としても is to "assume that " . It is similar to にしても、 but the difference is t ahat としても presents a hypothetical situation, while にしても is used to present a factual or a near factual situation.
9
Even if I were to A (A is not possible or useless/not worth doing)
Even if A were the case
Even if I were to A (A is not possible or useless/not worth doing)
6
東京に行くとしても君との付き合いが変わるわけじゃないよ。
Evenifweweretogo to Tokyo, it's not like our relationship will change.
2
ひとでが足りず、休もうとしても認めてもらえなかった。
We were short on hands, and I wouldn't have received permission for a break (evenifIhadtried).
Jim Breen's examples of the first construction, the one using the volitional a form, have persons other than "I" as the subject. Also, they don't imply that condition A is impossible, only that it's useless:
彼に賛成するように説得しようとしても無駄だ。 It is useless to try to persuade him to agree. 僕に金をせびろうとしても無駄だ。 It's no use asking me for money.
Well, although Jgram doesn't have it, both example sentences you put up have the volitional. I'll update the definition, though, so the impossible/useless thing is shown.
Sorry - I don't mean to come off as saying Jgram is the be-all, end-all. It's just the second place I go when I can't find stuff on this (much sleeker, better organized, and more easily interactive) site. There, and Jim Breen.
Firstly, the second usage can only be used with the volitional verb, whereas the first is used with several different parts of speech. Secondly, the second usage is only for things that are impossible, whereas the thing in the first usage could happen. Some of the user sentences really show this well, especially the bottom two on the first usage - take a look at those.
I believe it is that this one is strictly used to suppose something that might not be the case (ie: talk about the future). でも can be used about the present, past, and future, although I have never heard this used to refer to something that's already happened.
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11 years ago
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