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JLPT N1 grammar · unit 28 of 37 · review
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L28Review L25–L27

Work from memory — don't look back at the earlier sheets. Write each pattern from its meaning, then write what each pattern in part 2 means.

1    Write the pattern from its meaning
Expresses a strong wish: "Isn't there some way to ...?" Mixes frustration with hope. Slightly literary; often appears with the potential form.
V-ない + ものか/ものだろうか(可能形が多い:〜られないものか)
"None whatsoever." 一切 with a negative denies something completely. Formal and emphatic, typical of notices, rules and official statements.
一切 + V-ない/N は一切〜ない(「一切の + N」+否定 も可)
Literary adverb meaning 'above all, especially': singles out one item as outstanding within a group already mentioned. Written register only.
わけても + 節/わけても + N は〜(副詞として文中に置く)
"Never again" — a firm statement that something will not happen or be done a second time. Used in both speech and writing, often with resolve, regret or warning.
二度と + V-ない形(可能形ない・V-まい も可)
Emphatic 'not … in the least / no … whatsoever'. The adverb なんら strengthens a following negative; formal written and official register.
なんら + N(+ も/は)+ 否定形;なんら〜ない
"If it were X that would be one thing, but ..." Raises an excusable hypothetical, then criticizes the real situation. Slightly formal, dissatisfied tone.
N/普通形 + ならまだしも(na-adj は語幹 + なら)
With a negative, とても means "cannot possibly." It stresses that something is completely beyond one's ability or belief. Neutral register, common in both speech and writing.
とても + V-可能形ない/V-ない(とても〜そうにない も可)
"Not necessarily, not always the case." Denies that a general assumption always holds. Slightly formal; used in argument and careful speech.
普通形 + とも限らない(N・na-adj は だ を省くことも多い)
'It is thought / believed that…' — an impersonal, cautious conclusion based on evidence. Standard in news reports and official documents.
V・i-adj plain + ものと思われる;N・na-adj である + ものと思われる
2    What does it mean?
〜はまだしも
〜か否か
〜でしかない
〜以外の何ものでもない
ひとり〜のみならず
ろくに〜ない
いかに〜ても
〜ないとも限らない
皆目〜ない
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Japaneseness.
JLPT N1 grammar · unit 28 of 37 · answer key
ANSWER KEY

L28Review L25–L27

Answers to page 1. If you would rather work without them, print page 1 on its own.

1    Write the pattern from its meaning
Expresses a strong wish: "Isn't there some way to ...?" Mixes frustration with hope. Slightly literary; often appears with the potential form.
V-ない + ものか/ものだろうか(可能形が多い:〜られないものか)
〜ないものか
"None whatsoever." 一切 with a negative denies something completely. Formal and emphatic, typical of notices, rules and official statements.
一切 + V-ない/N は一切〜ない(「一切の + N」+否定 も可)
一切〜ない
Literary adverb meaning 'above all, especially': singles out one item as outstanding within a group already mentioned. Written register only.
わけても + 節/わけても + N は〜(副詞として文中に置く)
わけても
"Never again" — a firm statement that something will not happen or be done a second time. Used in both speech and writing, often with resolve, regret or warning.
二度と + V-ない形(可能形ない・V-まい も可)
二度と〜ない
Emphatic 'not … in the least / no … whatsoever'. The adverb なんら strengthens a following negative; formal written and official register.
なんら + N(+ も/は)+ 否定形;なんら〜ない
なんら〜ない
"If it were X that would be one thing, but ..." Raises an excusable hypothetical, then criticizes the real situation. Slightly formal, dissatisfied tone.
N/普通形 + ならまだしも(na-adj は語幹 + なら)
〜ならまだしも
With a negative, とても means "cannot possibly." It stresses that something is completely beyond one's ability or belief. Neutral register, common in both speech and writing.
とても + V-可能形ない/V-ない(とても〜そうにない も可)
とても〜ない
"Not necessarily, not always the case." Denies that a general assumption always holds. Slightly formal; used in argument and careful speech.
普通形 + とも限らない(N・na-adj は だ を省くことも多い)
〜とも限らない
'It is thought / believed that…' — an impersonal, cautious conclusion based on evidence. Standard in news reports and official documents.
V・i-adj plain + ものと思われる;N・na-adj である + ものと思われる
〜ものと思われる
2    What does it mean?
〜はまだしも "X is one thing, but ..." Contrasts a barely tolerable case with something clearly unacceptable that follows. Slightly formal and usually complaining. — N + はまだしも;V/i-adj 普通形 + のはまだしも
〜か否か Formal written equivalent of 〜かどうか, "whether or not." Found in reports, legal texts and news writing; too stiff for casual conversation. — 普通形 + か否か(N・na-adj は語幹に直接つく)
〜でしかない "Is nothing more than X." Dismisses something as having no greater value or meaning. Used in writing and considered speech, usually critically. — N + でしかない(na-adj は語幹 + でしかない)
〜以外の何ものでもない Emphatic written phrase: "is nothing other than X." Labels something decisively, usually with an evaluative or critical noun. — N + 以外の何ものでもない
ひとり〜のみならず Very formal written pattern meaning "not merely X, but also." Here ひとり means "only"; editorials and speeches use it to widen the scope of an issue. — ひとり + N + のみならず(後件に 〜も/〜こそ が続く)
ろくに〜ない "Hardly, not properly." Says that something is not done adequately or enough. Conversational, and it usually carries complaint or reproach. — ろくに + V-ない(関連表現に「ろくな + N + ない」)
いかに〜ても Formal 'no matter how…': concedes an extreme degree yet the result still holds. Written or formal-speech version of どんなに〜ても. — いかに + V-te も/i-adj く + ても/na-adj・N + でも
〜ないとも限らない Double negative meaning "there's no guarantee it won't happen." Warns about a low but real possibility. Somewhat formal; common in cautious advice and writing. — V-ない/i-adj-くない/N でない + とも限らない
皆目〜ない Stiff written-style adverb meaning "not at all, not in the least." Used only with negatives and almost always about knowing or understanding, as in 皆目見当がつかない. — 皆目 + V-ない/〜ません(「皆目見当がつかない」が定型)
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