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JLPT N1 grammar · unit 26 of 37
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L26 JLPT N1 grammar — 皆目〜ない … 〜とも限らない

Read each pattern and its example, then write your own sentence on the line.

皆目〜ない 皆目 + V-ない/〜ません(「皆目見当がつかない」が定型)
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.
事故の原因は皆目見当がつかない。 I have absolutely no idea what caused the accident.
一切〜ない 一切 + V-ない/N は一切〜ない(「一切の + N」+否定 も可)
"None whatsoever." 一切 with a negative denies something completely. Formal and emphatic, typical of notices, rules and official statements.
当社は一切の責任を負いません。 Our company accepts no liability whatsoever.
ろくに〜ない ろくに + V-ない(関連表現に「ろくな + N + ない」)
"Hardly, not properly." Says that something is not done adequately or enough. Conversational, and it usually carries complaint or reproach.
忙しくてろくに食事も取れない。 I'm so busy I can't even eat properly.
ひとり〜のみならず ひとり + N + のみならず(後件に 〜も/〜こそ が続く)
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.
これはひとり日本のみならず、世界の課題だ。 This is a problem not just for Japan but for the whole world.
〜ないとも限らない V-ない/i-adj-くない/N でない + 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.
大地震が起きないとも限らない。 There's no guarantee a big earthquake won't strike.
〜とも限らない 普通形 + とも限らない(N・na-adj は だ を省くことも多い)
"Not necessarily, not always the case." Denies that a general assumption always holds. Slightly formal; used in argument and careful speech.
高いものが必ずしも良いとも限らない。 Expensive things aren't necessarily good.
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