176 CHAPTER 4. PARTICLEScounterpart to the word ”also”, since that can be used without any real
prompting.
A second use of is as an emphaticcontrastingparticle, meaning
something like the English ”even [if/by] ...”. In this use, it typically follows
forms:
”Even (by) leaving now, (you) probably won’t make it.”A special form + is the + + ( ) construction, which
asks and grants permission:”Ah, Shimokawa. Please, sit down.”Or as part of a (short) conversation:A:
B:A: ”May I sit down?”
B: ”You may.”Using with the form also means we can use it with form for
the copula, which is , forming :”Even the teacher says so.”In addition to these things, can – like – be combined with inter-
rogatives to form a specific kind of answer to these interrogatives. While
creates a vaguely specific answer, creates a vague but all-encompassing
answer:interrogative meaning with meaning
what anything
who anyone
where anywhere
when anytime
how in any possible way