A friend of mine from United States made a clear distinction between the uses of those three words
"Even though" is generally the same as "despite the fact that."
Examples: I asked him to buy oranges even though I don't like oranges. I went for a walk even though it was raining.
"Even if" is generally used with either conditional or future verb conjugations.
Examples: I will go to the park even if it rains. He would have gone to school even if his homework wasn't done.
"Even" is indeed a little harder to pinpoint because it has MANY definitions. When it's an option between these three conjunctions, choose "even" in cases where:
-it falls before "when" or "where" (examples: I go swimming even when the tide is high. Even where the sharks feed, I swim.)
-it falls before an expression of quantity (examples: this balloon grew even bigger than the last balloon. Even more Americans love X over Y! I would love to have even 1 more friend.) Note that quantity can be unreliable too, such as if you said, "Even though sixty million Elvis fans agree, it isn't true."
-stressing a point (examples: he was eager, even desperate, to date her. He would work for hours, or even for days! I can write grammar messages even without a textbook. Sixty million Elvis fans even agree.)
You can also find a good list of definitions and uses here: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/even and ask if you have more specific questions. The biggest point I'd make is to rule out "even if" and "even though" first. If neither seems quite right, plug in "even."
Also, are you referring to only the adverb uses of "even" or other uses as well, such as phrasal, verb, or adjective uses.
Here's a confusing but accurate English sentence for you...
I felt even even as I got even on the evening of evening the slopes.
Picked apart...
I felt even (I felt calm) even as (despite the fact that) I got even (I attained retribution) on the evening (between the afternoon and night) of evening the slopes (of making the slopes flat).
-Caate from USA
"Even though" is generally the same as "despite the fact that."
Examples: I asked him to buy oranges even though I don't like oranges. I went for a walk even though it was raining.
"Even if" is generally used with either conditional or future verb conjugations.
Examples: I will go to the park even if it rains. He would have gone to school even if his homework wasn't done.
"Even" is indeed a little harder to pinpoint because it has MANY definitions. When it's an option between these three conjunctions, choose "even" in cases where:
-it falls before "when" or "where" (examples: I go swimming even when the tide is high. Even where the sharks feed, I swim.)
-it falls before an expression of quantity (examples: this balloon grew even bigger than the last balloon. Even more Americans love X over Y! I would love to have even 1 more friend.) Note that quantity can be unreliable too, such as if you said, "Even though sixty million Elvis fans agree, it isn't true."
-stressing a point (examples: he was eager, even desperate, to date her. He would work for hours, or even for days! I can write grammar messages even without a textbook. Sixty million Elvis fans even agree.)
You can also find a good list of definitions and uses here: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/even and ask if you have more specific questions. The biggest point I'd make is to rule out "even if" and "even though" first. If neither seems quite right, plug in "even."
Also, are you referring to only the adverb uses of "even" or other uses as well, such as phrasal, verb, or adjective uses.
Here's a confusing but accurate English sentence for you...
I felt even even as I got even on the evening of evening the slopes.
Picked apart...
I felt even (I felt calm) even as (despite the fact that) I got even (I attained retribution) on the evening (between the afternoon and night) of evening the slopes (of making the slopes flat).
-Caate from USA
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