concesiv

Concesiv, in linguistic usage, refers to concessive constructions—grammatical forms that express a concession or contrast between two propositions. A concession presents a circumstance that could undermine a claim or expectation, yet the main clause proceeds as stated. The term is used in descriptions of syntax and semantics to categorize how languages encode such counter-expectation relationships.

Concessive forms occur as subordinate clauses, non-finite clauses, or adverbial phrases. Finite concessive clauses are often introduced by markers equivalent to “although,” “though,” or “even though.” Non-finite realizations include participial or infinitival phrases that convey a similar sense, sometimes with a negated or emphasized stance. In addition, many languages rely on prepositional phrases meaning “in spite of” or “despite” to achieve concessive meaning without a full subordinate clause. For example, English uses examples like “Although he was tired, he finished the job” or “He went out, even though it was raining,” as well as “In spite of the rain, we continued.”

Semantically, concessive constructions express a counterpoint to the main clause, often highlighting a contrast between an obstacle, contrary condition, or expectation and the actual outcome. Syntactically, they are typically adverbial, modifying the main clause as a whole rather than a single word, and they can interact with negation to intensify the concession.

Across languages, concessive forms vary widely in markers and syntax, from dedicated conjunctions to periphrastic expressions or even participial forms. The core idea remains constant: to acknowledge a circumstance that could warrant a different course of action while confirming that the main clause still holds. See also: concessive clause, concessive conjunction, although, though.