BackGrammar JLPT Level N3 - Lesson 5
Structure of ほど:
Verb + ほど
［い］Adjective + ほど
［な］Adjective + な + ほど
Noun + ほど
Details about ほど:
ほど, coming from the kanji 程 'an extent', is used for describing rough estimates about the 'amount' of something. However, unlike expressions such as くらい (which focuses more on the speaker's uncertainty about the exact number), ほど puts emphasis on the upper (or lower) limit of something as having been 'reached'. Due to this, it is usually translated as 'so much that (A)', or 'to the extent that (A)'.
ほど can be added on to the end of the attributive form of any word. The attributive form being the form that is able to be partnered directly with nouns.
- 死ぬ____練習したけれど、試合に出られなかった。I practiced myself to death, but I was not able to participate in the match.
- その気持ちは痛い____分かるけど、だからってそういう事言ってもいいと言う訳では無いよ。I understand how you feel to the point that it hurts, but that doesn't mean that you can say stuff like that.
- それは嫌な____聞かされたから、分かってる。I have been told that so much that I don't want to hear it anymore, I get it.
- あと１０分____で着きます。I will be there in about 10 minutes.
Usage Notes for ほど:
Although くらい may be used to describe something that is 'around' a certain extent (regardless of whether it is above or below that extent), 程 refers specifically to the 'limit' of something, and therefore cannot be used to describe something that exceeds the stated limit. Due to this, it is regularly used to express some sort of exaggerated limit of (A), when the real extent is far below that.
今日はもう二度と走りたくないと思うほど走った。
Today, I ran so much that I feel like I never want to run again.
Synonyms for ほど:
Example of ほど
(They look similar to the extent that I am surprised) (degree・bounds・limit)
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