Although / Even though (ものの・にも関わらず)

にもかかわらず and ものの are both formal, advanced grammar points used to express “although” or “despite.” While they might seem identical in English, they carry distinct emotional nuances and possess strict grammatical connection rules. Here is a complete guide to both, followed by a breakdown of how to tell them apart.

1. にも関わらず (In spite of / Disregarding)

In terms of meaning, にも関かかわらず can be thought of as a stronger, more formal and literary version of くせに. A suitable English translation would be “despite the fact that…” or “in spite of…”

The verb 関かかわる means “to be involved with” or “to be related to,” and the ず at the end is a classical literary form of the negative (ない). Therefore, the phrase is essentially saying “unrelated to fact A, B occurred.” Note: In both daily life and on exams, this grammar point is often written entirely in hiragana (にもかかわらず) to make the sentence easier to read.

Connection Rules (JLPT Warning)

Be very careful when connecting this grammar point. While it attaches directly to verbs and I-adjectives, it behaves differently with Nouns and Na-adjectives.

• Verbs / I-Adjectives: Plain Form + にも関かかわらず
• Nouns / Na-Adjectives: Attach directly or add である + にも関かかわらず (Never use だ)

彼女かのじょは毎日まいにち会社かいしゃに遅刻ちこくするにも関かかわらず、上司じょうしに怒おこられない。

Despite the fact that she comes to work late every day, her boss never tells her off.

反対者はんたいしゃが多おおくいるにも関かかわらず、政府せいふは改革かいかくを進すすめることにした。

Despite there being many opponents, the government decided to press ahead with the reforms.

約束やくそくしたにも関かかわらず、当日とうじつは時間じかん通どおりに現あらわれなかった。

Despite making a promise, when the day came they did not show up on time.

Using as a Conjunction

You will frequently see this grammar point placed at the very beginning of a sentence as それにも関かかわらず (Despite that / Nevertheless) to connect two separate thoughts.

彼かれは熱ねつがありました。それにも関かかわらず、仕事しごとへ行いきました。

He had a fever. Despite that, he went to work.

2. ものの (Although / Yes, but…)

ものの is another highly formal expression. It is primarily used in formal writing and stiff speech (such as news reports or presentations). It is used to acknowledge the truth of the first clause, while stating that the expected result or action did not happen.

Connection Rules (JLPT Warning)

You must be very careful when connecting this grammar point to different types of words. It does not just attach to the dictionary form of everything.

• Verbs & I-Adjectives: Plain Form + ものの (e.g., 行いくものの / 高たかいものの)
• Na-Adjectives: Attach な + ものの (e.g., 便利べんりなものの)
• Nouns: Attach である + ものの (e.g., 学生がくせいであるものの)

新あたらしいパソコンを買かって便利べんりなものの、まだ使つかい方かたがよく分わからない。

I bought a new PC, and although it is convenient, I still don’t really know how to use it.

彼女かのじょはお母かあさんが日本人にほんじんであるものの、日本語にほんごが全まったく話はなせない。

Although her mother is Japanese, she doesn’t speak a word of Japanese.

彼女かのじょは緊張きんちょうしないと言いうものの、観客かんきゃくの前まえで発表はっぴょうすれば誰だれでもある程度ていど緊張きんちょうする。

Although she says she doesn’t get nervous, when presenting in front of an audience, anyone will feel tension to some extent.

Standalone Conjunction (とはいうものの) & Newspaper Style (するも)

You will frequently see this grammar point placed at the very beginning of a sentence as the set phrase とはいうものの (That being said / Be that as it may). This connects two separate sentences and is much more common in everyday spoken Japanese than the standard grammar point.

日本語にほんごの勉強べんきょうを始はじめた。とはいうものの、まだひらがなしか読よめない。

I started studying Japanese. That being said, I can still only read hiragana.

Additionally, するも is the (even more) literary and abbreviated form of するものの. It is almost exclusively used in written journalism and newspaper headlines where character space is an issue.

経済けいざい制裁せいさいを可決かけつするも、行動こうどうに移うつさない国連こくれん。

The UN equivocates despite voting for an embargo.

3. What’s the difference? (にもかかわらず vs. ものの)

While they are both formal and translate similarly, they are not always interchangeable. The differences come down to emotional nuance, grammatical restrictions, and how they connect to nouns.

Core Nuance: Factual Contrast vs. Surprise/Disregard

ものの (Factual Contrast): This grammar point simply acknowledges a fact, but states that the reality doesn’t quite match expectations. It is relatively emotionally neutral.

にもかかわらず (Surprise / Disregard): This implies that a condition should have stopped an action, but the action happened anyway. It carries a heavy emotional nuance of surprise, admiration, or dissatisfaction.

高たかいパソコンを買かったものの、あまり使つかっていない。

I bought an expensive PC, but I don’t use it much. (Factual contrast)

彼かれは熱ねつがあるにもかかわらず、仕事しごとに行いった。

Despite having a fever, he went to work. (Surprise/Praise: The fever should have stopped him, but he disregarded it).

The Volition Rule (The JLPT Trap)

Because にもかかわらず objectively describes a surprising reality, the second half of the sentence cannot contain the speaker’s volition, intention, commands, or requests. ものの is more flexible and can be followed by personal intentions.

忙いそがしいものの、手伝てつだってあげるよ。(〇)

I am busy, but I will help you. (Speaker’s intention)

忙いそがしいにもかかわらず、手伝てつだってあげるよ。(✘)

[Despite being busy, I will help you.] (Fails because it contains speaker volition. Must use なのに or だけど instead.)

Connecting to Nouns (The “Weather” Test)

にもかかわらず can attach directly to a noun to mean “despite [Noun].” This is extremely common with nouns describing physical conditions or hindrances, such as the weather. ものの cannot attach directly to a noun (you must use であるものの), and even then, it is rarely used for physical conditions.

大雨おおあめにもかかわらず、サッカーの試合しあいは行おこなわれた。(〇)

Despite the heavy rain, the soccer match was held.

大雨おおあめであるものの、サッカーの試合しあいは行おこなわれた。(△)

(Grammatically acceptable, but sounds highly unnatural. We do not usually use ものの for weather conditions.)