JLPT N2 Feelings, resolve, and exclamations
てたまらない, てならない, and ないではいられない express feelings you cannot hold back, while ことか and ことに highlight emotion in exclamations. まい and ようか～まいか express negative intention and hesitation, and ようではないか rallies people to act. てならない is used for spontaneous feelings, not for physical sensations, where てたまらない fits better.
15 N2 grammar points in this group
てたまらない (te tamaranai): can't help but; extremely
Use てたまらない when you want to express a strong feeling, desire, or physical sensation.
眠くてたまらない。 — I'm unbearably sleepy.
てならない (te naranai): can't help but; extremely
Use てならない when you want to express an uncontrollable feeling or state.
試験の結果が気になってならない。 — I can't help worrying about the exam result.
ないではいられない (nai dewa irarenai): can't help but feel; can't help but do
Use ないではいられない when you want to express that the speaker finds the urge to feel or do something completely uncontrollable.
この話を聞いて、涙を流さないではいられなかった。 — Hearing this story, I couldn't help but shed tears.
ことか (koto ka): how…!; what…!
Use ことか when you want to express that the speaker expresses deep emotion — surprise, frustration, joy — about how much or how often.
この日を何年待ったことか。 — How many years I have waited for this day!
ことに (koto ni): emphasize speaker's feelings; to my (surprise/etc)
Use ことに when you want to express that the speaker states an emotional reaction first, before delivering the actual news.
驚いたことに、彼はもう帰っていた。 — To my surprise, he had already gone home.
幸いなことに (saiwai na koto ni): fortunately
Use 幸いなことに when you want to introduce a lucky or relieving result.
幸いなことに、けが人はいなかった。 — Fortunately, no one was injured.
ものがある (mono ga aru): there is such a thing; to be the case that; feels like
Use ものがある when you want to express that there is something about a situation, person, or thing that evokes a particular quality or impression.
彼の演奏には心を打つものがある。 — There is something moving about his performance.
甲斐がある (kai ga aru): it's worth one's efforts to do something
Use 甲斐がある（かいがある） when you want to express that the result validates or justifies the effort, struggle, or trouble.
一生懸命勉強した甲斐があって、合格できた。 — All my hard studying paid off, and I passed.
せっかく (sekkaku): after going to the trouble; especially
Use せっかく when you want to emphasize effort, rare opportunity, or wasted trouble.
せっかく来たのだから、ゆっくり見ていきましょう。 — Since we came all this way, let's take our time looking around.
どうせ (douse): anyhow; in any case; at any rate; after all; no matter what
Use どうせ when you want to express that the speaker has already given up or resigned themselves to an outcome they see as inevitable.
どうせ私なんか選ばれない。 — Someone like me won't get picked anyway.
てでも (te demo): even if I have to
Use てでも when you want to show strong determination to do something by any means.
徹夜してでも、明日までに終わらせる。 — Even if I have to stay up all night, I'll finish it by tomorrow.
てまで (te made): even going so far as to
Use てまで when you want to criticize or emphasize doing something extreme for a purpose.
嘘をついてまで、合格したいとは思わない。 — I don't want to pass even if it means lying.
まい (mai): will not; will probably not; intend not to; must not
Use まい when you want to express that the speaker firmly resolves not to do something, or confidently predicts something will not happen.
もう二度と、そんなことは言うまい。 — I will never say such a thing again.
ようか～まいか (you ka mai ka): whether or not to
Use ようか～まいか when you want to show hesitation between doing and not doing something.
留学しようかするまいか、まだ迷っている。 — I'm still wondering whether or not to study abroad.
ようではないか (you dewa nai ka): let's; why don't we
Use ようではないか when you want to make a formal or rhetorical suggestion to do something together.
皆で協力しようではないか。 — Let's all cooperate.
More JLPT N2 grammar groups
- Conditionals and preconditions (10)
- Contrast and concession (17)
- Cause, reason, and "no wonder" (16)
- Obligation, advice, and no choice (15)
- Possibility, risk, and certainty (14)
- Viewpoint and judging from appearance (11)
- Negation and "far from" (12)
- Limits, exceptions, and minimums (14)
- Adding, listing, and connecting ideas (19)
- Timing: as soon as, since, in the end (15)
- Change, manner, and degree (21)
- Relational phrases: based on, regardless of (19)