"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.

exactly就是jiù shì … ，also也yě … (even if)

Keep a plan despite possible rain

• A friend has decided to attend an indoor club meeting. exactly就是jiù shìto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù。 – even if it rains, I will still go.
• The possible rain does not reverse that stated decision. The sentence is not a weather report or proof that the friend has already arrived.

Join the conceded case to the decision

• In this pattern, exactly就是jiù shì + case，subject + also也yě + decision links the obstacle to the decision that survives it.
• In exactly就是jiù shìto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù。, to rain下雨xià yǔ is the conceded case and I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù is the maintained decision. Read both clauses before choosing the meaning of exactly就是jiù shì.

even if就是jiù shìrain下雨xià yǔ，I我wǒstill也yěgo去qù。

Compare a condition that changes the plan

• if假如jiǎ rúto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùnot不bùto go去qù。 – if it rains, I will not go – makes rain a reason to change the plan.
• exactly就是jiù shìto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù。 keeps going despite that same possible obstacle. Changing the connective and the conclusion changes the relationship.

Separate identification from concession

• this这zhèexactly就是jiù shìI / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū。 – this is exactly my book – identifies the book. It contains no even-if obstacle followed by a surviving conclusion.
• The characters exactly就是jiù shì alone cannot settle the meaning. A complete sentence and its context separate identification from this concessive pattern.

Check what was actually observed

• A later message says already已经yǐ jīngto rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le。 – it has started raining. That separate report supplies the actual weather information.
• A statement of intention still is not an arrival record. The friend can later revise the plan; an earlier concessive sentence does not make future events certain.

Keep the two jobs apart

• For concessive exactly就是jiù shì…also也yě…, identify the conceded case and the conclusion that survives it. Do not treat the case as proven by the pattern alone.
• For identifying exactly就是jiù shì, ask what is being identified. Use separate reports for actual rain, actual arrival or a later changed decision.

Practise this pattern step by step.

(coll.) even if就算jiù suàn … ，also也yě … (even if)

Value an attempt despite possible failure

• A team says (coll.) even if就算jiù suànto be defeated失败shī bài，also也yěto be worth值得zhí de。 – even if the attempt fails, it is still worthwhile. They value what they can learn from trying.
• The evaluation survives the conceded failure. This does not say failure is certain or that the attempt has already succeeded.

Keep the two clauses connected

• (coll.) even if就算jiù suàn + conceded case，…also也yě + conclusion asks the listener to grant a case without abandoning the conclusion.
• In the original example, to be defeated失败shī bài is the conceded case and also也yěto be worth值得zhí de is the evaluation. The people and attempt can be understood from the surrounding conversation.

even if就算jiù suànfail失败shī bài，still也yěworth it值得zhí dé。

Do not require a worst case

• (coll.) even if就算jiù suànthis这个zhè gemeans办法bàn fǎcheap便宜pián yi，also也yěnot不bùdefinitely一定yí dìngto fit适合shì héwe / us我们wǒ men。 – even if this method is cheap, it may not suit us – grants a favourable price point.
• Cheapness is not the worst possible outcome. (coll.) even if就算jiù suàn can concede a point in an argument while refusing the conclusion that the point alone is enough.

Use context for what is known

• Before a result is announced, (coll.) even if就算jiù suànto be defeated失败shī bài，also也yěto be worth值得zhí de。 can discuss an imagined failure. It does not establish that the team failed.
• In a different conversation, a receipt already shows a low price. The speaker can grant that known price with (coll.) even if就算jiù suànthis这个zhè gemeans办法bàn fǎcheap便宜pián yi while still questioning suitability.

Keep evaluation separate from permission

• The team’s worthwhile judgement belongs to that stated attempt and those speakers. Another person can disagree about its value.
• The sentence supplies no permission to ignore a budget, an agreed rule or a safety requirement. Those need their own facts and decisions.

Concede a case without overclaiming

• Find what the speaker is willing to grant and which conclusion remains. Check the wider context before calling the granted case imagined or known.
• Do not turn (coll.) even if就算jiù suàn into certainty, always the worst case, everyone agrees, or a calculation: its job here is an even-if relationship.

Practise this pattern step by step.

even哪怕nǎ pà … ，also也yě … (even if)

Maintain an intention despite difficulty

• A learner says even哪怕nǎ pà再难zài nán，I / me我wǒalso也yě要学yào xué。 – however difficult it is, I still intend to learn it. The difficulty is being conceded.
• The learner states determination. The sentence does not report mastery or give a measured probability of success.

Find the case and the intention

• In even哪怕nǎ pà + case，…also也yě + conclusion, the first clause gives a case the speaker is prepared to allow; the second keeps the conclusion.
• In even哪怕nǎ pà再难zài nán，I / me我wǒalso也yě要学yào xué。, 再难zài nán extends the conceded difficulty. It does not mean I will study only after the task becomes harder.

even if哪怕nǎ pàeven再zàihard难nán，I我wǒstill也yěwill要yàolearn学xué。

Allow a very small amount too

• even哪怕nǎ pàonly have ...只有zhǐ yǒu五分钟wǔ fēn zhōng，I / me我wǒalso也yěwant / will / need要yàoto practice练习liàn xí。 – even if I have only five minutes, I still intend to practise – concedes a small amount of time.
• The learner keeps the practice intention with that small allowance. The sentence does not promise that a whole course will be completed in five minutes.

Keep the conclusion’s direction

• even哪怕nǎ pà再难zài nán，I / me我wǒalso也yě要学yào xué。 keeps the intention to learn. even哪怕nǎ pàto have time (to do sth)有空yǒu kòng，I / me我wǒalso也yěnot不bùto go去qù。 keeps a refusal to go, even with free time.
• also也yě does not make a negative decision positive. Read not不bù in the maintained conclusion before reporting what the speaker intends.

Separate a small chance from no chance

• even哪怕nǎ pàonly have ...只有zhǐ yǒua bit一点yì diǎnto hope希望xī wàng，we / us我们wǒ menalso也yěwant / will / need要yàoto have a try试一试shì yī shì。 allows even a little hope and keeps an intention to try. a bit一点yì diǎn gives no exact percentage.
• This sentence alone does not state what the speakers would decide if there were no hope at all. A minimal amount and zero are different cases.

Read the actual allowance

• Name the conceded case: severe difficulty, little time or a little hope. Then state the actual conclusion, including any negative word.
• Keep intention separate from completed action and measured success. Do not replace a small amount with zero or invent a numerical probability.

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.

exactly就是jiù shì … ，also也yě … (even if)

1401.1 Use the lesson target exactly就是jiù shì in this example: Even if it rains, I'll still go: ………… to rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù。

1401.2 {'en': 'Here exactly就是jiù shì means…', 'zh': 'here这里zhè lǐ(modifier / structural particle)的de exactly就是jiù shì to express / indicate表示biǎo shì……'}

• A. {'en': 'even if (a concession)', 'zh': 'exactly就是jiù shì / even if即使jí shǐ(to concede让步ràng bù)'}
• B. {'en': 'exactly / precisely', 'zh': 'is precisely正是zhèng shì / exactly就是jiù shì(to emphasize (a statement)强调qiáng diào)'}

1401.3 {'en': 'exactly就是jiù shì here pairs with also也yě in the main clause.', 'zh': 'here这里zhè lǐ exactly就是jiù shì at / in在zài主句zhǔ jùli, ancient measure of…里lǐand / with与yǔ also也yě to pair up搭配dā pèi。'}

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1401.4 You plan to go even if rain occurs. What does exactly就是jiù shìto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù。 communicate?

• A. The possible rain does not change the speaker's decision.
• B. The sentence proves it is raining now.

1401.5 exactly就是jiù shìto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù。 shows that the friend is already at the meeting.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1401.6 Match each complete sentence to its relationship.

• 1. exactly就是jiù shìto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù。
• 2. if假如jiǎ rúto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùnot不bùto go去qù。
• 3. this这zhèexactly就是jiù shìI / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū。

• A. Do not go if rain occurs

• B. Identify the book

• C. Keep going despite possible rain

1401.7 The friend first says exactly就是jiù shìto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù。 Which later message actually reports rain?

• A. already已经yǐ jīngto rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le。
• B. exactly就是jiù shìto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù。

1401.8 if假如jiǎ rúto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùnot不bùto go去qù。 maintains going in the rainy case, just like exactly就是jiù shìto rain下雨xià yǔ，I / me我wǒalso也yěto go去qù。

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1401.9 Recall the situation: Keep a plan despite possible rain. Decide what the speaker wanted to communicate. 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.

(coll.) even if就算jiù suàn … ，also也yě … (even if)

1402.1 Use the lesson target (coll.) even if就算jiù suàn in this example: Even if we fail, it's worth it: ………… to be defeated失败shī bài，also也yěto be worth值得zhí de。

1402.2 {'en': '(coll.) even if就算jiù suàn is closest to…', 'zh': '(coll.) even if就算jiù suàn most最zuìto approach接近jiē jìn……'}

• A. {'en': 'because因为yīn wèi (because)', 'zh': 'because因为yīn wèi(because因为yīn wèi)'}
• B. {'en': 'even if即使jí shǐ / exactly就是jiù shì (even if)', 'zh': 'even if即使jí shǐ / exactly就是jiù shì(even if即使jí shǐ)'}

1402.3 (coll.) even if就算jiù suàn must concede the worst possible case, so a favourable price cannot be conceded.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1402.4 A team values the attempt even if it fails. What does (coll.) even if就算jiù suànto be defeated失败shī bài，also也yěto be worth值得zhí de。 communicate?

• A. (coll.) even if就算jiù suànto be defeated失败shī bài says failure is certain.
• B. The speaker keeps the evaluation despite the imagined failure.

1402.5 (coll.) even if就算jiù suànto be defeated失败shī bài says failure is certain.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1402.6 Match each part of (coll.) even if就算jiù suànthis这个zhè gemeans办法bàn fǎcheap便宜pián yi，also也yěnot不bùdefinitely一定yí dìngto fit适合shì héwe / us我们wǒ men。 to its job.

• 1. this这个zhè gemeans办法bàn fǎcheap便宜pián yi
• 2. not不bùdefinitely一定yí dìngto fit适合shì héwe / us我们wǒ men

• A. Suitability remains uncertain

• B. Price point being granted

1402.7 A receipt already confirms the method is cheap. A speaker says (coll.) even if就算jiù suànthis这个zhè gemeans办法bàn fǎcheap便宜pián yi，also也yěnot不bùdefinitely一定yí dìngto fit适合shì héwe / us我们wǒ men。 Must cheapness be an unknown imagined fact?

• A. No: the speaker can grant the known cheapness and still question suitability
• B. Yes: (coll.) even if就算jiù suàn forbids granting a known fact

1402.8 A team’s (coll.) even if就算jiù suànto be defeated失败shī bài，also也yěto be worth值得zhí de。 gives permission to break a separately agreed spending limit.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1402.9 Recall the situation: Value an attempt despite possible failure. Decide what the speaker wanted to communicate. 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.

even哪怕nǎ pà … ，also也yě … (even if)

1403.1 Use the lesson target even哪怕nǎ pà in this example: Even if it's hard, I'll still learn it: ………… 再难zài nán，I / me我wǒalso也yě要学yào xué。

1403.2 {'en': 'even哪怕nǎ pà leans on…', 'zh': 'even哪怕nǎ pà 着重于zhuó zhòng yú……'}

• A. {'en': 'an extreme / minimal supposition', 'zh': 'extreme极端jí duān / 最小zuì xiǎo(modifier / structural particle)的deto suppose假设jiǎ shè'}
• B. {'en': 'the most likely everyday case', 'zh': 'most最zuìmaybe / possible可能kě néng(modifier / structural particle)的deday-to-day日常rì chángcircumstances情况qíng kuàng'}

1403.3 {'en': 'even哪怕nǎ pà pairs with also也yě in the main clause.', 'zh': 'even哪怕nǎ pà at / in在zài主句zhǔ jùli, ancient measure of…里lǐand / with与yǔ also也yě to pair up搭配dā pèi。'}

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1403.4 A learner is determined to continue despite difficulty. What does even哪怕nǎ pà再难zài nán，I / me我wǒalso也yě要学yào xué。 communicate?

• A. The speaker accepts an extreme obstacle without abandoning the intention.
• B. even哪怕nǎ pà always means the condition is certain to happen.

1403.5 even哪怕nǎ pà再难zài nán，I / me我wǒalso也yě要学yào xué。 reports that the learner has already mastered the subject.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1403.6 Match each conceded case to what it allows.

• 1. even哪怕nǎ pà再难zài nán
• 2. even哪怕nǎ pàonly have ...只有zhǐ yǒu五分钟wǔ fēn zhōng
• 3. even哪怕nǎ pàonly have ...只有zhǐ yǒua bit一点yì diǎnto hope希望xī wàng

• A. Even a little hope

• B. Even severe difficulty

• C. Even a small amount of time

1403.7 A friend says even哪怕nǎ pàto have time (to do sth)有空yǒu kòng，I / me我wǒalso也yěnot不bùto go去qù。 What decision survives having free time?

• A. Not going; the negative word remains in the conclusion
• B. Going, because also也yě cancels not不bù

1403.8 even哪怕nǎ pàonly have ...只有zhǐ yǒua bit一点yì diǎnto hope希望xī wàng，we / us我们wǒ menalso也yěwant / will / need要yàoto have a try试一试shì yī shì。 establishes the same decision when there is no hope at all.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1403.9 Recall the situation: Maintain an intention despite difficulty. Decide what the speaker wanted to communicate. 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 learner says even哪怕nǎ pàto rain下雨xià yǔ，we / us我们wǒ menthen / just就jiùto go去qù to practise the paired even-if frame. Repair the result connector.

R2. Use it yourself. State that you will keep a promise even if it takes extra time.

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