Start with the intended meaning
State the relevant scale, then identify the claim that remains valid. The examples concede a degree of cost, urgency or effort; they do not assert that increasing one degree increases another.
Concede any relevant degree with so … auch
So dringend die Anfrage auch ist, wir brauchen eine schriftliche Freigabe. The urgency may be great, but it does not remove the need for written approval. So introduces the adjective degree; auch contributes to the concessive reading, and ist closes the clause. This is not the proportional je … desto pattern. The sentence does not say that urgency increases approval requirements; it says the requirement remains.
Wie sehr du dich auch beeilst, die Frist bleibt bestehen. So schwierig die Entscheidung auch sein mag, wir begründen sie schriftlich. Wie sehr opens a degree of effort; so schwierig a degree of difficulty. Sein mag can present a conceded possibility, but mögen or Konjunktiv is not obligatory in every generalizing concession: the indicative ist above is sufficient in its context. Do not add a second so in the main clause by analogy with a different comparison pattern.
Apply the pattern in another context
So teuer die Reparatur auch ist, wir brauchen das Gerät.
The need for the device remains despite the conceded cost.
Wie sehr du dich auch beeilst, die Abfahrtszeit bleibt gleich.
The departure time does not depend on the degree of hurry.
Choose the form and explain the meaning
6. Is “So dringend die Anfrage auch ist” a proportional comparison?
No. It concedes any relevant degree of urgency; it does not say “the more urgent, the more …”.
7. Must ist become sei in every so … auch clause?
No. Indicative can be appropriate; modal or subjunctive choices depend on the intended reading.
Additional check 1. Does So schwierig die Aufgabe auch ist say that greater difficulty produces a greater result?
No. It concedes the degree of difficulty while leaving the following claim valid. A proportional relation would need another construction, such as je … desto.
Additional check 2. Choose the degree opening, not a proportional one: __ wichtig der Wunsch auch ist, wir müssen die Frist beachten.
So wichtig der Wunsch auch ist, wir müssen die Frist beachten. Wichtig is the conceded degree; no second comparative is being linked.
Start with the topic overview
German auch immer clauses: whoever and whatever · Find another grammar topic
Sources and further learning
- IDS grammis: Irrelevanzsätze
- IDS grammis: Gegenstandsfundierte W-Sätze
- LEO dictionary: wie dem auch sei
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