JLPT N4 Grammar
· Elementary
Search pages and navigate
· Elementary
even if; even though
Category: Conditionals
The grammar pattern ～ても (temo) is used to indicate that a certain outcome occurs regardless of a specific condition. It is formed by adding 'mo' to the te-form of verbs, adjectives, or nouns. This pattern is often used to express that something happens or is true even if a certain condition is met. For example, "いくら寒くても、寒さに慣れています" means "I'm not affected by the cold even if it's very cold."
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Te-form of verbs | Verb stem + mo | walku mo |
| Te-form of i-adjectives | Adjective stem + ku mo | kakku mo |
| Te-form of na-adjectives | Adjective stem + te mo | yasui te mo |
| Te-form of nouns | Noun stem + te mo | gakusei te mo |
いくら寒くても、寒さに慣れています。
ikura samuku temo, samusa ni nattete imasu.
I'm not affected by the cold even if it's very cold.
いくら寒くても (even if it's very cold)、寒さに慣れて (I'm not affected by the cold)、います (it's true)
______ 、漢字が覚えられません。
temo, kanji ga oboeraremasen.
Even if I try, I still can't remember the Chinese characters.
______ (even if)、漢字が覚えられ (I still can't remember the Chinese characters)、ません (it's true)
______ 、仕事に行かなければなりません。
temo, shigoto ni ikakanbe na rimasen.
Even if I don't want to, I still have to go to work.
______ (even if)、仕事に行かなければ (I still have to go to work)、なりません (it's true)
辞書を______ 、この言葉の意味がわかりません。
jisho o temo, kono kotoba no imi ga wakaranai.
Even if I look up the dictionary, I still can't understand the meaning of this word.
辞書を______ (even if I look up the dictionary)、この言葉の意味がわかり (I still can't understand the meaning)、ません (it's true)
The grammar pattern ～ても (temo) is used to express that something happens or is true even if a certain condition is met. It is often used in situations where the speaker is expressing a fact or a situation that is true regardless of the condition. This pattern is commonly used in everyday conversation and is a useful tool for expressing nuanced ideas and situations. In terms of register, ～ても (temo) is a casual pattern and is often used in informal conversation. It is not typically used in formal writing or in situations where a more formal tone is required. In comparison to other patterns, ～ても (temo) is similar to ～ても (tara) in that both patterns are used to express a condition. However, ～ても (temo) is used to express a more general or universal condition, while ～ても (tara) is used to express a more specific or particular condition.
～keredo (but) is used to express a contrast or a contrastive idea, while ～ても (temo) is used to express a general or universal condition. For example, "いくら寒くても、寒さに慣れています" (I'm not affected by the cold even if it's very cold) is a more general statement, while "いくら寒くても、寒さに慣れていますが、雪が降ることはありません" (I'm not affected by the cold even if it's very cold, but it doesn't snow) is a more specific statement that expresses a contrast.
For i-adjectives, the pattern ～ても (temo) requires the change of 'i' to 'ku' before adding 'mo'. For example, "kakku mo" (even if it's hard) is the correct form, while "kakki mo" (even if it's hard) is incorrect.
～tara is used to express a specific or particular condition, while ～ても (temo) is used to express a general or universal condition. For example, "いくら寒くても、寒さに慣れています" (I'm not affected by the cold even if it's very cold) is a more general statement, while "いくら寒くても、寒さに慣れていますが、雪が降ることはありません" (I'm not affected by the cold even if it's very cold, but it doesn't snow) is a more specific statement that expresses a contrast.
In the JLPT exam, the grammar pattern ～ても (temo) is often tested in the reading comprehension section. Be sure to pay attention to the context and the condition being expressed, and use the correct pattern to express the idea. In the listening section, the pattern ～ても (temo) may be used in a variety of contexts, including everyday conversation and formal situations. Be sure to listen carefully and use the correct pattern to express the idea.
いくら ______ 、漢字が覚えられません。
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.