JLPT N1 Grammar
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As soon as
Category: Time and Sequence
The grammar pattern "動詞辞書形 / た形 + が早いか" is used to express that an action happens almost simultaneously with another action. It often describes a sudden, surprising, or eager reaction. This pattern is often used to describe a reaction to an event or situation, and it cannot be used for the speaker's future intentions or requests. The pattern implies that the second action happens quickly after the first action, and it is often used to create a sense of urgency or surprise.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb in dictionary form or た form | 動詞辞書形 / た形 + が早いか | 終業のチャイムが鳴る______、彼はカバンを掴んでオフィスを後にした。 |
| Verb in dictionary form or た form with a negative particle | 動詞辞書形 / た形 + が早くないか | 彼は昼食を______が早くないか、午後の仕事に取り掛かろうとしなかった。 |
| Verb in dictionary form or た form with a comparative particle | 動詞辞書形 / た形 + より早いか | 彼は昼食を______より早いか、午後の仕事に取り掛かった。 |
終業のチャイムが鳴る______、彼はカバンを掴んでオフィスを後にした。
Shūgyō no chaimu ga naru______、kare wa kabān o tsukamete ofisu o okoshi shita.
As soon as the office bell rang, he grabbed his bag and left the office.
終業のチャイムが鳴る (the office bell rang) / 彼はカバンを掴んで (he grabbed his bag) / オフィスを後にした (left the office)
デパートのドアが______が早いか、バーゲン目当ての客がなだれ込んできた。
Depāto no dō ga______ga hayai ka、bāgen mōtari no kyuaku ga nadarekomu shite kita.
As soon as the department store door opened, a crowd of bargain-hunting customers rushed in.
デパートのドアが (the department store door opened) / バーゲン目当ての客が (a crowd of bargain-hunting customers) / なだれ込んできた (rushed in)
彼は昼食を______が早いか、すぐに午後の仕事に取り掛かった。
Kare wa chūshoku o______ga hayai ka、sugu ni gogo no shigoto ni tsukamatsuruka.
He started his afternoon work as soon as he finished lunch.
彼は昼食を (he finished lunch) / 午後の仕事に取り掛かった (started his afternoon work)
This pattern is used to describe a reaction to an event or situation, and it cannot be used for the speaker's future intentions or requests. It is often used to create a sense of urgency or surprise.
This pattern cannot be used to describe the speaker's future intentions or requests. Instead, use the pattern "～する予定だ" or "～するつもりだ" to express the speaker's future plans or intentions.
This pattern can only be used with verbs that describe actions, not states. Use the pattern "～である" to describe states.
The pattern "～そばから" implies repetition, while this pattern implies a single action. Use the pattern "～した後" or "～した次に" to describe a single action that happens after another action.
Pay attention to the context and the verb used in the sentence. Make sure to use the correct pattern to express the intended meaning.
終業のチャイムが鳴る______、彼はカバンを掴んでオフィスを後にした。
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