Japanese learning (A4 S25): Conjunctive Particle “-temo” that makes But-However Connection to the Main Clause; [PreCon]+temo, [Main Clause].

In the section 25, two conjunctive particles are introduced; One makes “So-Therefore” connection, and the other makes “But-However” connection to the main clause.

[Preconditional Clause]+tara, [Main Clause].

Example: Ame ga Futtara, Dekakemasen. (If it rains, I will not go outside.)

When it’s rainy, ordinary people wouldn’t like to get out of house. Therefore, the main clause “Dekakemasen” is an expectable conclusion from the preconditional clause “Ame ga Futtara,”. This is an example that the conjunctive particle “-tara,” makes a So-Therefore connection to the main clause.

[Preconditional Clause]+temo, [Main Clause].

Example: Ame ga Futtemo, Dekakemasu. (Even if it rains, I will go outside.)

Since ordinary people wouldn’t like to get out of house when it’s rainy, the main clause “Dekakemasu” is an unexpectable conclusion from the precondition “it’s rainy”. Therefore, this is an example that the conjunctive particle “-temo,” makes a But-However connection to the main clause.

As in the case of “tara” preconditional clause, the predicates in the clause can be a Verb, an I-adjective, a Na-adjective, and a Noun.

(1) Preconditional clause has a Positive Verb predicate

– Hashittemo, Densha ni Maniaimasen. (Even if we run, we can’t catch the train.)

Running is faster than walking. If you run, the expectable conclusion is that you can catch the train (Hashittara, Densha ni Maniaimasu.). But against prediction, the conclusion is saying an unexpectable thing “Maniaimasen”. When a positive verb is the predicate of preconditional clause, it is good to see it as “[V-te] + mo,”

(2) Preconditional clause has a Negative Verb predicate

– Kurumaga Nakutemo, Seikatsu Dekimasu. (Even if I don’t have a car, I can make living.)

Probably this is what people living in Tokyo say because there are a lot of railway networks. Although “Naku(-temo)” looks like an auxiliary adjective, think it as the negative form of verb “Aru/Arimasu”. I just want to emphasize the Nai-form of “Aru/Arimasu” is not “Aranai” but “Nai”.

(3) Preconditional clause has an I-adjective predicate

– Isogashikutemo, Nihongo o Benkyou shimasu. (Even if I am busy, I study Japanese.)

(4) Preconditional clause has an Na-adjective predicate

– Benridemo, Kurejitto Ca’ado wa Tsukaimasen. (Even if it’s convenient, I don’t use a credit card.)

 Note that it’s not “-temo,” but “-demo”. “-demo” is used for Na-adjectives, Nouns, and Verbs of Gr1-B, Gr1-M, and Gr1-N. Another thing to look at is “wa” in the main clause. This “wa” is not subject marker but topic marker. It was originally “o” for the object of transitive verb “Tsukau/Tsukaimasu”. In order to make “Credit card” the topic, “o” turned to be “wa” as below;

Kurejitto Ca’ado o Tsukaimasen. => Kurejitto Ca’ado wa Tsukaimasen.

(5) Preconditional clause has a Noun predicate

– Shigoto ga Yasumi no Hi demo, Asa Hayaku Okimasu. (Even if it’s day-off from my job, I get up early in the morning.)

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section25 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”