Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 1: 2/17

～たところでEven if ~ cannot or will not, Even though ~ not

The た-form is generally not used in the clause following ところで

Structure

Verb［た］+ ところで +Phrase［ない］

Details

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About たところで

～たところで is a grammar construction that combines the simple-past form of a verb, the noun ところ 'place', and the case-marking particle で.

As with most other grammar patterns that ところ is seen with, the focus is on the situation of the verb occurring. ～たところで is often translated as 'even if (A), not (B)', or 'even if (A), it won't be (B)'.

This 'even if' nuance is created by the fact that ～たところで sentences will never have something in the past tense in the second half of the sentence, despite using the past tense before ところ. This is similar to the English 'even if (A) were to happen, (B) would still not occur'.

As can be seen by the examples above, ～たところで will convey things that are counter to what the speaker either wants to, or wishes would happen. Due to this, the (B) half of the sentence will almost always be something unfavorable.

Fun Fact

Due to ～たところで always marking some kind of negative result in (B), (A) will often be preceded by words such as 今(いま)さら, いくら, or どんなに. These usually just emphasize the frustration that the speaker feels about the inevitable result.

Examples

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    徹夜(てつや)で勉強(べんきょう)したところで、合格(ごうかく)しない。

    Even if I studied all night, I would not pass.

    「いまごろ車(くるま)に乗(の)って行(い)ったところで間(ま)に合(あ)いようがない。」

    Even if you went by car right now, you would not to be on time.

    「謝(あやま)ってみたところで、 彼女(かのじょ)が許(ゆる)してくれるわけじゃないけど。」

    'Even if I try to apologize, it doesn' t mean she will forgive me.'

    「たとえ失敗(しっぱい)してしまったところで、 問題(もんだい)はありません。」

    'Even if you fail, there will not be a problem.'

    私(わたし)が告白(こくはく)したところで、彼女(かのじょ)は応(おう)じないだろう。

    Even if I confessed my love, she wouldn't respond.

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たところで – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

  • brodric

    brodric

    Bunpro describes the grammar structure as describing a futile action (A) that will have no bearing over negative result (B), but I was left confused by the example sentence 「たとえ失敗してしまったところで、問題はありません。」. Am I supposed to assume there is some hidden context behind 「問題はありません。」? And does that 失敗してしまう is a futile attempt at changing that?

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