BackGrammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 23
Structure of 筈(はず)がない:
Verb + はず + が + ない
［い］Adjective + はず + が + ない
［な］Adjective + な + はず + が + ない
Noun + の + はず + が + ない
Details about 筈(はず)がない:
Like はず, coming from the kanji 筈, which suggests that something is 'bound' to be true, はずがない suggests that something is 'not bound' to be true. This expression is usually translated as 'hardly possible', 'improbable', or 'unlikely', but in reality, it is a bit weaker than these, and translates more literally to '(A) is not the only possibility'.
As はずがない (a combination of 筈, the case-marking particle が, and the い-Adjective ない) is a phrase that starts with a noun, it may be used after any word that could usually connect with a noun.
As はずがない (a combination of 筈, the case-marking particle が, and the い-Adjective ない) is a phrase that starts with a noun, it may be used after any word that could usually connect with a noun.
- 1時間も早くに家を出たから遅れるはずがない。Because I left the house an hour early, it is improbable that I will be late. (That I am bound to be late is not true)
- この箱は重いはずがない。It is hardly possible that this box is heavy. (It is not the case that this box is bound to be heavy)
- サリーの家は立派なはずがない。It is highly unlikely that Sally's house is splendid. (That Sally's house is sure to be splendid is not the case)
- あそこにいる人はトムのはずがない。It is highly unlikely that the person over there is Tom.
筈(はず)がない
Usage Notes for 筈(はず)がない:
There is a big difference in nuance between ないはずだ 'bound not to', and はずがない 'not bound to'. ないはず strongly negates the (A) statement, and expresses the speaker's opinion that it is almost definitely not true. はずがない on the other hand, simply suggests that (A) being almost 100% true is not the case.
- 彼の車は高くないはずだ。His car would not be expensive. (His car is bound to not be that expensive)
- 彼の車は高いはずがない。It is hardly possible that his car is expensive. (That his car is bound to be expensive is not true)
Synonyms for 筈(はず)がない:
ことはない
There is no need to, Never happens
わけではない
It doesn't mean that, It is not the case, It's not like
わけがない
There is no way, There is no reason, It is impossible, Cannot be
ようがない・ようもない
There's no way to, It's impossible to
ものか
Definitely not, Absolutely not, Impossible, Do you really think~?
そうもない
Very unlikely to, Does not seem that, Does not appear that
はずだ
Bound to (be), Expected to (be), Should be (able)
わけだ
For that reason, No wonder, As you'd expect, Naturally, Thus, This is why
ないことはない
Is not impossible, It doesn't mean that it isn't
Example of 筈(はず)がない
夏に雪が降るはずがない。
It is hardly possible for it to snow in the summer.
あのビルは古すぎなので、病院のはずがない。
Because that building is so old, it is hardly possible that it is a hospital.
有名人は人気だから、寂しいはずがない。
Famous people are popular so it seems hardly possible for them to be lonely.
それはあなたのカバンのはずがない。
It is highly unlikely that that is your bag.
少年の部屋だから、綺麗なはずがない。
Since it's a boy's room, it is highly unlikely that it is clean.
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