2級 Grammar 11-15

11) ～うではないか　・　～ようではないかい
why don't we?
shall we?

This one is EASY! It's exactly the same as しませんか？　or しましょうか？ except that it's super formal, pretty old, and more likely to be seen in official writing than anywhere else! Woot

Ex: 皆で、昭和時代の年長者の方のように書いてみようではないか？


12)得る（Read うる)　・　得る　（Read える）
there is a possibility of (verb)

I used the word "ありえない" for a long, long time thinking that it was simply a synonym for the word "信じられない" (I can't believe that-cum-UNBELIEVABLE). It wasn't until I saw this grammar point that I realized that it's actually a CONSTRUCTION of the verb ある, to be, to exist. ありえる　would mean that there is a possibility for something to exist. The negative then means, "There's no way that such a thing can be." That great realization being achieved, this is still the hardest construction for me to use so far.

Apparently, in the positive form, you use it by dropping the -masu from your verb, and adding either the -eru or the -uru. It doesn't matter which. In the negative form, however, you can ONLY use -eru, which becomes -enai.

This construction is added to such verbs as: ある、起こる、考える、信じる、and なる。

Ex:　奴らのことが大きらいだ！彼らと仲良くなりえないよ！


13) おかげで　・　おかげだ
thanks to...
because of...

Another 3kyuu repeater. Examples are pretty clear.

Ex 1: 日本語が上手になったことは、彼女のおかげです。
Ex 2: 薬のおかげで、風邪が早く治った。

14) おそれがある　・　おそれもある
to be in danger of....
there is a reason to worry about...

Used when there is a possibily of something bad happening, or to express a fear. It's used attached to the dictionary form of a verb, or used in a noun + の+おそれ pattern.

Ex: アメリカとイランの関係が悪いので、戦争になるおそれがあります。

15) かぎり　・　かぎりは　・　ないかぎり　・　かぎりでは
As long as...
While...
During the time that...

This one is actually kind of nice to know and use. It has some of the same definitions as うちに,
but the distinction here is that both of the actions and conditions described are continuous. For example, take "熱いうちに、食べよう。" The food continues to be hot, but the eating is not a continuous action. It happens in one limited period of time, and hopefully it stops. Otherwise, tabehodais would be disastrous. This one is used for things like, "As long as you live under this roof, you'll follow my rules!" Got it?

Ex: 彼と結婚しているかぎりは、寝ると彼のいびきを聞く。