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Grammar 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 + + はず + が + ない
Noun + + はず + が + ない

Details about 筈(はず)がない:

Like はず, coming from the kanji (はず), 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 (はず), the case-marking particle , 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(じかん)(はや)くに(いえ)()から(おく)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(はこ)(おも)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(いえ)立派(りっぱ)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(ひと)トムはずがない
    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 '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.
  • (かれ)(くるま)(たか)ないはず
    His car would not be expensive. (His car is bound to not be that expensive)
  • (かれ)(くるま)(たか)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

(なつ)(ゆき)()はずがない

It is hardly possible for it to snow in the summer.

あのビル(ふる)すぎなので病院(びょういん)はずがない

Because that building is so old, it is hardly possible that it is a hospital.

有名人(ゆうめいじん)人気(にんき)から(さび)しいはずがない

Famous people are popular so it seems hardly possible for them to be lonely.

それあなたカバンはずがない

It is highly unlikely that that is your bag.

少年(しょうねん)部屋(へや)から綺麗(きれい)はずがない

Since it's a boy's room, it is highly unlikely that it is clean.

Grammar same lesson

んだけど

But..., And...
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必要(ひつよう)がある

It is necessary to
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例(たと)えば

For example
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If, When, Whenever, And, [Conditional]
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しか~ない

There's only, Nothing but
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