4.1 Core N2 Grammar Patterns I

Core N2 Grammar Patterns I: Essential Functional Expressions

N2 grammar (文法 bunpo) is worth about 17% of the exam and tests roughly 200 patterns. The first grammar task, 文法形式の判断 (bunpo keishiki no handan, 'grammar form judgement'), gives you a sentence with a blank and four grammatically similar choices. You must pick the one whose meaning, connection form, and register all fit. For every pattern, memorise three things: the connection (what form precedes it — dictionary form, ない-form, noun, ます-stem), the core meaning, and the nuance/register that separates it from look-alikes.

1. 〜ざるを得ない (zaru o enai) — 'have no choice but to'

Connects to the ない-stem of a verb (drop the ない): 行く becomes 行かざるを得ない. The irregular verb する becomes せざるを得ない (never しざる). It means the speaker is forced by circumstances to act against their will. Register is formal/written.

• 予算が足りない以上、計画を縮小せざるを得ない。 Yosan ga tarinai ijo, keikaku o shukusho sezaru o enai. — 'Since the budget is insufficient, we have no choice but to scale the plan back.'

2. 〜わけにはいかない (wake ni wa ikanai) — 'cannot (for social/moral reasons)'

Uses the dictionary form for 'can't do X' and the ない-form for 'can't not do X (= must).' The blocker is obligation or conscience, not physical inability.

• 大事な会議だから、休むわけにはいかない。 …yasumu wake ni wa ikanai. — 'It is an important meeting, so I cannot allow myself to take the day off.'
• 約束したからには、行かないわけにはいかない。 — 'Having promised, I cannot not go (= I must go).'

3. 〜まい (mai) — negative volition / conjecture

Two meanings: (a) negative intention 'I will not / I am determined not to,' and (b) negative conjecture 'probably not.' Group 1 verbs take the dictionary form (行くまい); Group 2 and irregular verbs take the ない-stem or dictionary form (食べまい／食べるまい, するまい／しまい／すまい).

• 二度と彼を信じまい。 Nido to kare o shinjimai. — 'I will never trust him again.' (intention)
• そんなことはあるまい。 Sonna koto wa arumai. — 'That surely cannot be so.' (conjecture)

4. 〜ないことには (nai koto ni wa) — 'unless / without doing X'

Connects to the ない-form. It sets up a necessary precondition: unless the first clause happens, the second (usually negative) cannot follow.

• 実物を見ないことには、買うかどうか決められない。 Jitsubutsu o minai koto ni wa, kau ka do ka kimerarenai. — 'Unless I see the actual item, I cannot decide whether to buy it.'

5. 〜に違いない (ni chigainai) — 'must be / no doubt'

Connects to a noun / な-adjective (drop な) / plain form. It expresses the speaker's strong, confident inference from evidence — stronger than はずだ (logical expectation) and だろう (guess).

• 電気がついている。誰か家にいるに違いない。 — 'The lights are on. Someone must be home.'

6. 〜ものの (mono no) — 'although / but' (concessive)

Connects to the plain form. It concedes the first clause is true, yet the expected result does not follow. More literary than けど.

• 日本語を三年勉強したものの、まだ新聞は読めない。 — 'Although I have studied Japanese for three years, I still cannot read the newspaper.'

7. 〜つつ(も) (tsutsu mo) — 'while / even though'

Connects to the ます-stem. Use (a) for a simultaneous action ('while doing'), close to ながら but more formal, and (b) with も for a concessive 'even while / despite' — often doing something you know you should not.

• 体に悪いと知りつつも、タバコをやめられない。 — 'Even while knowing it is bad for my health, I cannot quit smoking.'

Pattern reference table

Common traps

• せざるを得ない vs しざるを得ない: する becomes せ, never *し. This is a favourite trap and appears in the question bank.
• わけにはいかない vs わけがない: the first is 'I can't (obligation)'; わけがない means 'there is no way (impossible/illogical).' Do not swap them.
• まい forms: for する, all of するまい / しまい / すまい are accepted, and 来る is 来る(こ)まい — recognise these in reading even if you avoid producing them.
• Connection form is the fast filter. Before weighing meaning, check what form precedes the blank: つつも demands a ます-stem, ものの demands a plain form, ないことには demands a ない-form. A wrong connection eliminates an option instantly.