～ない限り
「専門家でない限り」 sets a necessary condition: unless that condition changes, the result in the second clause remains true.
この仕事は専門家でない限り、誰にもできない。
Unless you're an expert, no one can do this work.
N2 Grammar guide · group 16 of 20
JLPT N2 grammar, group 16
21 grammar points, each with what it means and example sentences.
Practise this group～にもかかわらず
「忙しいにもかかわらず」 creates a concession: the second clause goes against what the first clause would normally lead you to expect.
彼は忙しいにもかかわらず、約束を守った。
Despite being busy, he kept his promise.
～ことから
「苦くないことから」 explains the basis or origin of a conclusion, name, or characteristic. It means 'from the fact that; based on the observation that'. The first clause is the evidence; the second is the conclusion.
この薬は苦くないことから、子供でも飲める。
Given that it's not bitter, even children can take this medicine.
～通りなら
「予定通りなら」 shows that something happens as stated, as seen, or as if it were true.
予定通りなら、彼は来るはずだ。
If all goes as planned, he should come.
～だけに
「簡単なだけに」 emphasizes that the reason in the first clause makes the feeling or result in the second clause stronger.
この問題は簡単なだけに、解けるはずだ。
Precisely because it's easy, this problem should be solvable.
誰に～ても
誰に～ても marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「誰に聞いても」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 彼は誰に聞いても、天才だと思う。
彼は誰に聞いても、天才だと思う。
No matter who you ask, I think he is a genius.
何かと～があって
何かと～があって marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「何かと理由があって」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 何かと理由があって、今日は休みます。
何かと理由があって、今日は休みます。
For some reason, I will be absent today.
～だけあって
「難しいだけあって」 connects a reason with an expected impressive result: because A is true, B makes sense.
この仕事は難しいだけあって、私には無理だ。
As expected since it's difficult, this work is impossible for me.
～かのように
「安心したかのように」 shows that something happens as stated, as seen, or as if it were true.
彼は安心したかのように、笑顔を見せた。
As if relieved, he showed a smile.
それどころか
「それどころか」 rejects the first level and says the reality is even stronger or more extreme. It means “far from A, actually B.”
この薬はそれどころか、効果がない。
Not only does this medicine not work, it's harmful.
～にしろ～にしろ
「好き嫌いにしろ」 lists alternatives and says the same conclusion applies whichever side is chosen.
好き嫌いにしろ、今日は帰ります。
Whether you like it or not, I'll go home today.
～とはいえ
「強いとはいえ」 creates a concession: the second clause goes against what the first clause would normally lead you to expect.
彼は強いとはいえ、誰にも負けない。
Strong as he is, he can't beat everyone.
どう～ても
「どう考えても」 rejects a possibility very strongly. The sentence is not a neutral guess; it says the speaker believes that situation cannot be true.
どう考えても、彼は来るはずがない。
No matter how you think about it, there's no way he'll come.
～さえすれば
「やりさえすれば」 marks the minimum condition needed for the result: if only A is satisfied, B follows.
この仕事はやりさえすれば、誰でもできる。
As long as you do it, anyone can do this work.
～て以来
「入社して以来15年間」 fixes the time relationship between the two clauses: since, every time, while, the moment, or immediately.
彼は入社して以来15年間、一度も遅刻したことがない。
In the 15 years since joining, he has never been late once.
～に決まっている
～に決まっている marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「怒るに決まっている」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 黙って帰ったら、相手は怒るに決まっている。
黙って帰ったら、相手は怒るに決まっている。
If you leave without a word, the other person is bound to get angry.
～わけにはいかない
「断るわけにはいかない」 means the speaker cannot do something because duty, social pressure, or the situation makes it unacceptable, not because it is physically impossible.
世話になった人の頼みを、断るわけにはいかない。
I cannot very well refuse a request from someone who has helped me.
～をめぐって
～をめぐって marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「をめぐって」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 遺産をめぐって、親族の間で争いが起きた。
遺産をめぐって、親族の間で争いが起きた。
A dispute broke out among the relatives over the inheritance.
～につけ
～につけ marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「見るにつけ」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 昔の写真を見るにつけ、友人のことを思い出す。
昔の写真を見るにつけ、友人のことを思い出す。
Every time I look at old photos, I remember my friends.
～はともかく
～はともかく marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「はともかく」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 好き嫌いはともかく、挨拶だけはきちんとしよう。
好き嫌いはともかく、挨拶だけはきちんとしよう。
Setting aside whether you like them, at least greet people properly.
～も構わず
～も構わず marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「人目も構わず」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 人目も構わず、彼はその場で泣き出した。
人目も構わず、彼はその場で泣き出した。
Not caring who was watching, he burst into tears on the spot.