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jpg-content/🔰 Grammar/Possibility.md
2025-06-20 01:38:42 +02:00

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Possibility

かもしれない

Express a possibility, like "perhaps". By order of politeness: かもしれません > かもしれない > かも.

[!info] Example 今日も来る==かもしれない==。 He might come today too.

もしかしたら

Means "perhaps", "maybe". Usually completed by #かもしれない. Can be used as もしかしたら, もしかすると and もしかして.

[!info] Example ==もしかして=={今日|きょう}も{郵便局員|ゆうびんきょくいん}が来ません==かもしれない==。 Perhaps the postman will not come today either.

かねない (NEW!)

V (ます)

N + に

+ かねない

Means "possibly", "might", "could be". Usually used for negative outcomes. Mostly used in written language.

[!info] Example この{道|みち}は{危|あぶ}ないので{事故|じこ}が{起|お}き==かねない==。 This road is dangerous, so an accident might happen.

恐らく (NEW!)

{恐|おそ}らく means "probably", "perhaps". Placed at the beginning of a phrase. Implies a high probability.

[!info] Example ==恐らく=={彼女|かのじょ}は{今日|きょう}も{来|こ}ない。 She probably won't come today either.

ことができる

Means "can", "able to". It has the same meaning as the potential form (see Conjugation Basics). 食べる => 食べられる = 食べることができる.

[!info] Example {英語|えいご}を{話|はな}す==ことが出来ない==。 I cannot speak English.

ないことはない

V (ない)

い-Adj くない

な-Adj + ではない

N + ではない

+ ことはない

Means "not impossible to", "it is not that". Used with negative forms.

[!info] Example 本を{読|よ}ま==ないことはない==ですが、{最近|さいきん}は{暇|ひま}がない。 It's not that I don't read books, it's just that I don't have free time these days.

恐れがある (NEW!)

V (る・ない)

い-Adj

な-Adj + な

N + の

+ 恐らくがある

{恐|おそ}れがある means "there is a risk that". Used when something bad could happen.

[!info] Example また{地震|じしん}の==恐らくがある==。{気|き}を{付|つ}けて。 There will probably be another earthquake. Please be careful.

ようでは (NEW!)

Means "if". Used when the result would be bad. Used with verbs.

[!info] Example {化|ば}け{物|もの}が{来|く}る==ようでは==、あなたを{食|た}べちゃうよ。 If a monster comes, it will eat you.

ものなら (NEW!)

V (potential れる)

+ ものなら

Means "if A were possible, then B". Implies that A is either impossible or unlikely.

[!info] Example {合格|ごうかく}できる==ものなら==、{世界中|せかいじゅう}{一番|いちばん}うれしいなあ。 If I could pass, I would be the happiest in the world (but it is unlikely I'll pass).

ないことには~ない (NEW!)

V (ない)

い-Adj (ない)

な-Adj + でない

N + である

+ ことには +

V (ない)

Means "unless you do something".

[!info] Examples {運転|うんてん}{免許|めんきょ}を{持|も}った==ないことには=={運転|うんてん}できない。 You can't drive unless you have a driving licence.

にしろ~にしろ (NEW!)

V

+ にしろ +

V

+ にしろ

い-Adj

+ にしろ +

い-Adj

+ にしろ

な-Adj

+ ことは +

な-Adj

+ にしろ

N

+ ことは +

N

+ にしろ

Means "whether... or". Can be used as にせろにせろ or にしてもにしても, which is more formal.

[!info] Example {動物|どうぶつ}==にしろ=={植物|しょくぶつ}==にしろ==、その{物質|ぶっしつ}は{危険|きけん}です。 Whether animals or plants, the substance is dangerous.

なくはない・なくもない (NEW!)

V (なく)

い-Adj (く) + なく

な-Adj + では + なく

N + が・は・に + なく

+ はない・もない

Means "it's not that". With potential form of verbs, means that something is possible, despite seeming not.

[!info] Examples やる{気|き}==がなくはない==、{時間|じかん}は{少|すく}ないです。 It's not that I don't have the will, I just don't have time.