Te-Form (4) - even if

For verbs, adjectives and nouns.

Even if: ても・でも

Works by adding も to the Te-Form.

Example

安くても、買いません。 Even if it’s cheap, I won’t buy it.

好きでも、買えなかった。 Even if I liked it, I didn’t bought it.

Means that something is “alright”. Frequently used for questions.

Example

ここに座すわってもいい？ Is it okay if I sit here?

冷つめたいでもいい。 It’s okay even if it’s cold.

Means “whether or not”. A form a bit strange, where the verb is repeated two times in the following manner: VてもVなくても.

Example

食べても食べなくても、構かまいません。 It doesn’t matter whether you eat it orb not.

Means that it doesn’t matter or that the speaker doesn’t mind.

Example

雨が降ふっても構わない。 I don’t mind if it rains.

Means that even if you do it, it will never start: that it’s no use. Only for verbs.

Example

この時間に会っても始まらない。 There’s no point meeting at this time of the day.

Means “no matter how much”.

Example

いくら好きでも、買えません。 No matter how much you like it, I won’t buy it for you.

どんなに高くても、買います。 No matter how expensive, I’ll buy it.

Used to make a supposition. Would translate to something like “even if… is the case”.

Example

たとえ新しん幹かん線せんでも、１時間かかる。 Even if you take the Shinkansen, it will take one hour.