JLPT N4 Grammar
· Elementary
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Category: Degree & Limits
The grammar pattern ～ぜんぜん～ない (zenzen~nai) is used to indicate a total absence of something or that something is completely not the case. It emphasizes the complete negation of an action or a situation. For example, if you say ～ぜんぜん知りませんでした, it means you didn't know anything about something, not just that you didn't know much. This pattern is often used to express a strong sense of negation, and it's commonly used in formal and informal writing, as well as in spoken Japanese.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nai form of a verb | ~ぜんぜん~ない | 知る (nai form:しらない) 例: ぜんぜん知りませんでした |
| Nai form of a verb | ~ぜんぜん~ない | 見る (nai form:みない) 例: ぜんぜん見ませんでした |
| Adjective | ~ぜんぜん~ない | 面白い (nai form:面白くない) 例: ぜんぜん面白くなかった |
明日のテストのことは、ぜんぜん知りませんでした。
Ashita no tesuto no koto wa zenzen shiranai deshita.
I didn't know anything about tomorrow's test.
明日のテストのことは (tomorrow's test) ぜんぜん知りませんでした (didn't know anything)
この映画はぜんぜん面白くなかったです。
Kono eiga wa zenzen omoshirokunakatta desu.
I didn't find this movie interesting at all.
この映画は (this movie) ぜんぜん面白くなかった (didn't find interesting) です (polite ending)
お金がぜんぜんありませんから、何も買えません。
Okane ga zenzen arimasen kara, nanimo kae masen.
We don't have any money, so we can't buy anything.
お金が (money) ぜんぜんありません (don't have any) から (because) 何も (nothing) 買えません (can't buy)
彼女はぜんぜん来ませんでした。
Kanojo wa zenzen kite kimasen deshita.
She didn't come at all.
彼女は (she) ぜんぜん来ませんでした (didn't come)
この本はぜんぜん読みませんでした。
Kono hon wa zenzen yonde kimasen deshita.
I didn't read this book at all.
この本は (this book) ぜんぜん読みませんでした (didn't read)
The pattern ～ぜんぜん～ない is used to express a strong sense of negation, and it's commonly used in formal and informal writing, as well as in spoken Japanese. It's often used to emphasize the complete absence of something or the complete negation of an action. In terms of register, this pattern can be used in both polite and informal contexts. It's worth noting that this pattern is not typically used with positive verbs, as it would imply a strong sense of negation. Instead, it's often used with nai form verbs or adjectives to emphasize the complete absence of something.
Using ～ぜんぜん～ない with positive verbs would imply a strong sense of negation, which is not typically the intended meaning. Instead, it's better to use nai form verbs or adjectives to emphasize the complete absence of something.
The correct spelling of this pattern is 'zenzen', not 'zenzene'. This is a common mistake that can be easily avoided by paying attention to the correct spelling.
～あまり (not very) is a different pattern that emphasizes a lack or a small amount of something. In contrast, ～ぜんぜん～ない emphasizes the complete negation of an action or a situation, making it a distinct pattern with different usage and meaning.
When taking the JLPT N4 exam, be sure to pay attention to the correct usage of ～ぜんぜん～ない. This pattern is often used to emphasize the complete absence of something or the complete negation of an action, so be sure to use it correctly in context. Additionally, be aware of the common mistakes listed above and avoid using ～ぜんぜん～ない with positive verbs or misspelling it as 'zenzene'.
明日のテストのことは、______知りませんでした。
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