4.2 Core N2 Grammar Patterns II & Nuance Pairs

Core N2 Grammar Patterns II and Nuance Pairs

The hardest 文法形式 items pit two patterns with nearly identical English translations against each other. To beat them, attach a sharper distinction to each pattern — the exact condition under which one wins. This section adds six more high-yield patterns, then drills the nuance pairs the examiners love.

1. 〜にしては vs 〜わりに(は) — 'for / considering'

Both mean 'given X, the result is unexpected.' 〜にしては requires a specific, concrete standard — a number, a named role, a fixed fact ('for a beginner,' 'for December'). 〜わりに(は) compares against a general expectation and often carries a subtly evaluative tone.

• この子は五歳にしては、漢字をよく知っている。 — 'For a five-year-old, this child knows a lot of kanji.' (concrete standard: age five)
• 彼はよく食べるわりに(は)、太らない。 — 'Considering how much he eats, he does not gain weight.' (general proportion)

Trap: when a definite category label is named (五歳, プロ), にしては is preferred over わりに.

2. 〜どころか (dokoro ka) — 'far from / let alone'

Connects to a noun or plain form. It reverses expectation strongly: not only is X untrue, the opposite holds.

• 貯金するどころか、借金が増えてしまった。 — 'Far from saving money, my debt increased.'

3. 〜ばかりか / 〜のみならず — 'not only ... but also'

Connects to a noun or plain form and adds a further, often more extreme item. From the bank: 仕事が早いのみならず、人柄もよくて部内で人気がある ('not only fast at work but also likeable').

• 彼は英語ばかりか、フランス語も話せる。 — 'He speaks not only English but also French.'

4. 〜あまり(に) (amari) — 'so much that (excessive)'

Connects to a noun+の or plain form. A strong emotion or degree causes an often negative result. From the bank: 緊張するあまり、答案用紙に名前を書き忘れた ('so nervous that I forgot to write my name on the answer sheet').

5. 〜次第 (shidai) — 'as soon as / depending on'

Two grammars share the spelling. Vます-stem + 次第 = 'as soon as': 到着し次第、連絡します ('I will contact you as soon as I arrive'). Noun + 次第だ / 次第で = 'depends on': 結果は君の努力次第だ ('the result depends on your effort').

6. 〜得る / 〜得ない vs 〜かねる / 〜かねない

• 〜得る (uru/eru) / 〜得ない (enai): Vます-stem; 'is possible / impossible in principle.' あり得る ('can happen'), あり得ない ('impossible').
• 〜かねる (kaneru): Vます-stem; 'cannot bring myself to, find it hard to' — a polite refusal. お答えしかねます ('I am unable to answer').
• 〜かねない (kanenai): Vます-stem; 'might well (something bad).' 無理をすると倒れかねない ('if you overdo it you might well collapse').

The trap: かねる = cannot; かねない = might (negative outcome). Opposite polarity despite similar shape.

Nuance-pair table

Worked 文法形式 item

Q. 彼は体調が悪い（　）、仕事を休もうとしない。 Options: くせに / にもかかわらず / だけあって / ものの.

The sentence concedes poor health, then reports stubbornness. くせに, にもかかわらず, and ものの are all concessive; だけあって is causal-positive and is out immediately. The bank's tested answer is にもかかわらず (formal 'despite'). くせに fits the meaning but adds a scolding tone the neutral clause does not signal, and ものの is more literary. Rule of thumb: on the exam, pick the register-neutral formal concessive unless the sentence explicitly signals blame.

Common-mistake callout

Students translate both くせに and のに as 'even though' and guess. Remember that くせに always carries reproach or contempt toward the subject (子供のくせに生意気だ, 'cheeky for a mere child'), so it is wrong whenever the sentence is neutral or self-referential. Likewise, do not confuse あまり (excess → result) with あまり…ない ('not very'); the grammar pattern あまり(に) is affirmative and drives a consequence.