JLPT N3 grammar by function

JLPT N3 Obligation, advice, and no choice

べきだ and べきではない give strong opinions about what one should do, こと states a rule, and ことになっている an existing arrangement. しかない and わけにはいかない express having no choice, while ずにはいられない and てしょうがない mean you cannot help a feeling. てもしょうがない and ても始まらない say there is no point, which is easy to confuse with てしょうがない.

15 N3 grammar points in this group

こと (koto): must do; rule to do

Use こと when you want to state a rule, instruction, or requirement, often in notices.

試験中は携帯電話を使わないこと。 — Do not use mobile phones during the exam.

べきだ (beki da): should do; must do

Use べきだ when you want to state an obligation, strong recommendation, or moral duty.

自分の意見をはっきり言うべきだ。 — You should state your opinion clearly.

べきではない (beki dewa nai): should not do; must not do

Use べきではない when you want to state a prohibition, strong negative recommendation, or moral duty not to do something.

人を傷つけるべきではない。 — You should not hurt people.

ことになっている (koto ni natteiru): be scheduled; be a rule or arrangement

Use ことになっている when you want to describe a rule, schedule, or arrangement decided by someone or some system.

明日は九時に集まることになっている。 — We are supposed to meet at nine tomorrow.

ても構わない (temo kamawanai): it is okay if; it does not matter if

Use ても構わない（てもかまわない） when you want to give permission or say a condition is acceptable.

少し遅れても構いません。 — It is okay if you are a little late.

ことはない (koto wa nai): there is no need to; never happens

Use ことはない when you want to tell someone an action is unnecessary or say something does not happen.

そんなに心配することはない。 — There is no need to worry so much.

て済む (te sumu): be resolved by; be enough to

Use て済む（てすむ） when you want to say that a problem can be settled with a limited action or cost.

謝って済む問題ではない。 — This is not a problem that can be solved just by apologizing.

しかない (shikanai): have no choice but

Use しかない when you want to say there is only one possible action or option.

電車がないので、歩くしかない。 — There are no trains, so we have no choice but to walk.

わけにはいかない (wake niwa ikanai): cannot afford to; must not

Use わけにはいかない when you want to say something cannot be done because of duty, social pressure, or circumstances.

明日は大事な会議があるので、休むわけにはいかない。 — I cannot afford to take a day off because there is an important meeting tomorrow.

ようがない (you ga nai): there is no way to

Use ようがない when you want to say there is no method or possibility to do something.

証拠がないので、調べようがない。 — There is no evidence, so there is no way to investigate.

ている場合じゃない (teiru baai janai): this is no time to be doing

Use ている場合じゃない when you want to say that someone should not waste time on an action because something urgent matters.

試験は明日だ。遊んでいる場合じゃない。 — The exam is tomorrow. This is no time to be playing.

てもしょうがない / てもしかたがない (temo shou ga nai): there is no point; cannot be helped

Use てもしょうがない / てもしかたがない when you want to say that doing something is useless or that a situation cannot be changed.

今さら悔やんでもしょうがない。 — There is no point regretting it now.

ても始まらない (temo hajimaranai): there is no point in

Use ても始まらない（てもはじまらない） when you want to say that doing something will not improve or start anything useful.

今さら文句を言っても始まらない。 — There is no point complaining now.

てしょうがない・てしかたがない (te shou ga nai): extremely; cannot help but

Use てしょうがない・てしかたがない when you want to express an uncontrollable feeling or very strong degree.

眠くてしょうがない。 — I am extremely sleepy.

ずにはいられない (zuni wa irarenai): cannot help but

Use ずにはいられない when you want to express an action or feeling that cannot be suppressed.

その話を聞いて、笑わずにはいられなかった。 — Hearing that story, I could not help laughing.

Often confused in this group

はずだ vs べきだ vs ほうがいい — All three translate as 'should': はずだ is what you expect, べきだ is what's right, ほうがいい is advice. 3時に着くはずだ = it should arrive at 3.
わけだ vs わけではない vs わけがない vs わけにはいかない — わけだ draws a conclusion, わけではない softens a denial, わけがない rules something out, わけにはいかない means you can't for social reasons.

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