とも、のみ, and にて
This page contains particles that are essentially just a different way to say some existing piece of grammar; とも、のみ、のみならず、and にて.
There’s very few differences, and any minor differences are noted.
とも
ても/Strong Agreement
Verb なくても → なくとも
い Adjectives くても → くとも
Sentence + とも (Response)
とも is just a rarer version of ても (or にしても). It can only be used with negative verb endings.
It has the same meaning, but is slightly more literary/older. (Source)
To use とも, you literally just change なくても to なくとも
とも can also be used as a sentence ending particle showing strong agreement.
*Be careful, as とも may actually just be と + も, emphasizing と.
ても
Don’t forget that this is for negative verbs only.
- 頑張らなくとも大丈夫 – Ok even if you don’t try.
- 勉強しなくとも合格した。 – Passed even without studying.
- 厳しくとも、子供を思っている – Even if they’re strict, they’re thinking of the children.
- 辛くとも諦めない – Even if its tough I won’t give up.
- 人間じゃなくとも家族だと思っている – Even if they’re not human, I think of them as family.
Ending Particle とも
This とも is only used in response to someone else. (Weblio)
I’m translating it as “Of course” but it doesn’t mean “obviously”.
- 行くんですか? 行くとも – Are you going to go? Of course I’ll go.
- 彼女はきれいですか? – 綺麗だとも – Is your girlfriend beautiful? Of course she is.
- その通りですとも – Of course its that way.
- その人は本当にできるの?かれならできるとも – Can he really do it? He can definitely do it.
のみ
だけ
Noun + のみ
のみ means “only” just like だけ.
のみ is more literary than だけ, and unlike だけ fills in after other particles.
I.E. だけで→でのみ
Source 1 Source 2
Examples
- 残っているのは彼のみだ. – Only he remained.
- アメリカにのみ存在するはな – A flower that only exists in America.
- このサイトでのみ得られる情報だ – Information you can only get on this site.
- この秘密を知っているのは、彼と彼女のみだ – The only people to know this secret are him and her.
のみならず
だけではなく
Dictionary form verb/い Adjective/Noun + のみならず
な Adjective + であるのみならず
のみならず is the だけではなく version of のみ。It means “Not just”.
Note that the words it can be used with expands a little bit.
This pattern usually pairs with も.
Examples
- 彼女は美しいのみならず、心も優しい人だ – She’s not only beautiful, she has a kind heart.
- 彼はアホであるのみならず、性格もわるい – He’s not only stupid, he has a bad personality.
- 武器を作ったのみならず、的にも提供した – Not only did they make weapons, they gave them to the enemy.
にて
で (Particle)
✖People
にて is just a more formal and literary version of で. There is no difference. (Source 1, Source 2)*
Most commonly, にて is used to mark a place, but can be used for time, and means as well.
*Although most sources say there is no difference, it is not used for people. (Source).
Other than that it is the same when used as a particle.
Examples
- 本社にて会議が行われた – A meeting was held at the main branch.
- 11日にて開催されます – Opening on the 11th.
- 1時にて重大な発表があります – There is an important announcement at 1.
- こちらにてご確認ください – Please confirm here.
- 500ドールにて販売された – Sold for 500 dollars.
- 電話にて連絡させていただきます – We’ll have you let us contact you by phone.
- パンのみにて生きるものではない (Weblio) – Can’t live off of just bread.