ものの
Meaning
- 1Although something happened or is true, the expected outcome did not follow.Ex. 1
- 2Although an action was taken, the result fell short of what was hoped for.Ex. 2
Formation
Verb (Plain form)＋ものの
i-adj. (Plain form)＋ものの
na-adj. stem＋なであるだった＋ものの
Noun＋であるだった＋ものの
Examples
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Usage
ものの is somewhat formal and written-leaning, and often introduces a difficulty or disappointing result after an acknowledged fact or action. It is more formal than けど / けれども and directly connects the two clauses.
Watch out
Note that 名詞 takes である or だった before ものの, not な or だ.
Note that な形容詞 can take な, である, or だった before ものの.
Easily confused with
- とはいうもののN1「とはいうものの」 adds a quotative nuance like 'although it is said that...'. It can attach directly to nouns and な-adjective stems (or with 「だ」), and can also start a sentence meaning 'that said'; within a sentence it is mostly interchangeable with 「ものの」.
- とはいえN1「とはいえ」 can attach directly to nouns (e.g. 「夏とはいえ」) and stand alone at the start of a sentence meaning 'that said'; the second clause often carries a judgment or warning (e.g. 「無理は禁物だ」) and is not limited to regrettable outcomes.
- 〜つつもN3「つつも」 attaches only to the ます-stem of verbs, typically after psychological/cognitive verbs like 「知る」 or 「思う」, and emphasizes 'knowing full well... yet...'; 「ものの」 can also attach to adjectives and 「noun + である」, emphasizing that things did not go as expected.
- ながら / いながら / ながらもN3「ながら(も)」 also means 'while doing...', and only its contrastive sense is close to 「ものの」. In the contrastive sense it attaches to the ます-stem and directly to nouns, with a more objective tone; 「ものの」 usually takes the た form, requires 「である」 after nouns, and often carries regret.
- にもかかわらずN2「にもかかわらず」 more strongly emphasizes that the result contradicts expectations, with a stronger tone of surprise or reproach; it attaches directly to nouns and can start a sentence as a conjunction; the second clause can take requests or the speaker's intentions, which 「ものの」 generally cannot.
- けど / けれどもN5「けど」 resembles 「ものの」 only in its contrastive meaning; its second clause can take volitional expressions or requests, and it can also set up a request or soften a sentence ending. It attaches to nouns as 「だけど」 and is mostly colloquial, while 「ものの」 is fairly formal.
とはいうものの and とはいえ can refer back to a previously stated point, whereas ものの attaches to the preceding clause. 〜つつも and ながら / いながら / ながらも can emphasize a continuing or simultaneous state; にもかかわらず expresses a stronger sense of “despite,” while けど / けれども is broader and less formal.
