"Even if" statements

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

even if即使jí shǐ … ，also也yě … (even if)

Rain or shine

• Your football coach is determined that tomorrow's training will happen.
• even if即使jí shǐtomorrow明天míng tiānto rain下雨xià yǔ，we / us我们wǒ menalso也yěwant / will / need要yàoto train训练xùn liàn。 – "Even if it rains tomorrow, we'll still train."

even if即使jí shǐ A，also也yě B = even if A, still B

• even if即使jí shǐ + possible situation，Subject + also也yě + result = even if A happens, B stays the same.
• A is usually hypothetical; also也yě is needed in the second clause.

even if即使jí shǐvery很hěnbusy忙máng，he他tāstill也yěevery day每天měi tiānexercises运动yùn dòng。

Promises and determination

• even if即使jí shǐeveryone大家dà jiāall / both都dōuto oppose反对fǎn duì，I / me我wǒalso也yěwant / will / need要yào试试shì shì。 – "Even if everyone is against it, I'm going to give it a try."
• even if即使jí shǐyou你nǐnot不bùvariant of 说说shuō，I / me我wǒalso也yěto know知道zhī dào。 – "Even if you don't say it, I know."

even if即使jí shǐyou你nǐdon't不bùsay说shuō，I我wǒstill也yěknow知道zhī dào。

also也yě after the subject

• Put also也yě after the subject of the second clause: I / me我wǒalso也yěwant / will / need要yàoto go去qù, not also也yěI / me我wǒwant / will / need要yàoto go去qù.
• even if即使jí shǐ pairs with also也yě, not but但是dàn shì: even if即使jí shǐto rain下雨xià yǔ，also也yěto go去qù, not even if即使jí shǐto rain下雨xià yǔ，but但是dàn shìto go去qù.

even if即使jí shǐ versus although虽然suī rán / despite尽管jǐn guǎn

• although虽然suī rán / despite尽管jǐn guǎn state a fact: although虽然suī ránto rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le，we / us我们wǒ menor / still还是hái shìto go去qù(completed / change)了le (it did rain).
• even if即使jí shǐ states a possibility: even if即使jí shǐto rain下雨xià yǔ，we / us我们wǒ menalso也yěto go去qù (it might rain).

although虽然suī ránit rained下雨xià yǔ了le，we我们wǒ menstill还是hái shiwent去qù了le。

Recap

• even if即使jí shǐ A，(Subject) also也yě B = even if A, still B (A hypothetical).
• also也yě after the subject; facts take although虽然suī rán / despite尽管jǐn guǎn.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

even if即使jí shǐ … ，also也yě … (even if)

1601.1 Complete: “Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it.” even if即使jí shǐdegree / adjective linker很hěnexpensive贵guì，I / me我wǒ…………want / will / need要yàoto buy买mǎi。

1601.2 It rained yesterday, and you went out anyway. Which fits? ___yesterday昨天zuó tiānto rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le，we / us我们wǒ menor / still还是hái shìto go out出去chū qù(completed / change)了le。

• A. if如果rú guǒ
• B. although虽然suī rán
• C. even if即使jí shǐ
• D. if only只要zhǐ yào

1601.3 Build: “Even if everyone is against it, I'm going to try.”

Arrange all chunks: even if即使jí shǐeveryone大家dà jiāall / both都dōuto oppose反对fǎn duì / I / me我wǒalso也yě / ， / want / will / need要yào试试shì shì。

1601.4 even if即使jí shǐto rain下雨xià yǔ，but但是dàn shìwe / us我们wǒ mento go去qù is correct.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1601.5 Your football coach is determined that tomorrow's training will happen. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A forecast is uncertain. A learner uses although虽然suī rántomorrow明天míng tiānto rain下雨xià yǔ，also也yěwant / will / need要yàoto set off出发chū fā as the intended even-if condition. Make the hypothetical meaning clearer.

R2. Use it yourself. State that you will finish the task even if it is difficult, without claiming it has already been finished.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.