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French Grammar

Complex Concessive Formulations (Quoi qu’il en soit, quel que soit)

Q: What level is Complex Concessive Formulations (Quoi qu’il en soit, quel que soit)?

This lesson is designed for B2 learners and can still help a learner revising the topic at another level.

Mastering universal concession structures designed to protect conclusions against any variable condition.

Level B2 Category Grammar

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Lesson Summary

Mastering universal concession structures designed to protect conclusions against any variable condition.

Grammar

Whatever Happens, Whatever It May Be

The concessive conjunctions bien que and quoique (although) are studied in subjunctive after conjunctions of concession. To concede that no matter what the circumstance may be, French employs two distinct structures: quoi que (whatever) and quel(s) / quelle(s) + que + subjunctive (whatever… may be).

Quoi que vs. Quoique

Connector	Meaning	Structure	Example
quoique (one word)	although	quoique + subjunctive	Quoiqu’il soit tard, je reste. (Although it is late, I’m staying.)
quoi que (two words)	whatever	quoi que + subjunctive	Quoi que tu fasses, je te soutiendrai. (Whatever you do, I will support you.)

Quel que / Quelle que / Quels que / Quelles que

Form	Agreement	Example
quel que soit / quelle que soit	agrees with subject of être	Quelle que soit la décision, nous l’accepterons. (Whatever the decision is, we will accept it.)
quels que soient / quelles que soient	plural agreement	Quels que soient les problèmes, nous trouverons une solution. (Whatever the problems are, we will find a solution.)

Quoi qu’il en soit – Be That as It May

This fixed expression is extremely common in formal French. It means “be that as it may” or “in any case”. It is always followed by a comma and an independent clause.
- Quoi qu’il en soit, le projet avancera. (Be that as it may, the project will move forward.)
- Quoi qu’il en soit, les données restent fiables. (In any case, the data remain reliable.)

Examples

Quoi que le comité décide, l’entreprise appliquera la réforme.
Quoi que (whatever) is followed by the subjunctive décide.
Quelle que soit l’issue des négociations, nous devons rester unis.
The concessive phrase quelle que soit agrees with the feminine singular noun issue.

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These are the main phrases this lesson covers:

Complex Concessive Formulations (Quoi qu’il en soit, quel que soit)Mastering universal concession structures designed to protect conclusions against any variable condition.Maintain structural focus within arguments by neutralising potential counter‑conditions with the correct concessive expressions.GrammarB2grammarLearn French GrammarFrench GrammarWhatever Happens, Whatever It May BeThe concessive conjunctions bien que and quoique (although) are studied in subjunctive after conjunctions of concession. To concede that no matter what the circumstance may be, French employs two distinct structures: quoi que (whatever) and quel(s) / quelle(s) + que + subjunctive (whatever… may be).