～にもかかわらず
「あれだけ勉強したにもかかわらず」 creates a concession: the second clause goes against what the first clause would normally lead you to expect.
彼はあれだけ勉強したにもかかわらず、試験に落ちた。
Despite studying so much, he failed the exam.
N2 Grammar guide · group 9 of 20
JLPT N2 grammar, group 9
21 grammar points, each with what it means and example sentences.
Practise this group～だけに
「危険なだけに」 emphasizes that the reason in the first clause makes the feeling or result in the second clause stronger.
この仕事は危険なだけに、給料が高い。
Precisely because it's dangerous, the salary is high.
～出したら
～出したら marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「話し出したら」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 話し出したら、彼の話は長い。
話し出したら、彼の話は長い。
Once he starts talking, his stories are long.
～によっては
「シェフによっては」 signals that the outcome varies depending on the specific case. Not all instances are the same — in some cases the result differs.
この店はシェフによっては、味が違う。
Depending on the chef, the taste is different.
～こととなると
「走ることとなると」 introduces a change in situation and signals a new consideration or concern that arises from it. It often implies the speaker is thinking ahead.
彼は走ることとなると、誰にも負けない。
When it comes to running, he can't be beaten by anyone.
どう～ても
「どう考えても」 says the result stays the same no matter how strong the condition is.
この問題はどう考えても、私には無理だ。
No matter how I think about it, I can't do this problem.
～ておきながら
「早く来ると言っておきながら」 criticises someone for acting in a way that contradicts what they have already done or know. The tone is one of reproach.
彼は早く来ると言っておきながら、遅刻した。
Despite saying he'd come early, he was late.
～にかかわらず
「彼が好きか嫌いかにかかわらず」 is a sentence-level expression that frames the statement as a summary, honest comment, obvious fact, or shared information.
彼が好きか嫌いかにかかわらず、彼は正直だ。
Whether you like him or not, he is honest.
～だけあって
「有名店だけあって」 connects a reason with an expected impressive result: because A is true, B makes sense.
この店は有名店だけあって、客が多い。
As expected of a famous store, there are many customers.
～て以来
「入社して以来3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3年間、一度も遅刻したことがない。
In the 3 years since joining the company, he has never been late once.
この調子では
この調子では marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「この調子では」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: この仕事はこの調子では、終わらない。
この仕事はこの調子では、終わらない。
At this rate, this work won't finish.
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.
彼は言うまでもなく、優しい人だ。
Needless to say, he is a kind person.
～通り
「希望通り」 shows that something happens as stated, as seen, or as if it were true.
希望通り、彼は医者になった。
As he wished, he became a doctor.
承知の上で
承知の上で marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「承知の上で」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 彼は承知の上で、約束を破った。
彼は承知の上で、約束を破った。
Knowing full well, he broke the promise.
～てはじめて
～てはじめて marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「はじめて」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 自分で教えてはじめて、教師の苦労が分かった。
自分で教えてはじめて、教師の苦労が分かった。
Only after teaching myself did I understand what teachers go through.
～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: 古いノートを見るにつけ、受験生だった頃を思い出す。
古いノートを見るにつけ、受験生だった頃を思い出す。
Every time I look at my old notebooks, I remember my exam-cramming days.
～に基づいて
～に基づいて means 'based on; grounded in'. It indicates that something was created or decided using N as its foundation. Pattern: N + に基づいて / に基づき / に基づく.
この映画は実際に起きた事件に基づいて制作された。
This film was produced based on a real incident.
～に限る
～に限る marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「早く寝るに限る」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 試験の前日は、早く寝るに限る。
試験の前日は、早く寝るに限る。
The day before an exam, nothing beats going to bed early.
～一方だ
～一方だ marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「上がる一方だ」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 私立大学の学費は、上がる一方だ。
私立大学の学費は、上がる一方だ。
Tuition at private universities just keeps rising.
～をもとに
～をもとに marks the key relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Here, 「をもとに」 matches both the sentence meaning and the completed structure: 集めた文献をもとに、卒業論文を書き上げた。
集めた文献をもとに、卒業論文を書き上げた。
Based on the sources I had gathered, I finished my graduation thesis.
～ようとしない
「やろうとしない」 says the result stays the same no matter how strong the condition is.
弟は何度言っても、宿題をやろうとしない。
No matter how often I tell him, my brother makes no attempt to do his homework.