Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 5: 5/21

~ても~なくても

Whether ~ or not

Structure

Verb[ても](A) + Verb[なくても](A)

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About ~ても~なくても

Like かどうか, another way that Japanese conveys 'whether or not' is through the use of ~ても~なくても. This grammar structure literally means 'even if (A), even if not (A)', to show that whatever the result is will not change, regardless of (A).
~ても~なくても is used primarily with verbs, and will always have the same verb appearing both before ても and なくても.
  • あの(ひと)いてもいなくても仕事(しごと)(りょう)()らないから(くび)してもいい(おも)
    Whether or not he is here doesn't change the workload, so I think it would be good if we fired him.
  • (わたし)運動(うんどう)しても運動(うんどう)なくても()せられないからもう運動(うんどう)はしない
    Regardless of whether or not I exercise, I can't lose weight, so I will not exercise anymore.
  • ここ居酒屋(いざかや)ではビール(たの)んでも(たの)なくても、ビール()てくる
    Regardless of whether you order beer or not, they will bring you one at this izakaya.

Synonyms

Examples

  • 試験(しけん)()かっても()からなくても勉強(べんきょう)していたら自分(じぶん)()になる。

    Whether you pass the exam or not, you will still be better off if you studied for it.

    身になる means 'to be beneficial'.

  • この単位(たんい)()ても()なくても卒業(そつぎょう)できるだけ単位(たんい)()れている。

    Whether I get this credit or not, I will still have the necessary credits to graduate.

  • 担当(たんとう)になってもならなくても(わたし)あなた味方(みかた)です。

    Whether you get to be in charge or not, I support you.

  • ()ても()なくてもいいので、一度(いちど)()てもらえませんか?

    It doesn't matter whether you buy it or not, why don't you take a look?

  • ()ても()なくても()(たの)しいらしい。

    I heard fishing is fun whether you are able to catch any fish or not.

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~ても~なくても – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

  • lisaki8

    lisaki8

    About 5 months ago

    I have a question about this sentence:

    お金を持っていても持っていなくても、幸せになることは可能です。

    The verbs in all the other example sentences are in the 〜て form: 勉強してもしなくても、言っても言わなくても、etc.

    Why is 持つ in the above sentence in the 持っている form?

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    About 5 months ago

    Hey @lisaki8 !

    The reason that 持つ is in the ている form is because お金を持っている is a phrase that means ‘to have money (to be in the state of possessing money)’. If 持つ were to be used here, it will change the nuance to, ‘to hold money (to physically hold money)’, and would make the whole sentence sound a bit unnatural.

    We hope that this answers your question!

  • lisaki8

    lisaki8

    About 5 months ago

    Got it. Thank you so much! It’s really helpful to know the difference between ‘having money’ and ‘holding money.’

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