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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

ながらも (nagara mo)

~ながらも — although ~

In short · A concessive expression for two contradictory facts: it admits the first state but then states something unexpected. It attaches to a verb stem, adjectives or nouns.
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Pattern

  • Vます形(ます抜き)+ながらも Verb stem + ながらも
  • Aい/Aな語幹/N+ながらも い-adj / な-adj stem / noun + ながらも

Meaning

狭いながらも楽しい我が家 means a home that is small but happy. 知りながらも means doing it though one knows, an unexpected behavior. ながら alone can express contrast too; adding も makes it a little stronger and bookish.

Connection and subject

Verbs use the stem (知り, 思い); い-adjectives use the plain form (狭い, 小さい). The subject is the same in both parts. This is different from the simultaneous-action ながら (歩きながら話す).

Examples

  • 狭(せま)いながらも、楽(たの)しい我(わ)が家(や)です。

    Semai nagara mo, tanoshii wagaya desu.

    Though small, it's our happy home.

  • 悪(わる)いと知(し)りながらも、うそをついてしまった。

    Warui to shiri nagara mo, uso o tsuite shimatta.

    Even while knowing it was wrong, I ended up telling a lie.

  • 小(ちい)さいながらも、庭(にわ)のある家(いえ)に住(す)みたい。

    Chiisai nagara mo, niwa no aru ie ni sumitai.

    Though small, I want to live in a house with a garden.

Common mistakes

  • Do not confuse it with the simultaneous ながら. This one is contrastive.
  • Do not use it when the subjects of the two parts differ.

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