Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 10: 17/21

ともEven if, No matter

少なくとも is a very common example of this construction which is also used in spoken Japanese.

Structure

Verb［おう］ + とも
Verb［なくて］ + とも
［な］Adjective + であろう + とも
［い］Adjective［く］(1) + とも

(1) ［い］Adjective［かろう］

Details

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About とも

とも is a particle that can be used either as a sentence-ending particle, conjunction particle, or adverbial particle. Despite this, the meanings are often interchangeable, and it depends mostly on what type of word they are grouped with as to which type of particle it is. Common interpretations of とも in almost any situation are 'even if (A)', or 'no matter if (A)', and it will basically always simply highlight that 'in spite of (A), still (B)'.

As a conjunction particle, とも will be paired with any words that are followed by the auxiliary verbs う, or よう, or after い-Adjectives in their conjunctive form.

The adverbial particle usage only appears after い-Adjectives in their conjunctive form, and a select number of adverbs. It is recommended not to use this structure after adverbs unless you have already seen it used this way in native material.

Examples

--:--

    どんなことになろうとも、国家(こっか)が破産(はさん)するのはまずありえない。

    No matter what (becomes of it) , it is impossible for a country to go bankrupt.

    頂点(ちょうてん)には届(とど)かなくとも、行(い)けるところまで行(い)ってみよう。

    Even if we don't reach the summit, let's try to go as far as we can.

    どんなに生意気(なまいき)になろうとも、わたしの息子(むすこ)であることに変(か)わりはない。

    No matter how cheeky he becomes, he's still my son.

    誰(だれ)に憎(にく)まれようとも、使命(しめい)を果(は)たさないわけにはいきません。

    Even if everyone hates it, it is an obligation we must fulfill.

    ため息(いき)が出(で)ようとも、仕事(しごと)はやり遂(と)げなければなりません。

    Even if you sigh, you must get some work done.

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      とも – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

      • dokidokiwakuwaku

        dokidokiwakuwaku

        Can someone explain the difference in usage between this form and つつも? Thank you!

      • casual

        casual

        In this test sentence:

        誰に憎まれようとも、使命を果たさないわけにはいきません。
        Even if everyone hates it, it is an obligation we must fulfill.

        Wouldn’t here 誰に imply someone (no matter who), and 誰にも be needed to mean everyone?

        Thank you

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