What is the meaning of 「読むには読んだ」?


I have the following sentence and I can't find any material pointing out the
usage of this grammar.

> 薦められた本を **読むには読んだ** が、よく理解できなかった。

In general, what is the usage of 「VるにはVた」?




「読むには読んだ」 means 'skimmed' a book. You quickly ran through the book, but not
intensively.

"VるにはVた" means "If I were forced to answer if I did it or not, I did it (but
not intensively / seriously)."

For example:

>   * 英語を習うには習った、でも上手く喋れない。  
>  I learned English, but I cannot speak it well.
>
>   * 聞くには聞いた、でも覚えていない。  
>  I heard it, but I cannot recall it.
>
>   * 言うには言った、でも約束した覚えはない。  
>  Yes, I said it, but I didn't promise it.
>
>   * 行くには行った、でもすぐ帰ってきた。  
>  I went there, but I returned right away.
>
>




「読むには読んだ」 means 'skimmed' a book. You quickly ran through the book, but not
intensively.

"VるにはVた" means "If I were forced to answer if I did it or not, I did it (but
not intensively / seriously)."

For example:

>   * 英語を習うには習った、でも上手く喋れない。  
>  I learned English, but I cannot speak it well.
>
>   * 聞くには聞いた、でも覚えていない。  
>  I heard it, but I cannot recall it.
>
>   * 言うには言った、でも約束した覚えはない。  
>  Yes, I said it, but I didn't promise it.
>
>   * 行くには行った、でもすぐ帰ってきた。  
>  I went there, but I returned right away.
>
>

