Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 6/16

～ても・でもEven if, Even though

Structure

Verb［て］＋も
［い］Adjective［て］＋も
［な］Adjective＋で＋も
Noun＋で＋も


Verb［なくて］＋も
［い］Adjective［なくて］＋も
［な］Adjective＋でなくて(1)＋も
Noun＋でなくて(1)＋も

(1) じゃなくて

Details

  • Register

    Standard

About ても

The combination of the conjunction particle て (or the case-marking particle で), with the adverbial particle も, often has the nuance of 'even if (A)', or 'even though (A)'.

To use this structure, simply conjugate a verb or い-Adjective into its て-form, and then add も.

For nouns and な-Adjectives, でも will be used instead.

This grammar pattern may also be used for highlighting negative sentences, and will translate similarly to 'even if not (A)', or 'even though not (A)' in these cases.

Fun Fact

でも (the form after nouns and な-Adjectives) is often considered to be an adverbial particle itself, and there is often debate amongst native speakers as to whether でも is actually a word, or simply a standard grouping of で, the case marking particle and も, the adverbial particle. However, It may be easier to remember でも as its own word, for learning purposes.

Synonyms

Examples

--:--

    試合(しあい)に負(ま)けても、諦(あきら)めません。

    Even if I lose the game, I won't quit.

    トレーニングをしても、痩(や)せない。

    Even if I work out, I don't lose weight.

    靴下(くつした)を履(は)いても、足(あし)が冷(つめ)たいです。

    Even if I wear socks, my feet get cold.

    たくさんサラダを食(た)べても、お腹(なか)いっぱいにならないんですよ。

    Even if I eat a lot of salad, I don't get full.

    子供(こども)に何回(なんかい)も起(お)きてと言(い)っても、起(お)きなかった。

    Even though I told the kid to wake up multiple times, he didn't get up.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

  • Online

    • Offline

        • みんなの日本語 I

          Page 158 [CH 25]

        • Genki II 2nd Edition

          Page 257

        • [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

          Page 111

        • [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

          Page 468

        • [AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese

          Page 95

      • Track Resources!

        Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

      ても – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

      • IcyIceBear

        IcyIceBear

        It might be helpful to think of のに as “despite”. If you can put “despite” in the sentence, it won’t be asking for ても

      • yousefb

        yousefb

        What about the example below? I think you can use “despite” in it but it does not accept のに

        image804×136 13.8 KB
      • wootau

        wootau

        Hello, the lesson shows the structure as:
        [な］Adjective＋でなくて(1)＋も
        Noun＋でなくて(1)＋も

        I wonder why is it not
        [な］Adjective＋ではなくて(1)＋も
        Noun＋ではなくて(1)＋も

        Thank you.

      Got questions about ても? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

      Join the Discussion