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Comoquiera que?


Satyr November 06, 2008 03:01 PM

Comoquiera que?
 
I downloaded Mnemosyne which is a spaced repetition program (aka flashcard program). I also downloaded a Spanish vocab and phrase plug-in for it with 2,500 flashcards. Anyways, one of the cards is...

in whatever way
comoquiera que (+subjunctive)

I don't understand how this expression is used. If someone could give me some examples, that would be great!!

Planet hopper November 06, 2008 03:10 PM

It's a rather out-of-everyday-language subjunct in Spanish, it would feel stiff on a newspaper, for example. May be ellegant in a business letter.

I recall Cervantes, he would start paragraphs by saying:

'Como quiera que D. Q se encontrara con unos molinos, procedio a detenerse'

Since by chance DQ spotted some windmills, he suddenly stopped ....

A good conceptual translation would be:

Como dios quisiera que>como quiera que
As (God) would want

Notice that this is a subjunct, it introduces a subordinate clause that needs a main one for occurrence, so in oral and media language it would feel kinda awkward, limey:)It should be used inserted in a long narration of events

Satyr November 06, 2008 03:20 PM

Sounds like this is something I should not bother learning. Not at this time at least.

Rusty November 06, 2008 03:35 PM

The way it is presented in your program, it could have several English translations:
whichever way
whatever way
however
no matter how
no matter which way
no matter what way

De cualquier manera or de cualquier modo are other ways to say the same thing.

Some sample sentences:
Whichever way it might be.
Whatever the case may be.
However it might be.
= Como quiera que sea.
= De cualquier manera/modo que sea.

Whichever way you are, I'll marry you.
Whatever way you are ...
However you are ...
No matter how you are ...
= Comoquiera que seas, te casaré.
= De cualquier modo que seas, te casaré.

There are other ways to use this phrase besides the one your flashcard is teaching.
Note that I split the word in the first example. Both are valid uses and mean exactly the same thing. The split form is more popular.

Satyr November 06, 2008 03:56 PM

Thanks Rusty. Your explanation helped a lot.


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