although
but
even though
Structure
- Verb + ものの 、+ Phrase
- Noun + で(は)ある/であった + ものの 、+ Phrase
- な-Adj. + な/だった/で(は)ある/であった + ものの 、+ Phrase
- い-Adj. + ものの 、+ Phrase
硬
が and けれども can replace ものの
ものの cannot always replace が and けれども
[Used when actual state differs from expectation・In AもののB, A and B always have the same subject・は can be used to add emphasis]
It seems like this is made up of もの and の, but together these have no relation to the meaning.
I love when you breakdown the grammar structure and explain how it combines to make the meaning, and often use that to learn the grammar point. In cases like these where it seems there’s no obvious origin for the grammar structure, maybe it would be good to include a note saying that? So that people know they should just try to memorise it rather than look for meaning.