Sunday, August 5, 2018

grammar - What's the function of the particle も in 「かわいい写真たても うれしかったけど、…」?


If you look at my translation of the sentence below from a text book (総まとめ N3 読解), I think you will agree that I have guessed the meaning correctly but can anyone explain the grammar to the first phrase in bold? The particle も seems to have a wider usage than that given in most books or perhaps there is an omitted phrase?



かわいい写真たてもうれしかった けれど、それより、 黙ってプレゼントを用意してくれていたことに感激した。」



"I was very happy with the photoframe (?) but more than that, I was touched that she prepared a present secretly, without revealing anything."



Context: This was an entry to a young woman's diary, trying to think of a nice birthday present for her friend.



Answer



Let me shamelessly steal the explanation by sawa and an example by Chocolate to make up a slightly different explanation.


も signifies that there are other things than the thing to which も is attached. It is sometimes used with けれど or a similar conjunctive, and in this case the thing to which も is attached is contrasted to something else, which is often more important than the thing introduced with も.



かわいい写真たてうれしかったけれど、それより、 黙ってプレゼントを用意してくれていたことに感激した。 Although the cute photo frame made me happy, (it was not the only thing that made me happy, namely) more importantly, I was moved by the fact that he/she had prepared a present without saying a word.


勉強大事だけど、たまには息抜きしなきゃ。 Although studying is important, (it is not the only important thing, namely) you have to take a break once in a while.




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