ても and でも

Even if
Verb/い Adjective て form + も
Noun/な Adjective + でも

ても/でも is used to express “even if”. It is the て form followed by emphasis も。This pattern pattern typically expresses something contrary to expectations.
Tense is determined by the final verb. 

Examples

• 先生でも知りません – Even the teacher doesn’t know
• かれでもできません – Even he can’t do it. 
• いそがしくても勉強する – Even if (I’m) busy, (I) study (someone does/will).
• しずかでも寝られない – Can’t sleep even if it’s quiet. 

AでもBでも

A or B, it doesn’t matter
AでもBでも
VerbてもVerbても

Another pattern でも may take is a repeating pattern. Typically, this is only done twice, and used to stress that it doesn’t make a difference.

Examples

• 赤でも黒でも大丈夫だ – It’s ok if its red or black.
• リンゴでもバナナでも好きにして – Apple or banana, do (eat) whatever you want. 
• どちらでもいい – Either one is fine. 
• 食べても寝ても自由だ – Eat or sleep, its up to you. 

Question word + でも

Any X
Question word + でも

でも can also be used with question words. In this case, the question word’s meaning changes to something like ”___ever.” or “Any X”. 

Examples

• いつでも、どんなことがあってもあなたをささえるよ。- Whenever, no matter what, I will be here for you. 
• 何時でも大丈夫 – Any time is ok. (Specifically clock time)
• いつでも大丈夫 – Whenever is ok.
• 何でもします – I’ll do anything

With other particles

Other particles may also come in between the question word and でも。Typically this is only に。

• どこにでも行きます – Go anywhere.
• だれにでもわかるように説明します – Explain it so that anyone can understand. 

For this に, see に and には

With Negatives

Negatives can also be used with question words + でも to mean “not any X” i.e. Nowhere, no time, etc.

• どこにでもない – Not (at) anywhere.
• 何でもなかった – It wasn’t anything at all.