Even If (~temo)
〜ても
~ても expresses 'even if' or 'even though,' indicating that the result holds regardless of the condition.
Pattern
Verb te-form + も | i-adj: ~くても | na-adj: ~でも | Noun + でも | Negative: ~なくても
Explanation
~ても (and ~でも for voiced consonant te-forms) is used to express that even if a certain condition is true, the result or conclusion doesn't change. It translates to 'even if,' 'even though,' or 'no matter how much.'
For verbs, attach も to the te-form. For i-adjectives, change -い to -くても. For na-adjectives, use ~でも. For nouns, use ~でも. The negative form ~なくても means 'even if not.'
Common patterns include いくら~ても (no matter how much), 何回~ても (no matter how many times), and question word + ても (whoever/whatever/wherever). For example: 何を食べてもおいしい (whatever I eat, it's delicious).
Examples
雨が降っても試合をします。
あめがふってもしあいをします。
ame ga futte mo shiai wo shimasu.
Even if it rains, we'll have the game.
いくら食べても太らない。
いくらたべてもふとらない。
ikura tabete mo futoranai.
No matter how much I eat, I don't gain weight.
高くても買いたい。
たかくてもかいたい。
takakute mo kaitai.
Even if it's expensive, I want to buy it.
何度説明しても分からない。
なんどせつめいしてもわからない。
nando setsumei shite mo wakaranai.
No matter how many times I explain, they don't understand.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
雨でも降っても
Correct
雨が降っても
Don't double-mark with でも and ても. Use the verb te-form + も.
Wrong
高いても
Correct
高くても
For i-adjectives, change い to くても, not いても.
Wrong
静かても
Correct
静かでも
For na-adjectives, use でも, not ても.
Related Grammar Points
Vocabulary in Examples
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