JLPT N2 Shinkanzen Grammar Lesson 14: ～にもかかわらず・～ものの・～ながら (Although... / Despite...)

～にもかかわらず・～ものの・～ながら (Although... / Despite...)

JLPT N2
Shinkanzen N2 • 6 key grammar patterns
Point 1N2_L14_G1

1. ～にもかかわらず (Despite / Even though...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun N / Plain form + にもかかわらず
* Na-adjective だ -> である / Noun N だ -> である

Meaning: Despite / although A, B nevertheless occurs.
✓ Used when B is contrary to what would normally be expected from A, often conveying unexpectedness.
✓ It can describe events, states, or actions; it is not limited to “performing an action unaffected by A.”
✓ Relatively formal and common in written language.

Example Sentences (5)
彼かれは熱ねつがあるにもかかわらず、サッカーの試合しあいに出場しゅつじょうした。
Despite having a fever, he participated in the soccer match.
水道工事すいどうこうじの人ひとたちは悪天候あくてんこうにもかかわらず、作業さぎょうを続つづけている。
The plumbing construction workers are continuing their work despite the bad weather.
ご多忙たぼうにもかかわらず、ご出席しゅっせきくださいましてありがとうございます。
Thank you very much for attending despite your busy schedule.
中村先生なかむらせんせいはお忙いそがしいにもかかわらず、快こころよく僕ぼくのレポートをチェックしてくださった。
Despite being busy, Professor Nakamura willingly checked my report.
足あしを痛いためたにもかかわらず、村田選手むらたせんしゅはマラソンコースを最後さいごまで走はしった。
Despite injuring his leg, athlete Murata ran the marathon course to the very end.
Point 2N2_L14_G2

2. ～ものの / ～とはいうものの (Although... / Even though...)

Sentence Pattern
V plain form + ものの
* Na-adjective だ -> な / である
Noun N / Plain form + とはいうものの
* Na-adjective だ (Keeping だ is also acceptable)

Meaning: Although that is the truth, what happens is not as normally imagined.
✓ Usually preceded by words expressing facts or highly certain events.
✓ The second clause presents a result or situation that does not follow the speaker's expectation or what is generally assumed.

Example Sentences (6)
立秋りっしゅうとはいうものの、まだまだ残暑ざんしょが厳きびしい。
Even though it is the first day of autumn, the lingering summer heat is still severe.
明日あしたの天気てんきです。関東地方かんとうちほうは晴はれるものの、風かぜが強つよいため寒さむく感かんじられるでしょう。
Here is tomorrow's weather. Although the Kanto region will be sunny, it will probably feel cold due to strong winds.
高価こうかな着物きものを買かったものの、着きるチャンスがない。
Although I bought an expensive kimono, I have no chance to wear it.
不景気ふけいきとはいうものの、人々ひとびとの表情ひょうじょうは明あかるい。
Even though there is an economic recession, people's expressions are bright.
手術しゅじゅつは成功せいこうしたとはいうものの、まだ心配しんぱいだ。
Even though it is said the surgery was successful, I am still worried.
休やすみとは言いうものの、仕事しごとが溜たまっていて、全然休ぜんぜんやすむことが出来できない。
Even though it's a day off, work has piled up, so I can't rest at all.
Point 3N2_L14_G3

3. ～ながら（も） (Although / Despite...)

Sentence Pattern
V ます / I-adjective + ながら（も）
Na-adjective / Noun N + であり ＋ ながら（も）
* Note: Nouns/Na-adjectives can also connect directly to ながら

Meaning: States something contrary to the expectations that would normally be inferred from the state in the first clause.
✓ Often accompanies words expressing a state or condition.
✓ Both the preceding and following clauses must share the SAME SUBJECT.

Example Sentences (7)
日本語にほんごが分わからないながらも頑張がんばって聞きいています。
Although I don't understand Japanese, I am trying my best to listen.
たばこは体からだに悪わるいとわかっていながら、吸すっている人ひとが多おおい。
Even though many people know that smoking is bad for their health, they still smoke.
田舎いなかでの生活せいかつは不便ふべんながらも、自然しぜんに囲かこまれて、すがすがしい。
Although life in the countryside is inconvenient, being surrounded by nature makes it very refreshing.
この掃除機そうじきは、小型こがたながら性能せいのうがいい。
This vacuum cleaner, despite its small size, has great performance.
毎日まいにちこの道みちを通とおっていながら、ここにこんなすてきな店みせがあるとは気きがつかなかった。
Even though I pass through this street every day, I never noticed that there was such a wonderful shop here.
狭せまいながらも庭にわがあるので、わたしは花はなを育そだてて楽たのしんでいます。
Even though it's small, since I have a garden, I enjoy growing flowers.
あの子こは子供こどもながら、社会しゃかいの動うごきをよく知しっていますね。
Even though she's just a child, she knows a lot about social trends, doesn't she.
Point 4N2_L14_G4

4. ～つつ（も） (Even while knowing... / Despite thinking...)

Sentence Pattern
V ます + つつ（も）

Meaning: The actual action taken differs from one's inner thoughts or consciousness. (Even while consciously knowing A, one actually does B).
✓ Often used with verbs related to speech or internal thoughts (like saying, thinking, knowing... 言う、思う、知る...).
✓ The second clause expresses the speaker's speculation, intention, or desire.
✓ Both clauses must absolutely share the SAME SUBJECT.

Example Sentences (5)
体からだに悪わるいと知しりつつ、タバコを吸すっている。
Even though I know it's bad for my health, I still smoke.
早はやく返事へんじを書かかなければと気きにしつつ、まだ書かいていない。
Even while worrying that I must write a reply quickly, I still haven't written it.
勉強べんきょうが大事だいじだと思おもいつつ、また授業じゅぎょうをサボってしまった。
Even while thinking that studying is important, I ended up skipping class again.
危険きけんだと知しりつつ、山道やまみちを登のぼり続つづけた。
Even while knowing it was dangerous, I continued to climb the mountain path.
体からだに良よくないと思おもいつつも、毎日まいにちインスタント食品しょくひんばかり食たべています。
Even though I think it's not good for my body, I eat nothing but instant food every day.
Point 5N2_L14_G5

5. ～といっても (Even if I say... the reality is...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun N / Plain form + といっても

Meaning: Even if I say A, the reality B is contrary to the image people usually imagine.
✓ The second clause serves to lower the level of expectation or imagination derived from the information given in the first clause.

Example Sentences (5)
私わたしは今いまおばの家いえに住すんでいる。おばといっても母ははのきょうだいではなく、祖母そぼの妹いもうとにあたる人ひとだ。
I'm currently living at my aunt's house. But even though I say "aunt", she isn't my mother's sibling, but rather my grandmother's younger sister.
韓国料理かんこくりょうりが好すきだとはいっても、キムチとキムパプだけです。
Even though I say I like Korean food, the truth is I only eat kimchi and kimbap.
日本にほんで暮くらしたことがあるといっても、実じつは一ヶ月いっかげつだけなんです。
Even though I say I've lived in Japan, to tell the truth, it was only for a short month.
料理りょうりができるといっても、わたしが作つくれるのは簡単かんたんなものだけです。
Even though I say I can cook, I can only make a few simple dishes.
今いまもわたしの仕事しごとはきつい。でも、きついといっても、前まえの会社かいしゃにいたときほどではない。
My current job is very tough. But, even if I say it's tough, it's not as grueling as when I was at my previous company.
Point 6N2_L14_G6

6. ～からといって (Just because... doesn't mean...)

Sentence Pattern
Plain form + からといって

Meaning: Just because this is the reason, it doesn't necessarily mean that what people naturally imagine will happen. (Negating an obvious assumption).
✓ It is the negative form of the statement: Because of A, naturally B.
✓ The second clause is often paired with grammatical structures expressing partial negation, such as: ～とは限らない (not necessarily), ～わけではない (doesn't mean that), ～とはいえない (cannot be said that)...

Example Sentences (5)
便利べんりだからといって、機械きかいに頼たよりすぎないようにしたい。
Just because it's convenient, I don't want to rely too much on machines.
安やすいからといって、そんなにたくさん買かっても無駄むだだ。
Just because it's cheap, buying that much is a waste.
連休れんきゅうだからといって、デパートに勤つとめているわたしたちは休やすめるわけではない。
Just because it's a long holiday, it doesn't mean that we who work at the department store get to rest.
好すきじゃないからといって、食たべ物ものをこんなにたくさん残のこしてはいけませんよ。
Just because you don't like it, you mustn't leave this much food behind.
忙いそがしいからといって、睡眠すいみんをちゃんととらないと、体からだを壊こわしますよ。
Just because you're busy, if you don't get proper sleep, you'll ruin your health.
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