JLPT N2 Grammar
· Upper Intermediate
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· Upper Intermediate
No sooner than; right after
Category: Time & Sequence
This grammar pattern emphasizes that event B happens at almost the exact same time as event A ends. It often conveys a sense of extreme speed or 'barely finished'. The dictionary form of the verb is used to describe the action that has just ended, and the negative form is used to describe the action that is happening at the same time. This pattern is often used to describe situations where one event is happening immediately after another, and the speaker wants to emphasize the closeness of the timing.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| V-辞書形 | V-辞書形 + か + V-ない形 + かのうちに | V-辞書形は、動詞の基本形です。た形は、V-た形 + か + V-ない形 + かのうちにというパターンに使われます。 |
| V-た形 | V-た形 + か + V-ない形 + かのうちに | V-た形は、V-辞書形の過去形です。た形は、V-た形 + か + V-ない形 + かのうちにというパターンに使われます。 |
| V-ない形 | V-ない形 | V-ない形は、動詞の否定形です。た形は、V-た形 + か + V-ない形 + かのうちにというパターンに使われます。 |
ベルが鳴らなかったかのうちに、生徒たちは教室を飛び出した。
Bero ga narawanakano uchi ni, gakusei-tachi wa kyoshitsu o tobidasita.
No sooner had the bell stopped ringing than the students ran out of the classroom.
ベルが鳴らなかった (the bell stopped ringing) + かのうちに (at almost the same time) + 生徒たちは教室を飛び出した (the students ran out of the classroom)
布団に入らなかったかのうちに、眠ってしまった。
Futon ni hairanakano uchi ni, nemutte shimatta.
No sooner had I not gotten into bed than I fell asleep.
布団に入らなかった (I didn't get into bed) + かのうちに (at almost the same time) + 眠ってしまった (I fell asleep)
デパートのドアが開くか閉まるかのうちに、客がなだれ込んだ。
Depāto no dō ga akau ka fukamaru ka no uchi ni, kyaku ga nadarekomu.
No sooner had the department store's door opened or closed than customers flooded in.
デパートのドアが開くか閉まる (the department store's door opened or closed) + かのうちに (at almost the same time) + 客がなだれ込んだ (customers flooded in)
This pattern is used to describe situations where one event is happening immediately after another, and the speaker wants to emphasize the closeness of the timing. It is often used in formal writing and speaking. It can be compared to the pattern V-た形 + のちに, which describes a situation where one event happens after another, but not immediately.
V-た形 + のちに is not the correct pattern for this usage. The correct pattern is V-た形 + か + V-ない形 + かのうちに.
V-ない形 + のちに is not the correct pattern for this usage. The correct pattern is V-た形 + か + V-ない形 + かのうちに.
The correct negative form to use in this pattern is -nai, not -masen.
Pay attention to the timing of the events described in the sentence. The correct pattern should convey a sense of extreme speed or 'barely finished'.
ベルが______か鳴らないかのうちに、生徒たちは教室を飛び出した。
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