Is this は or はいる: ～わかってはいるものの


> たばこは体に悪いとわかってはいるものの、なかなかやめられない。

If it's は, does omitting は change the meaning in verb-te~はいる? And also, could
you talk about what いる is doing?

If it's はいる, in what sense would you describe はいる's usage?

Also, as I googled for more examples, I noticed there was a general pattern of
てはいる[が・けど・ものの]、... Is there something to this?




It's the 助詞 "は". I'll leave it to the linguists for a technical description,
but the practical effect is to emphasize the verb. "Although I _do_ know
cigarettes are bad for my body, I pretty much can't quit."




It's the 助詞 "は". I'll leave it to the linguists for a technical description,
but the practical effect is to emphasize the verb. "Although I _do_ know
cigarettes are bad for my body, I pretty much can't quit."

