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Concessive Conjunctions

Quick Reference

Concessive meaning: "Even if," "although," "despite"

  • -아/어도: Basic concession (even if, although)
  • -ㄹ지라도: Formal concession (even if/though)
  • -더라도: Concession with past experience (even if)
  • -ㄴ들: Rhetorical concession (even if)

Detailed Explanation

What is Concession?

Concessive conjunctions express that something happens or will happen despite an opposing condition. The second clause occurs regardless of the first clause.

Structure: Even though A, B (B happens despite A)

English examples: - Even if it rains, I'll go. - Although it's expensive, I'll buy it. - Despite being tired, she continued working.

-아/어도

Formation

Pattern: Verb/Adjective stem + -아/어도

Contraction rules (same as -아/어요):

Stem Vowel Suffix Example
ㅏ, ㅗ -아도 가다 → 가도
Other vowels -어도 먹다 → 먹어도
하다 -해도 하다 → 해도

Special contractions: - 오다 → 와도 - 되다 → 돼도 - 이다 → 이어도/여도 - 아니다 → 아니어도/아니라도

Meaning and Usage

Core meaning: "Even if," "even though," "although"

Key characteristics:

  • Most common concessive form
  • Natural in speech: Used in daily conversation
  • Versatile: Works with any verb or adjective
  • Neutral formality: Suitable for most contexts

When to use:

  • Expressing determination despite obstacles
  • Acknowledging difficulties but proceeding
  • Making concessions in arguments
  • Daily conversation

Examples

Basic concession (even if):

  1. 비가 와도 갈 거예요. (Even if it rains, I'll go.)

  2. 어려워도 할 거예요. (Even if it's difficult, I'll do it.)

  3. 피곤해도 공부해야 해요. (Even if I'm tired, I have to study.)

  4. 바빠도 전화해 줘. (Even if you're busy, call me.)

  5. 비싸도 살 거예요. (Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it.)

Acknowledging contrary conditions:

  1. 돈이 없어도 행복할 수 있어요. (Even if you don't have money, you can be happy.)

  2. 날씨가 나빠도 출발할 거예요. (Even if the weather is bad, we'll depart.)

  3. 실패해도 다시 시도할 거예요. (Even if I fail, I'll try again.)

  4. 아무리 늦어도 기다릴게요. (No matter how late it is, I'll wait.)

  5. 아무리 힘들어도 포기하지 마세요. (No matter how hard it is, don't give up.)

With question words (no matter how/what/who):

  1. 누가 뭐라고 해도 할 거예요. (No matter what anyone says, I'll do it.)

  2. 어디에 가도 같아요. (No matter where you go, it's the same.)

  3. 얼마나 먹어도 배가 안 불러요. (No matter how much I eat, I don't feel full.)

-ㄹ지라도

Formation

Pattern: Verb/Adjective stem + -ㄹ지라도 / -을지라도

Final Sound Suffix Example
Vowel or ㄹ -ㄹ지라도 가다 → 갈지라도
Consonant -을지라도 먹다 → 먹을지라도

Irregular verbs: - ㄹ-drop: 살다 → 살지라도 (drop ㄹ) - ㅂ-irregular: 춥다 → 추울지라도 - 듣다 → 들을지라도

Meaning and Usage

Core meaning: "Even if," "even though" (formal/literary)

Key characteristics:

  • Formal register: More formal than -아/어도
  • Written language: Common in formal writing
  • Emphatic: Stronger emphasis than -아/어도
  • Literary tone: Used in speeches, essays

When to use:

  • Formal speeches
  • Academic writing
  • Literary works
  • Official statements

Examples

Formal concession:

  1. 비가 올지라도 갈 것입니다. (Even if it should rain, I will go.)

  2. 어렵더라도 포기하지 않을지라도 성공할 수 있다. (Even if you don't give up despite difficulties, you can succeed.)

  3. 실패할지라도 시도할 가치가 있다. (Even if one fails, it's worth trying.)

  4. 아무리 힘들지라도 계속해야 한다. (No matter how difficult it may be, one must continue.)

Strong determination:

  1. 모두가 반대할지라도 제 의견을 지키겠습니다. (Even if everyone opposes, I will maintain my opinion.)

  2. 시간이 오래 걸릴지라도 완성하겠습니다. (Even if it takes a long time, I will complete it.)

  3. 위험할지라도 도전할 것이다. (Even if it's dangerous, I will take on the challenge.)

Literary/formal contexts:

  1. 비록 가난할지라도 행복할 수 있다. (Even though one may be poor, one can be happy.)

  2. 아무리 부유할지라도 건강이 없으면 소용없다. (No matter how wealthy one may be, without health it's useless.)

  3. 세월이 흘렀을지라도 그 기억은 남아 있다. (Even though time has passed, that memory remains.)

-더라도

Formation

Pattern: Verb/Adjective stem + -더라도

No variation: Always -더라도 regardless of final consonant.

Type Formation Example
All verbs Stem + -더라도 가다 → 가더라도
All adjectives Stem + -더라도 춥다 → 춥더라도
Past context Often implies past experience 봤다 → 봤더라도

Meaning and Usage

Core meaning: "Even if," "even though" (with past/hypothetical context)

Key characteristics:

  • Past experience: Often references known situations
  • Hypothetical: "Even if it were the case that..."
  • Moderate formality: Between -아/어도 and -ㄹ지라도
  • Contextual: Assumes shared knowledge

When to use:

  • Reflecting on past situations
  • Hypothetical scenarios based on experience
  • Moderate formal contexts

Examples

Past-based concession:

  1. 그때 알았더라도 막을 수 없었을 거예요. (Even if I had known then, I couldn't have stopped it.)

  2. 비싸더라도 샀을 거예요. (Even if it had been expensive, I would have bought it.)

  3. 힘들더라도 했어야 했어요. (Even if it was difficult, you should have done it.)

Hypothetical situations:

  1. 실패하더라도 후회하지 않을 거예요. (Even if I fail, I won't regret it.)

  2. 아무리 바쁘더라도 가족이 중요해요. (No matter how busy you are, family is important.)

  3. 늦더라도 꼭 오세요. (Even if you're late, please come.)

With known conditions:

  1. 거짓말이더라도 믿고 싶어요. (Even if it's a lie, I want to believe it.)

  2. 작은 도움이더라도 감사해요. (Even if it's small help, I'm grateful.)

  3. 시간이 걸리더라도 제대로 하고 싶어요. (Even if it takes time, I want to do it properly.)

  4. 아무도 인정하지 않더라도 계속할 거예요. (Even if no one acknowledges it, I'll continue.)

-ㄴ들

Formation

Pattern: Verb/Adjective stem + -ㄴ들 / -은들

Final Sound Suffix Example
Vowel or ㄹ -ㄴ들 가다 → 간들
Consonant -은들 먹다 → 먹은들

Note: Often used with question words for rhetorical effect.

Meaning and Usage

Core meaning: "Even if" (rhetorical, expressing futility)

Key characteristics:

  • Rhetorical tone: Implies the condition doesn't matter
  • Futility: Suggests outcome won't change
  • Literary/formal: Used in formal writing and speech
  • Often with questions: 무엇을 하ㄴ들, 어디에 가ㄴ들

When to use:

  • Rhetorical questions
  • Emphasizing futility
  • Literary or poetic language
  • Formal writing

Examples

Rhetorical concession:

  1. 아무리 노력한들 소용없어요. (No matter how hard you try, it's useless.)

  2. 후회한들 무슨 소용이 있어요? (Even if you regret it, what's the use?)

  3. 지금 간들 이미 늦었어요. (Even if you go now, it's already too late.)

  4. 말한들 들을까요? (Even if I tell them, will they listen?)

With question words:

  1. 어디에 가ㄴ들 마찬가지예요. (No matter where you go, it's the same.)

  2. 누구를 만난들 해결되지 않아요. (No matter who you meet, it won't be solved.)

  3. 무엇을 한들 변하지 않아요. (No matter what you do, it won't change.)

  4. 얼마를 준들 살 수 없어요. (No matter how much you pay, you can't buy it.)

Expressing futility:

  1. 아무리 비싼들 건강만 못해요. (No matter how expensive it is, it can't compare to health.)

  2. 돈이 많은들 행복하지 않아요. (Even if you have lots of money, you're not happy.)

Comparing Concessive Conjunctions

Pattern Formality Tone Common Use
-아/어도 Neutral Natural Daily speech
-ㄹ지라도 Formal Emphatic Formal writing
-더라도 Moderate Reflective Past/hypothetical
-ㄴ들 Formal Rhetorical Literary

Example comparison (Even if it rains):

  1. -아/어도: 비가 와도 갈 거예요. (Natural, daily)
  2. -ㄹ지라도: 비가 올지라도 갈 것입니다. (Formal, emphatic)
  3. -더라도: 비가 오더라도 갈 거예요. (Moderate, contextual)
  4. -ㄴ들: 비가 온들 갈 것인가? (Rhetorical question)

Practice

Choose the appropriate concessive conjunction:

  1. 비가 _ 갈 거예요. (와도/올지라도/오더라도) - daily conversation

  2. 실패할_ 시도할 가치가 있다. (해도/지라도) - formal essay

  3. 그때 알았_ 막을 수 없었을 거예요. (어도/더라도) - reflecting on past

  4. 아무리 노력한_ 소용없어요. (들/아도) - rhetorical

  5. 힘들_ 포기하지 마세요. (어도/지라도/더라도) - encouraging friend

Translate using appropriate concessive forms:

  1. Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it. (casual)

  2. Even if one fails, it's worth trying. (formal writing)

  3. Even if you're late, please come. (moderate)

  4. No matter what you do, it won't change. (rhetorical)

  5. Even if I'm tired, I have to study. (daily speech)

Show Answers 1. 와도 2. 지라도 3. 더라도 4. 들 5. 어도 6. 비싸도 살 거예요. 7. 실패할지라도 시도할 가치가 있다. 8. 늦더라도 꼭 오세요. 9. 무엇을 한들 변하지 않아요. 10. 피곤해도 공부해야 해요.