N2 Grammar guide · group 19 of 20

JLPT N2 grammar, group 19

21 grammar points, each with what it means and example sentences.

～とはいえ

「大変だったとはいえ」 creates a concession: the second clause goes against what the first clause would normally lead you to expect.

彼は大変だったとはいえ、約束を守った。
Even though it was hard, he kept his promise.

～限り

「私の知る限り」 limits the scope of the statement: as long as, to the extent of, or within the range of the first clause.

この薬は私の知る限り、副作用がない。
As far as I know, this medicine has no side effects.

～さえあれば

「時間さえあれば」 marks the minimum condition needed for the result: if only A is satisfied, B follows.

この仕事は時間さえあれば、誰でもできる。
As long as you have time, anyone can do this work.

この～間

この～間 marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「この10年間」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 彼はこの10年間、一度も遅刻したことがない。

彼はこの10年間、一度も遅刻したことがない。
During the 10 years, he has never been late once.

言うまでもなく

「言うまでもなく」 is a sentence-level expression that frames the statement as a summary, honest comment, obvious fact, or shared information.

言うまでもなく、今日は休みます。
Needless to say, I will be absent today.

～を除けば

「高いことを除けば」 carves out one exception from an otherwise general statement. The noun before it is the only thing that does not follow the general rule.

この薬は高いことを除けば、よく効く。
Other than being expensive, this medicine works well.

～だけでなく～も

～だけでなく～も marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「私だけでなく」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: この仕事は私だけでなく、私には無理だ。

この仕事は私だけでなく、私には無理だ。
Not only for me, this work is impossible.

～に反して

～に反して marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「予想に反して」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: この薬は予想に反して、よく効く。

この薬は予想に反して、よく効く。
Contrary to expectation, this medicine works well.

～としても

「強いとしても」 sets the standpoint, role, or standard used to judge the second clause.

彼は強いとしても、誰にも勝てない。
Even assuming he's strong, he can't beat anyone.

何と言っても

「何と言っても」 rejects a possibility very strongly. The sentence is not a neutral guess; it says the speaker believes that situation cannot be true.

何と言っても、彼は来るはずがない。
No matter what you say, there's no way he'll come.

～のもとで

～のもとで marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「もとで」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 新政権のもとで、大規模な改革が進められた。

新政権のもとで、大規模な改革が進められた。
Under the new government, large-scale reforms were carried out.

ご覧の通り

「ご覧の通り」 shows that something happens as stated, as seen, or as if it were true.

ご覧の通り、今日は帰ります。
As you can see, I'll go home today.

～て以来

「働き始めて以来」 fixes the time relationship between the two clauses: since, every time, while, the moment, or immediately.

彼は働き始めて以来、一度も休んだことがない。
Since starting work, he has never taken a day off.

何度～ても

「何度飲んでも」 says the result stays the same no matter how strong the condition is.

この薬は何度飲んでも、よく効く。
No matter how many times you take it, this medicine works well.

～にしろ～にしろ

「スポーツにしろ勉強にしろ」 lists alternatives and says the same conclusion applies whichever side is chosen.

彼はスポーツにしろ勉強にしろ、誰にも勝てない。
Whether it's sports or study, he can't beat anyone.

Nを考えると

「時間を考えると」 sets the standpoint, role, or standard used to judge the second clause.

時間を考えると、今日は帰ります。
Considering the time, I'll go home today.

～に基づいて

～に基づいて: the scientific data serves as the formal foundation for developing the treatment. It is more formal than をもとに.

科学的なデータに基づいて、新しい治療法が開発された。
A new treatment was developed based on scientific data.

～に際して

～に際して marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「に際して」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 条約の締結に際して、両国は共同声明を発表した。

条約の締結に際して、両国は共同声明を発表した。
On the occasion of signing the treaty, the two countries issued a joint statement.

～に相違ない

「に相違ない」 sets the standpoint, role, or standard used to judge the second clause.

当時の記録から見て、この条約が転機であったに相違ない。
Judging from the records of the time, this treaty was without doubt a turning point.

～ようでは

～ようでは marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「続くようでは」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: こうした対応が続くようでは、国民の信頼は得られない。

こうした対応が続くようでは、国民の信頼は得られない。
If this kind of response continues, public trust will not be won.

～あまり

～あまり marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「急ぐあまり」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 改革を急ぐあまり、かえって混乱を招いた。

改革を急ぐあまり、かえって混乱を招いた。
In their excessive haste to push the reform through, they invited confusion instead.