～得ない
「信じられない」 talks about whether something is possible in a formal written style. It usually follows the verb stem.
その話は信じられないない。
I can't believe that story.
N2 Grammar guide · group 2 of 20
JLPT N2 grammar, group 2
20 grammar points, each with what it means and example sentences.
Practise this group～得る
「得る」 talks about whether something is possible in a formal written style. It usually follows the verb stem.
彼は信頼し得る人だ。
He is a person you can trust.
～気味
「気味」 describes a slight tendency or feeling — something is a little more than normal in an undesirable direction. It attaches to the verb-masu stem or a noun.
疲れ気味だったので、早く寝た。
I was feeling a bit tired so I went to bed early.
～ものだから
「ものだから」 gives an explanation or excuse for the preceding situation, with a slightly apologetic or justifying nuance. It is softer than から but stronger than ので.
遅れてごめんね。電車が遅れたものだから。
Sorry I'm late. It's because the train was late.
～でならない
「ならない」 expresses an overwhelming inner feeling that the speaker cannot control. It is stronger and more literary than てたまらない. It attaches to adjective-te form or noun+で.
心配でならない。
I can't help but be worried.
～ないことはない
「ことはない」 is a marked negative expression, not a plain ない. It adds force, frequency, or double-negative nuance.
できないことはない、難しいけど。
It's not that I can't do it, but it's difficult.
何と言っても
「言っても」 asserts that despite any argument or alternative, the stated point is the most important or true. It emphasises the speaker's firm conviction.
何と言っても、健康が一番だ。
After all, health is most important.
～たまえ/命令形
～たまえ/命令形 marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「しろ」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 早くしろ。
早くしろ。
Hurry up!
～というものではない
「なるというものではない」 refutes a simplistic assumption: 'just because A doesn't mean B'. The speaker pushes back against an oversimplification.
お金があれば幸せになるというものではない。
Just because you have money doesn't guarantee you'll be happy.
～と考えられる
「と考えられる」 states a belief or conclusion that is generally held or logically derived. It is less certain than だ but stronger than かもしれない — it represents considered judgment.
この方法は最も効果的と考えられる。
This method can be considered most effective.
そうすると
「すると」 connects a preceding fact to its natural consequence: 'and then; if that is the case'. The first clause sets up a situation, and the second describes what follows from it.
そうすると、問題が解決する。
If you do that, the problem will be solved.
～末に
「末に」 describes the final outcome after a long, usually difficult process. Unlike あげく (which has a negative nuance), ～末に can be used for both positive and negative results.
長い議論の末に、結論が出た。
At the end of a long discussion, a conclusion was reached.
直ちに
「直ちに」 fixes the time relationship between the two clauses: since, every time, while, the moment, or immediately.
火事の通報を受けて、消防士は直ちに現場に向かった。
Upon receiving the fire report, firefighters immediately headed to the scene.
たとえ～ても
「しても」 says the result stays the same no matter how strong the condition is.
たとえ失敗しても、挑戦する価値はある。
Even if I fail, it's worth trying.
～おかげで
「おかげで」 connects a cause with its result. The nuance depends on the pattern: neutral reason, thanks to, blame, or an unfortunate result.
彼のおかげで、私たちは助かった。
Thanks to him, we were saved.
～せいで
「せいで」 connects a cause with its result. The nuance depends on the pattern: neutral reason, thanks to, blame, or an unfortunate result.
雨のせいで、試合は中止になった。
Because of the rain, the game was cancelled.
～なしでは
「なしでは」 states that the second action is impossible without the first thing. The noun before it is essential; removing it makes the outcome impossible.
先生なしでは、この問題は解けません。
Without the teacher, I can't solve this problem.
～と同時に
「と同時に」 links two simultaneous states or qualities of the same subject: A is true and, at the same time, B is also true. Both halves share the same noun or event as their subject.
彼は医者であると同時に、作家でもある。
He is a doctor and at the same time a writer.
～以上（は）
「した以上」 expresses what should be done because it is reasonable, moral, or expected. It attaches to the dictionary form of the verb.
約束をした以上、絶対に守るべきだ。
Once you make a promise, you should absolutely keep it.
～でありながら
「でありながら」 connects two contrasting qualities or states that belong to the same subject. The subject simultaneously holds both, which is surprising or ironic.
彼は学生でありながら、アルバイトをしている。
He works part-time despite being a student.