I need some help with this grammar point ’ことは'.

The definition I have is "Indeed one does something alright, but ~"

> Verb / い adj ことは V2/ い2 adj "話すことは” ”高いことは”

Examples:

>   * 高【たか】かったことは高かった
>   * 笑う【わらう】ことは笑うがおかしくない
>   * 便利【べんり】なことは便利だが、高すぎる
>   * 安い【やすい】ことは安いがたちがわるい
>

Why is the verb/adjective always written twice? It's confusing. I just can't
seem to understand these example sentences.
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2014-05-01T17:00:29.287
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2014-05-01T20:14:45.767
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grammar
Need help with understanding Ｘ ことは Ｘ construction
This construction is usually followed by が or けれど and means something like
"yes, one does X **but**...". It conveys the meaning that there's a caveat -
the statement is true but there's a condition/fact that modifies its meaning,
softening it or negating to some extent. It's used to justify your actions
("Yes, it was expensive but I needed it (so I bought it)."), providing an
opposing view in a soft way ("Yes, it's nice but it's too dark (so I won't buy
it)."), etc.

Don't worry about the fact that the verb or adjective is repeated twice - it's
just the way the structure is built.

Note that this structure also exist for な-adjectives: な-adj ことは な2-adjだ.

It's best to understand it based on examples.

> 高{たか}かったことは高{たか}かった。。。  
>  It was expensive but... _(I liked it so I bought it anyway)_

> 笑{わら}うことは笑{わら}うがおかしくない。  
>  _(Yes, )_ I laughed but it wasn't really funny.

> 便利{べんり}なことは便利{べんり}だが、高{たか}すぎる。  
>  _(It's true)_ It is convenient but it's too expensive.

> 安{やす}いことは安{やす}いがたちがわるい。  
>  _(You may think)_ It is cheap but the quality is poor.

* * *

Reference

  * "A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar", page 206. 「ことは」structure's explanation - translated as "indeed one does something alright, (but ~); indeed ~ (but ~); do ~ (but ~)".

  * "A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar", page 205. 「ことは」structure is compared to 「～ないこともない」. It is stated that both structure are used to not give an unconditional statement. The former is used to answer affirmative questions, the latter negative questions.
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