Spanish · C1 · Family moment
Good Causes, Difficult Questions in Spanish
This guide helps parents navigate ethical discussions with their children regarding school fundraisers and sponsors. Using advanced concessional structures in Spanish, you can acknowledge the positive aspects of a cause while validating the child's critical thinking and moral concerns.
What you'll learn
- Express concession using 'a pesar de' to acknowledge countervailing facts.
- Formulate complex ethical arguments regarding school sponsorships.
- Maintain a supportive, parent-child dialogue while navigating differing opinions.
- Distinguish between causal and concessional phrases in formal Spanish context.
Spanish phrases for good causes, difficult questions
A pesar de la generosa donación del patrocinador, todavía podemos cuestionar su publicidad dirigida a niños.
Despite the sponsor's generous donation, we can still question its advertising to children.
Uses 'a pesar de' to introduce the concession, followed by the main clause.
A pesar del noble objetivo de la recaudación de fondos, no tienes que llevar el logo de una empresa.
Despite the fundraiser's worthy aim, you do not have to wear a company logo.
Spanish uses 'objetivo' for 'aim' in this professional/educational context.
A pesar del entusiasmo de tus amigos, tienes derecho a plantear tus preocupaciones.
Despite your friends' enthusiasm, you are entitled to raise your concerns.
'Plantear' is a precise verb for raising issues or questions.
La escuela debería explicar el acuerdo a pesar de la excelente reputación del patrocinador.
The school should explain the agreement despite the sponsor's excellent reputation.
Concessive phrase placed at the end of the sentence.
A pesar de las promesas medioambientales de la empresa, me gustaría ver pruebas de cambios reales.
Despite the company's environmental promises, I would like to see evidence of actual changes.
'Pruebas' translates to 'evidence' or 'proof' in this context.
Puedes reconocer el arduo trabajo de los voluntarios a pesar de tus reservas sobre el patrocinador.
You can recognise the volunteers' hard work despite your reservations about the sponsor.
'Reservas' is the natural term for ethical or personal doubts.
A pesar de la popularidad del evento, es razonable preguntar quién se beneficia de él.
Despite the event's popularity, asking who benefits from it is reasonable.
Formal structure for evaluating the fairness of a situation.
A pesar de nuestro desacuerdo sobre el patrocinio, valoro lo detenidamente que lo has considerado.
Despite our disagreement about the sponsorship, I value how carefully you have considered it.
'Lo detenidamente que' captures the nuance of 'how carefully'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
A pesar de
Despite / In spite of
The standard C1 Spanish equivalent for nominal concession.
Patrocinador
Sponsor
Used for both individual and corporate sponsors.
Recaudación de fondos
Fundraiser / Fundraising
A compound noun phrase often used in school settings.
Plantear
To raise / To pose
Used specifically for questions, doubts, or problems.
Nominal Concession with 'A pesar de'
In Spanish, the prepositional phrase 'a pesar de' followed by a noun (genitive equivalent) functions like the German 'ungeachtet'. It acknowledges a fact that might normally prevent the action in the main clause. When the phrase is fronted, the sentence retains standard word order.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fronted Phrase | A pesar de + [Noun Phrase], [Subject] + [Verb] | A pesar del ruido, el niño duerme. |
| End Phrase | [Subject] + [Verb] + a pesar de + [Noun Phrase] | Seguimos adelante a pesar de las críticas. |
More examples
A pesar de la lluvia, los niños salieron a jugar.
Despite the rain, the children went out to play.
A simple example of nominal concession.
Continuaremos con el proyecto a pesar de los obstáculos financieros.
We will continue with the project despite the financial obstacles.
Shows the concession phrase in the final position.