JLPT N2 Possibility, risk, and certainty
得る and 得ない state whether something is possible, かねない warns of a bad outcome, and 恐れがある flags a risk in formal writing. に決まっている and に相違ない express strong conviction, while っこない and ものか flatly reject something. かねない and かねる look alike but mean the opposite: かねない is "might", かねる is "cannot bring myself to".
14 N2 grammar points in this group
恐らく (osoraku): probably; likely
Use 恐らく when you want to make a prediction with moderate certainty.
恐らく明日は雨でしょう。 — It will probably rain tomorrow.
どうやら (dou yara): possibly; apparently; seems like; somehow; barely
Use どうやら when you want to express that the speaker has reached a tentative conclusion based on available but incomplete information.
どうやら彼は来ないようだ。 — It seems he isn't coming.
と考えられる (to kangaerareru): it is considered that
Use と考えられる when you want to present a reasoned or objective conclusion.
原因はシステムの不具合だと考えられる。 — The cause is considered to be a system defect.
得る (eru uru): can; to be able to; is possible to
Use 得る（える / うる） when you want to express that something is logically or practically possible; within the realm of possibility.
事故はいつでも起こりうる。 — Accidents can happen at any time.
得ない (enai): unable to; cannot; it is not possible to
Use 得ない（えない） when you want to express that something is logically or practically impossible; inconceivable.
そんなことはあり得ない。 — That's impossible.
かねる (kaneru): unable to do something; can't do something
Use かねる when you want to express that the speaker finds it difficult, inappropriate, or impossible to do something — often a polite refusal.
その質問にはお答えしかねます。 — I'm afraid I cannot answer that question.
かねない (kanenai): (someone) might do something; something might happen
Use かねない when you want to express that a dangerous, undesirable, or concerning outcome could realistically occur.
こんなに暑いと、熱中症になりかねない。 — In heat like this, you could easily get heatstroke.
恐れがある (osore ga aru): there is a risk that
Use 恐れがある when you want to warn that something bad may happen.
大雨で川が氾濫する恐れがある。 — There is a risk that the river will flood due to heavy rain.
っこない (kkonai): no chance of; … is definitely not possible
Use っこない when you want to express that something is absolutely, definitely impossible — no chance at all.
そんなこと、できっこないよ。 — There's no way I can do something like that.
に決まっている (ni kimatte iru): it must be; surely
Use に決まっている when you want to express strong certainty based on assumption or attitude.
彼なら合格するに決まっている。 — If it's him, he is sure to pass.
に相違ない (ni soui nai): without a doubt; certainly
Use に相違ない when you want to make a formal assertion that something is surely true.
これは本物に相違ない。 — This is undoubtedly genuine.
にほかならない (ni hoka naranai): nothing other than
Use にほかならない when you want to strongly identify the true reason, meaning, or identity of something.
成功の理由は努力にほかならない。 — The reason for success is nothing other than effort.
果たして (hatashite): as was expected; sure enough; really; actually
Use 果たして（はたして） when you want to express that expressing doubt about whether an expected outcome will actually materialize.
果たして彼は約束を守るだろうか。 — Will he really keep his promise, I wonder?
ものか / もんか (mono ka): as if (something untrue were actually true); there's no way
Use ものか / もんか when you want to express that the speaker strongly and emotionally denies that something is true or will happen.
あんな店に二度と行くものか！ — I'll never go to a shop like that again!
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)
- Feelings, resolve, and exclamations (15)
- 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)