JLPT N2 Grammar
· Upper Intermediate
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· Upper Intermediate
Unless; if not
Category: Condition & Hypothesis
The grammar pattern 'V-nai + ことには' is used to express a condition under which something cannot happen or be determined. It is often used with negative clauses or clauses indicating impossibility. This pattern is a way to express a hypothetical situation or a condition that must be met before something can occur. The verb form used before 'ことには' is in the negative form, which is 'nai' or 'masen' depending on the verb conjugation.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Negative verb form (e.g. する -> しない) | V-nai + ことには | 食べないことには、体重が増えない |
| Negative verb form (e.g. する -> しない) with masu form | V-masen + ことには | 食べませんことには、体重が増えません |
| Negative verb form (e.g. する -> しない) with polite form | V-masen + ことには | 食べませんことには、お腹が減りません |
実際に会ってみないことには、どんな人かわからない。
jittai ni attete minai koto ni wa, donna hito ga wakaranai.
Unless we actually meet, we can't tell what kind of person they are.
実際に会ってみないことには = unless we actually meet, どんな人かわからない = we can't tell what kind of person they are
上司の許可を得ないことには、このプロジェクトは進められない。
jouji no yūjin o eru nai koto ni wa, kono purojekuto wa susunde rarenai.
Unless we get permission from our superior, this project can't be carried out.
上司の許可を得ないことには = unless we get permission from our superior, このプロジェクトは進められない = this project can't be carried out
詳しく話を聞かないことには、どちらが正しいか判断できない。
kakunin shaku hanashi o kikinai koto ni wa, dochira ga tashika ka hantei dekinai.
Unless we listen carefully to the conversation, we can't determine which one is correct.
詳しく話を聞かないことには = unless we listen carefully to the conversation, どちらが正しいか判断できない = we can't determine which one is correct
実際に会ってみないことには、どんな人かわからないだろう。
jittai ni attete minai koto ni wa, donna hito ga wakaranai darou.
Unless we actually meet, we can't tell what kind of person they are, I suppose.
実際に会ってみないことには = unless we actually meet, どんな人かわからないだろう = we can't tell what kind of person they are, I suppose
This pattern is used to express a condition under which something cannot happen or be determined. It is often used with negative clauses or clauses indicating impossibility. The verb form used before 'ことには' is in the negative form, which is 'nai' or 'masen' depending on the verb conjugation. This pattern is a way to express a hypothetical situation or a condition that must be met before something can occur.
While both patterns express a condition, 'nai kagiri' is used to express a condition that is true as long as something is not done, whereas 'V-nai + ことには' is used to express a condition under which something cannot happen or be determined.
Using a positive verb form before 'ことには' changes the meaning of the sentence and makes it incorrect.
While both patterns use 'koto ni wa', 'V-nai + ことには' is used to express a condition under which something cannot happen or be determined, whereas 'koto ni wa' is used to indicate that the following clause is the topic of the sentence.
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to use a negative verb form before 'ことには' and to express a condition under which something cannot happen or be determined. Be careful not to confuse it with 'nai kagiri' or 'koto ni wa'.
実際に会ってみない______、どんな人かわからない。
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