Infinitive
A pesar de haber ido
Pese a
Perfect Infinitive
Pese a haber visto

Meanings

This structure introduces a concessive clause, indicating that the action in the main clause occurs regardless of the action or state described in the infinitive phrase.

1

Direct Concession

Expressing that an action happened despite a contrary circumstance.

“A pesar de estar cansado, siguió trabajando.”

“Pese a no tener dinero, viajó por todo el mundo.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Sophisticated Contrast: Despite... with (Con + Infinitivo)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
A pesar de + Inf
A pesar de comer, tengo hambre.
Negative
A pesar de + no + Inf
A pesar de no ir, supe todo.
Perfect
A pesar de + haber + Part
A pesar de haber ido, no vi nada.
Formal
Pese a + Inf
Pese a llover, salimos.
Noun Phrase
A pesar de + Noun
A pesar del frío, salí.
Subjunctive
A pesar de que + Subj
A pesar de que llueva, saldré.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
A pesar de haber trabajado, me siento fatigado.

A pesar de haber trabajado, me siento fatigado. (Work)

Neutral
A pesar de trabajar, estoy cansado.

A pesar de trabajar, estoy cansado. (Work)

Informal
Aunque trabajé, estoy cansado.

Aunque trabajé, estoy cansado. (Work)

Slang
Por más que curré, estoy reventado.

Por más que curré, estoy reventado. (Work)

Concessive Connectors

Concession

Prepositions

  • A pesar de Despite
  • Pese a Despite

Connector vs Conjunction

Preposition
A pesar de + Inf Despite + -ing
Conjunction
Aunque + Verbo Although + Verb
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Examples by Level

1

A pesar de estudiar, no aprendo.

Despite studying, I don't learn.

2

A pesar de comer, tengo hambre.

Despite eating, I am hungry.

3

A pesar de correr, llegué tarde.

Despite running, I arrived late.

4

A pesar de dormir, estoy cansado.

Despite sleeping, I am tired.

1

A pesar de no tener dinero, viajó.

Despite not having money, he traveled.

2

Pese a estar enfermo, fue a trabajar.

Despite being sick, he went to work.

3

A pesar de ser tarde, salimos.

Despite it being late, we went out.

4

A pesar de intentar, no pude.

Despite trying, I couldn't.

1

A pesar de haber terminado, revisó todo.

Despite having finished, he checked everything.

2

Pese a no haber recibido respuesta, insistió.

Despite not having received a response, he insisted.

3

A pesar de ser una tarea difícil, la hizo.

Despite being a difficult task, he did it.

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A pesar de no estar de acuerdo, aceptó.

Despite not agreeing, he accepted.

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A pesar de las dificultades, logró su objetivo.

Despite the difficulties, he achieved his goal.

2

Pese a los riesgos, decidió invertir.

Despite the risks, he decided to invest.

3

A pesar de su edad, sigue activo.

Despite his age, he remains active.

4

Pese a la lluvia, el evento continuó.

Despite the rain, the event continued.

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Pese a haber sido advertido, persistió en su error.

Despite having been warned, he persisted in his error.

2

A pesar de la ambigüedad del texto, captó la idea.

Despite the text's ambiguity, he grasped the idea.

3

Pese a no contar con apoyo, fundó la empresa.

Despite not having support, he founded the company.

4

A pesar de la crisis, la empresa prosperó.

Despite the crisis, the company prospered.

1

Pese a la aparente contradicción, el argumento es sólido.

Despite the apparent contradiction, the argument is solid.

2

A pesar de la complejidad del sistema, funciona.

Despite the system's complexity, it works.

3

Pese a no haber sido invitado, asistió a la gala.

Despite not having been invited, he attended the gala.

4

A pesar de la falta de evidencia, el caso sigue abierto.

Despite the lack of evidence, the case remains open.

Easily Confused

Sophisticated Contrast: Despite... with (Con + Infinitivo) vs Aunque vs A pesar de

Learners use them interchangeably with the wrong verb forms.

Common Mistakes

✗

A pesar de estudio

✓

A pesar de estudiar

Must use infinitive.
✗

A pesar de que estudiar

✓

A pesar de estudiar

Don't use 'que' with infinitive.
✗

A pesar de yo estudiar

✓

A pesar de estudiar

No subject pronoun needed.
✗

Pese a que estudiar

✓

Pese a estudiar

No 'que' with infinitive.

Sentence Patterns

A pesar de ___ , ___.

Real World Usage

Academic Paper constant

A pesar de haber analizado los datos, no hay resultados.

Job Interview common

A pesar de no tener experiencia, aprendo rápido.

News Report very common

Pese a las protestas, el gobierno sigue.

Texting occasional

A pesar de estar lejos, te extraño.

Travel Blog common

A pesar de llover, visitamos el museo.

Food Review occasional

A pesar de ser caro, vale la pena.

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💡

Subject Check

Always check if the subject is the same before using the infinitive.
⚠️

No Conjugation

Never conjugate the verb after 'a pesar de'.
🎯

Use 'Pese a'

Use 'pese a' to sound more professional in writing.
💬

Regional Preference

In some regions, 'aunque' is preferred in speech.

Smart Tips

If the subject is the same, use the infinitive.

Aunque yo estudié, yo fallé. → A pesar de estudiar, fallé.

Use 'Pese a' to vary your vocabulary.

A pesar de los problemas, seguimos. → Pese a los problemas, seguimos.

Use 'haber' + participle for past.

A pesar de estudiar ayer, fallé. → A pesar de haber estudiado, fallé.

Put 'no' before the infinitive.

A pesar de haber no ido... → A pesar de no haber ido...

Pronunciation

a-pe-sar-de

Linking

Link 'A pesar de' as one rhythmic unit.

Rising-Falling

A pesar de estudiar ↗, no aprobé ↘.

Contrastive emphasis.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'A pesar de' is like a heavy anchor (pesa) that doesn't stop the ship (the main clause) from moving forward.

Visual Association

Imagine a person walking through a storm (the 'a pesar de' part) while holding an umbrella, continuing to walk toward their destination (the main clause).

Rhyme

A pesar de estudiar, no voy a fallar.

Story

Juan wanted to climb the mountain. A pesar de estar cansado, siguió subiendo. Pese a no tener agua, llegó a la cima.

Word Web

A pesar dePese aInfinitiveContrasteConcesiónAunque

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about your day using 'A pesar de' + infinitive.

Cultural Notes

Commonly used in formal news reports.

Often replaced by 'Aunque' in daily speech.

Uses 'A pesar de' frequently in academic settings.

Derived from 'pesar' (to weigh/grief).

Conversation Starters

“

¿Qué haces a pesar de estar cansado?

Journal Prompts

Describe a challenge you overcame today.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct infinitive.

A pesar de ___ (estudiar), no aprobó.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: estudiar
Must use infinitive.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

A pesar de que estudiar, fui.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 4
No 'que' with infinitive.
Select the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1
Correct structure.
Transform to 'A pesar de'. Sentence Transformation

Aunque estaba cansado, trabajé.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1
Correct transformation.
Match the start to the end. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1
Infinitive required.
Conjugate to infinitive. Conjugation Drill

Comió -> A pesar de ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 2
Perfect infinitive for past action.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

A pesar de / no / tener / dinero / viajó.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1
Correct word order.
Is this true? True False Rule

Can you use 'A pesar de' with a different subject?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 2
Requires 'que' + subjunctive.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct infinitive.

A pesar de ___ (estudiar), no aprobó.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: estudiar
Must use infinitive.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

A pesar de que estudiar, fui.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 4
No 'que' with infinitive.
Select the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1
Correct structure.
Transform to 'A pesar de'. Sentence Transformation

Aunque estaba cansado, trabajé.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1
Correct transformation.
Match the start to the end. Match Pairs

A pesar de... / ...no pude terminar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1
Infinitive required.
Conjugate to infinitive. Conjugation Drill

Comió -> A pesar de ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 2
Perfect infinitive for past action.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

A pesar de / no / tener / dinero / viajó.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1
Correct word order.
Is this true? True False Rule

Can you use 'A pesar de' with a different subject?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 2
Requires 'que' + subjunctive.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Con tener ___ recursos, la empresa quebró.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tantos
Translate the sentence into Spanish: Translation

Despite living so far away, he always arrives on time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Con vivir tan lejos, siempre llega puntual.
Find and fix the mistake Error Correction

Con sabe tanto de leyes, lo arrestaron.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Con saber tanto de leyes, lo arrestaron.
Which sentence is correct? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence regarding a meal (la comida):

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Con ser tan cara, la comida no valía la pena.
Reorder the words to form a correct sentence: Sentence Reorder

joven / tan / con / ser /, / sabiduría / tiene / mucha

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Con ser tan joven, tiene mucha sabiduría.
Fill in the blank with the correct verb form Fill in the Blank

Con ___ cinco idiomas, no encontró trabajo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Con hablar cinco idiomas, no encontró trabajo.
Which sentence shows a surprising contrast? Multiple Choice

Select the best concessive sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Con ser tan famosa, nadie la reconoció en el metro.
Find and fix the mistake Error Correction

Con tener tan dinero, vive de alquiler.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Con tener tanto dinero, vive de alquiler.
Translate into Spanish Translation

Despite it being so late, I'm not sleepy.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Con ser tan tarde, no tengo sueño.
Reorder the words: Sentence Reorder

logramos / difícil / tan / ser / con / lo

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Con ser tan difícil, lo logramos.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, 'A pesar de la lluvia' is perfectly correct.

Because 'a pesar de' is a preposition, not a conjunction.

Yes, it is often used in journalism.

Yes, use 'haber' + past participle.

It is common but slightly formal.

Use 'A pesar de que' + subjunctive.

No, 'aunque' is a conjunction.

Yes, 'A pesar de no saber, pregunté'.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

English high

Despite + -ing

English uses gerunds; Spanish uses infinitives.

French moderate

Malgré + noun

Spanish allows infinitives.

German low

Trotz + genitive

Case vs prepositional phrase.

Japanese low

～にもかかわらず

Suffixes vs prepositions.

Arabic moderate

على الرغم من

Arabic uses nouns/masdar.

Chinese moderate

尽管

Chinese lacks verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Advanced Spanish Connectors: Sounding Professional (por ende, asimismo)
Next
Spanish Word Order: Emphasizing with Inversion (A María, le di...)

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