Rule reminder
Advanced Italian sentences often contain multiple subordinate clauses simultaneously: a concessive clause plus a relative clause, temporal clause, causal clause, or conditional. Correctly identifying the function of each subordinate clause and choosing the appropriate mood is essential at B2 level. The concessive clause always requires the subjunctive (with sebbene/benché/nonostante) while other clause types follow their own rules.
In the sentence 'Sebbene il progetto che avevano presentato fosse innovativo, il consiglio lo respinse perché i costi erano troppo elevati', identify all subordinate clauses: