The difference between Verbても and Verbてでも


The difference between `Verbても` and `Verbてでも` was discussed in a thread
[here](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/6220/difference-
between-%E3%82%82-and-%E3%81%A7%E3%82%82-when-used-with-the-%E3%81%A6-form)
but I felt it wasn't fully clarified there. This difference is rarely
mentioned in textbooks, as far as I can tell. So I thought it should be
explored a little more. Maybe we can clarify how the English translations
would differ between these two sentences.

> **1:** 体を張っ **てでも** 反対する。  
>  **2:** 体を張っ **ても** 反対する。

I am assuming that using `でも` introduces a weakening of volition, ie "even if
I do **something like** risking my life", as opposed to a more definite "even
I risk my life". But perhaps there is a more subtle nuance. How would you
translate these sentences to highlight the distinction?




体を張ってでも反対する means that the one who 体を張る is identical to the one who 反対する while
体を張っても反対する means that those two are different.

  * 体を張ってでも反対する： I would rather risk my own body to oppose it.

  * 体を張っても反対する： I oppose it even if you risk your own body.

Edit:

> couldn't 体を張っても反対する be interpreted as "even if I risk my life (body)"?

Practically yes, but that sounds slip of saying てでも, after all.

It's not that you can't bridge clauses by the same agant with ても. ( **edit** )
For example, you can say 図書館に行っても本を読まない. However, you can't link actions that
share the same orientation, in other words, direction of volition (will) with
**paradoxical conjunction** ても.

So, you have to remove volitional element from the verb in the clause with ても
by changing it to a subjunctive mood, i.e. 体を張る → 体を張ることになる, as a whole,
体を張ることになっても, which is almost the same as てでも.




体を張ってでも反対する means that the one who 体を張る is identical to the one who 反対する while
体を張っても反対する means that those two are different.

  * 体を張ってでも反対する： I would rather risk my own body to oppose it.

  * 体を張っても反対する： I oppose it even if you risk your own body.

Edit:

> couldn't 体を張っても反対する be interpreted as "even if I risk my life (body)"?

Practically yes, but that sounds slip of saying てでも, after all.

It's not that you can't bridge clauses by the same agant with ても. ( **edit** )
For example, you can say 図書館に行っても本を読まない. However, you can't link actions that
share the same orientation, in other words, direction of volition (will) with
**paradoxical conjunction** ても.

So, you have to remove volitional element from the verb in the clause with ても
by changing it to a subjunctive mood, i.e. 体を張る → 体を張ることになる, as a whole,
体を張ることになっても, which is almost the same as てでも.

