Typological Features of the Concessive Clauses (допусту)

As has been shown above, concessive clauses in English and Ukraini an are closely connected semantically and structurally with conditional clauses. These clauses, however, modify the matrix clause as a whole and not a part of it, as is the case with conditional clauses. Besides, the meaning expressed in the concessive clause may often be in contrast to that expressed in the matrix clause, eg: Though she did not know it, she had the feeling for him of proprietary right. (London) Therefore, „she І had the feeling for him"... despite the fact that "she did not know it". *

Of common semantic (and often even structural) nature are concessive conjunctions and connectives which express the respective meaning of the subordinate clauses. Accordingly there can be distinguished three groups of structurally and semantically common clauses conveying concessive meaning in English and Ukrainian. These are as follows:

1. Clauses of admitted concession (значення допусту) are joined to the matrix clause by the conjunctions though, although (хоча, хоч) in the initial and closing position in the sentence:

Though everyone was supposed to Хоч усе місто, здавалося, мало б

be out town, the grill-room was бути на курортах, ресторан був

well filled. (Maugham) напхом напханий

It was determined, although the salary Було вирішено, хоча ставка була

was small, that he must go. (Ibid.) низька, що він мусить згоджуватися.

It wasn't a subject for joking, Це не було темою для жартів,

though it had its humorous side. хоч вона й мала смішний

(J. K. Jerome) підтекст.

English concessive clauses introduced by compound pronouns and adverbs in -ever (whoever, whatever, whenever, etc.) express choice. The corresponding Ukrainian connectives always include the particle б/би:

Whatever race they were, they had Якої б раси вони не були, вони

had too much fun at our expense... дуже розважалися за наш рахунок

(Hughes) (на нашій кривді).

Wherever I went now..., I carried Куди б я тепер не йшов, я ніс

this weapon in a sling on my back. цю зброю на ремінці за плечима. (O'Dell)

2. Subordinate clauses of hypothetical concession are introduced by the same compound pronouns, adverbs and some other connectives. Their predicates either include modal verbs or have a strong implicit modal meaning. Consequently, the predicates in such sub-clauses may easily be substituted for a modal verbal predicate. For example:

However dull the women were, he ]=[However dull the women might be] he was sitting next to her... (he was sitting next to her. Maugham)

The Ukrainian equivalent of this sub-clause has the same implicit modal meaning: Хоч би якими нудними були ці жінки (хай би якими нудними могли бути ці жінки), він залишався сидіти поруч з нею.

3. Concessive clauses of adversative or disjunctive meaning in En glish and Ukrainian can be introduced both syndetically and asyndetically:

Wait as he did. however, Carry did Скільки він не чекав, однак, Керрі

not come. (Dreiser) не прийшла.

No matter what passes, I must gut Що б там не сталося, (а) я мусив

the dolphin. (Hemingway) почистити вловлень макарень.

The adversative or disjunctive meaning can be expressed implicitly in the contrasted languages as well:... whatever Clare does, I shall stick by her. (Galsworthy) The matrix clause in this sentence has a clearly adversative meaning which can be proved by the insertion of the adversative conjunction "but": whatever Clare does, (but) I shall stick by her. Similarly in Ukrainian sentences: І хоч життя послало йому калюжу замість океану, (проте) душа в нього була моряцька. (Довженко) Хай посивіло волосся, (але/та) Серце моє, не сивій. (Сосюра)

4. Concessive clauses in English and Ukrainian can also express an accompanying conditional meaning: Cf. The more cautious members of Chicago society, even if they did not attend, then would hear and then would come an ultimate comment and decision. (Dreiser)

The conjunction "even if" has both the concessive (the main) and the conditional (if) meanings corresponding in this sentence to the Ukrainian composite conjunction навіть якщо б/якби: навіть якби найбільш недовірливі члени чиказького товариства не прийшли... все ж було б оголошено останню думку й ухвалу.

Concessive clauses with the additional implicit meaning of conditional are also observed in Ukrainian: Ждатиме його, хоч би (якби) й довго довелося ждати. (Гончар)