JLPT N2 grammar

だってmeaning and usage

Meaning

  1. Because of B, A
  2. A too/even
  3. Not only C, but also A and/or B
  4. Any-A (anywhere, anytime, anyone, etc.)

How to form it

  • だってsentenceもん/から
  • nounだって
  • question wordだって

How it is used

Casual. At the start of a sentence it gives an excuse, often ending in 「〜もん」 or 「〜から」. After a noun it means 'even' or 'too', like 「でも」 or 「も」; after a question word it means 'any-', as in 「誰だって」.

Examples

  1. 今日は会社を休んだよ。だって電車が止まってるんだもん。

    I took today off from work. It's because the trains stopped running.

  2. そんな簡単な問題、子どもだって分かるよ。

    A question that easy? Even a kid could answer it.

  3. 困ったときは、いつだって電話してね。

    If you're ever in trouble, call me anytime.