How to use 〜ことは〜が/〜には〜が/〜は〜でも ( =koto wa ~ ga/ niwa ~ ga/~ wa ~ demo)

 

 

「宿題をしたことはしたのですが人間が食べてしまいました。」

= Shukudai wo shita koto wa shita no desu ga ningen ga tabete shimaimashita.

= I did do my homework but  my “human” ate it. 

「犬は犬でも食べられる犬はな～んだ？」

= inu wa inu demo taberareru inu wa naanda?

= What the edible dog is?

Hi everyone!

The guest teacher for today’s lesson is リー (or リハナ）先生 & ぶー先生 ( = Rii /Rihanna Sensei and Buu Sensei). 

**

みなさん、はじめまして！

= Minasan, Hajimemashite!

リーとブーです。

= Rii to Buu desu.

= We are Rii and Buu!

Today we are going to learn the grammar pattern

⭐️～ (こと)は  ( = ( koto) wa)   〜が ( = ga) / ～には ( = niwa) ～が ( = ga)

=  Although one does / did ~ , Although ~  is,  ~ / I’ll give you that but ~

You repeat the same verb or adjective twice and emphasize what you do/did

🌸 How to form:

* verb/ i-adjective (1) + ことは ( = koto wa)  + verb /  i-adjective  (2) +  が ( = ga)

* verb/ i-adjective (1)  + には ( = niwa) + verb/ i-adjective (1) +  が ( = ga)

* na-adjective ~ な ( = na)  (1)  + ことは  ( = koto wa)  + na-adjective (2) だ　( = da) +  が ( = ga)

* noun (1) + は ( = wa) + noun (2) だ ( = da) +  が  ( = ga)

* verb/adjective +  verb/adjective  + (だ) が  ( = (da) ga)

Note:

1) You also say けど ( = keto ) instead of が  ( = ga) in more casual conversation.

Ex.  行くことは行くけど  ( = iku koto wa iku kedo)

2) You can use various tense, past tense, present progressive, potential form, polite form, etc

3) You basically repeat the same verb, adjective or noun  twice but

Verb 1:  informal form 

Verb 2: It can be informal or formal (masu-form or desu with adjectives and nouns)

Ex. 行くことは行きますが  ( = iku koto wa ikimasu ga)

4) Even though when you talk about the past, V1 can be present tense.

Ex. 行くことは行ったが ( = iku koto wa itta ga)

5) You sometimes attach（な）の ((na) no) / (more conversational)  (な) ん ( = (na) n) after the second verb/adjective/noun. It sounds more explanatory and you can emphasize the fact more.

Ex. 行くことは行ったのだが ( = iku koto wa itta no daga)

Ex. 行くことは行くんだけど ( = iku koto wa ikundakedo)

****

1) with verbs:

Talking about the current state, or what you have done

(Note: *こと ( = koto) can be replaced with に ( = ni) )

It is open but ~

→ 開いていることは開いているが / 開いていますが

= Aite iru koto wa aite iru ga/ (more polite ) aite imasu ga

→ 開いているには開いているが / 開いていますが

= Aite iru ni wa aite iru ga/ (more polite ) aite imasu ga

It was open but…

→ 開いていたことは開いていたが / 開いていましたが

= Aite ita koto wa aite ita ga/ aite imashita ga

→ 開いていたには開いていたが / 開いていましたが

= Aite ita koto wa aite ita ga/ aite imashita ga

V1 can be present tense

→ 開いていることは開いていたが / 開いていましたが

= Aite iru koto wa aite ita ga / aite imashita ga

→ 開いているには開いていたが / 開いていましたが

= Aite iru ni wa aite ita ga / aite imashita ga

Talking about future:

I am going but~

→ 行くことは行くが/行きますが   

= iku koto wa iku ga/ ikimasu ga

→ 行くには行くが/行きますが   

= iku niwa iku  ga / ikimasu ga

Note: For  polite speech/writing you use masu-form in the second verb

I am able to go but  ~ (potential form)

→行けることは行けるが / 行けますが = ikeru koto wa ikeru ga / ikemasu ga

→行けるには行けるが / 行けますが = ikeru ni wa ikeru ga / ikemasu ga

⭐️How to use:

You first introduce what you did or what you are going to do and follow something contrastive.

Ex.

A : 「明日のパーティーは行きますか？」

= Ashita no paatii wa ikimasu ka?

= Are you going to the party tomorrow?

B: 「はい、行くことは行きますが、早く帰ります。」

= Hai, iku koto wa ikimasu ga, hayaku kaerimasu.

= Yes, I am going but I will leave there early.

It emphasize the fact you are going more than just saying

行きますが、早く帰ります。 ( = ikimasu ga hayaku kaerimasu)

Ex. パーティーに行くには行ったが、知っている人が誰もいなかった。

= Paatii ni iku niwa itta ga, shitteiru hito ga dare mo inakatta.

= I did go to the party but they were all strangers./I didn’t know anybody.

Ex. 彼氏はいるにはいるけれども最近はあまりデートしていません。

= Kareshi wa iru niwa iru keredomo saikin wa amari deeto shite imasen.

= I do have a boyfriend but I haven’t gone out with him a lot lately.

Ex. 試験を受けることは受けるがその大学に行くかはわからない。

= Shiken wo ueru koto wa ukeru ga sono daigaku ni iku ka wa wakaranai.

= I am going to take an exam but I don’t know if I would go to the university or not.

Ex. 日本語を話せることは話せるがあまり自信がない。

= Nihongo wo hanaseru koto wa hanaseru  ga amari jishin ga nai.

= I do speak Japanese but I don’t really have much confidence.

Ex. 上司に電話したことは電話したんだけど電波が悪くて何を言っているかよく聞こえなかった。

= Joushi ni denwa shita koto wa denwa shitan dakedo denpa ga warukute nani wo itte iru ka yoku kikoenakatta.

= I did call my boss but the reception was so bad that I couldn’t hear what he was saying.

Ex. 彼女と二人の将来について話したことは話したんだけど、結婚に対する考えが違っていてさあ。

= Kanojo to futari no shourai ni tsuite hanashita koto wa hanashitan dakedo, kekkon ni taisuru kangae ga chigatte ite saa.

= I did talk with my girlfriend about our future but  our views on marriage are different so…

Ex. 彼のことを知っていることは知っているが話したことはない。

= Kare no koto wo shitteiru koto wa shitte iru ga hanashita koto wanai.

= I do know her but I have never talked to her in person.

Ex. この本は読むには読んだが、よく理解できなかった。

= Kono hon wa yomu ni wa yondaga, yoku rikai dekinakatta.

= I did read this book but I didn’t quite understand it.

⭐️From the picture above:

「宿題をしたことはしたのですが「人間」が食べてしまいました。」

= Shukudai wo shita koto wa shita no desu ga “ningen” ga tabete shimaimashita.

= I did do my homework but my human ate it.

2) with adjectives :

⭐️ How to form:

i-adjective (1)  + ことは ( = koto wa)  +   i-adjective (2)  +  が ( = ga)

i-adjective  (1)  + には ( = niwa)  +   i-adjective (2)  +  が ( = ga)

Talking about the current state:

I do say It is delicious but/ (I admit that) It is delicious but ~ / I know it’s delicious but ~: 

→美味しいことは美味しい/ですが  

= oishii koto wa oishiii ga/desu ga

Talking about past

(I admit that) I was delicious but ~  / I know it was  delicious but ~

→美味しかったことは美味しかったが / ですが   

= oishikatta koto wa oishikatta ga/desu ga

The first verb can be non past.

→美味しいことは美味しかったが / ですが  

= oishii koto wa oishikatta ga /desu ga

(You also say ことは ( = koto wa) →には ( = niwa）

How to use:

Ex. このホテルの評価は高いことは高いが、サービスはあまりよくない。

= Kono hoteru no hyouka wa takai koto wa takai ga, saabisu wa amari yoku nai.

= Although this hotel costs a lot of money but their service is not so good.

Ex. 今日は、寒いことは寒いがストーブは使うほどでもない。

= Kyou wa, samui koto wa samui ga sutoobu wa tsukau hodo emo nai.

= I know it is cold today but it is not that cold to use a heater.

Ex. 映画は面白かったことは面白かったのですが、前作の方がよかった。

= Eiga wa omoshirokatta koto wa omoshirokatta no desu ga, zensaku no hou ga yokatta.

= The movie was fun but I prefer the previous one.

Ex. 夫の作る料理は美味しいには美味しいのだが、材料にお金をかけすぎる。

= Otto no tsukuru ryouri wa oishii niwa oishii no da ga, zairyou ni okane wo kakesugiru.

= I know the food that my husband makes is good but he spends too much money on ingredients.

* na-adjective (1) ~な ( = na)  + ことは ( = koto wa)  + na-adjective (2 ) +  だが ( = daga) 

Talking about the current state:

(I admit that) it is quite but / I know it is quite but ~

→静かなことは静かだが / ですが

= shizukana koto wa shizuka daga/desu ga

Talking about past:

(I admit that) it was quite but / I know it was quiet but ~

→静かだったことは静かだったが

= shizukadatta koto wa shizuka datta ga /deshita ga

The first adjective can be non past

→静かなことは静かだったが / でしたが

= shizukana koto wa shizuka datta ga / deshita ga

⭐️How to use:

You admit how someone/something is but …

You first introduce the quality or characteristic of something/someone and state something contrastive.

Ex. 今の仕事は大変なことは大変だがやりがいがある。

= ima no shigoto wa taihen na koto wa taihen daga yarigai ga aru.

= It is true that my current job is hard but it is rewarding.

Ex. 彼女はきれいなことはきれいだが意地が悪い。

= Kanojo wa kireina koto wa kirei daga iji ga warui.

= I know she is beautiful but she is mean.

Ex. スマホは便利なことは便利なのですが、そのせいで最近本を読まなくなりました。

= Sumaho wa benri na koto wa benri nano desu ga, sono sei de saikin hon wo yomanaku narimashita.

= I do admit that smartphone is handy but I have come not to read books recently because of it.

Ex. A: 「元気そうだね！」

= Genki sou dane.

= You look great!

B 「元気なことは元気なんだけどいくつか心配なことがあってね…」

= Genkina koto wa genki nan dakedo ikutsuka shinpai na koto ga atte ne…

= I am good but I have some concerns, you know.

Note: You sometimes drop こと ( = koto) and just repeat the same  adjective twice.

* 美味しいは美味しんだけど  ( = oishii wa oishiin dakedo)

* 便利は便利は便利だが ( = benri wa befri daga)

* 元気は元気なのだが ( = genki wa genki nano daga)

* 元気は元気なんだけど ( = genki wa genki dan dakedo)

3) with nouns

⭐️How to form:

*When you use this pattern with noun, you don’t use こと ( = koto)

noun は ( = wa) + noun だが ( = daga) / (polite)  ですが ( = desu ga)

(Casual) noun は ( = wa) + noun + だけど( = dakedo)

(Casual) noun は ( = wa)  + noun + でも ( = demo)

Note: When you emphasize the noun, add “なの” ( = nano)

→なのだが ( = nanodaga) / (polite) なのですが ( nano desu ga) ( polite)

→Casual: add なん ( = nan) 　なんだが ( = nan daga) / なんですが ( = nan desu ga)

→More casual : なんだけど ( = nan dakedo)

Talking about the current state:

I know it’s my day-off but

→休みは休みだが/ ですが

= yasumi wa yasumi daga / desuga

Emphasize 休み ( = yasumi)

→休みは休みなのだが/ですが 

= yasumi wa yasumi nano daga /desiga

(Casual)

→休みは休みなんだが/ですが 

= yasumi wa yasumi nan daga / desuga

→休みは休みなんだけど

= yasumi wa yasumi nan dakedo (casual)

Past tense:

I know it was my day-off but

→休みは休みだったが/ でしたが

= yasumi wa yasumi dattaga //deshitaga

Emphasize 休み ( = yasumi)

→休みは休みだったのだが/ですが 

= yasumi wa yasumi dattano daga / desu ga

(Casual)

→休みは休みだったんだが/ですが

= yasumi wa yasumi dattan daga /desu ga

→休みは休みだったんだけど

= yasumi wa yasumi dattan dakedo (polite)

Ex. 明日は休みは休みなんだけどやることがいっぱいある。

= Ashita wa yasumi wa yasumi nan dakedo yaru koto ga ippai aru.

= It is a day off tomorrow but there are tons of things to do.

Ex. 彼は独身は独身だが一緒に暮らしている人がいるらしい。

= Kare wa dokushin wa dokushin daga issho ni kurashite iru hito ga iru rashii.

= He is single but  he seems to have someone who lives with him.

Ex. この車、中古は中古なんだけどきっと高く売れるよ。

= Kono kuruma, chuuko wa chuuko nandakedo kitto takaku ureru yo.

= This is a used car but I bet it can fetch a good price.

Variation

* noun + は + noun + でも  ( = demo) = Though it’s ~ / It is ~ but ~ / Despite the fact it is ~

⭐️From the picture above:

「犬は犬でも食べられる犬はな～んだ？」

= inu wa inu demo taberareru inu wa naanda?

= What the edible dog is?

It has a nuance “Though it is a dog”

This is a typical なぞなぞ ( = nazonazo) riddle pattern for children.

「パンはパンでも食べられないパンはなんだ？」

= Pan wa pan demo taberarenai pan wa nanda?

= What is the inedible “pan ( = bread) ?

**

マギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

リー先生、ぶー先生ありがとう！

= Rii Sensei, Buu Sensei arigatou!

= Thank you, Rii-Sensei and Buu-Sensei!

「食べられる犬」は、「ホットドッグ」で「食べられないパン」は、「フライパンだよ」♪

= “Taberareru inu” wa “hottodoggu” de “taberarenai pan “ wa “furaipan” dayo.

= “The edible dog” is “hotdog” and “inedible “pan = bread” is “frying pan”♪

***

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