Conditions & Hypotheses — なくして（は）/ともなると/とあれば/たら最後/ようでは/ないまでも
This lesson covers N1 grammar for conditions and hypotheses. All of these can loosely be translated "if…", but each carries a strong evaluation: 「なくして（は）」 says "without A, B is impossible", stressing that A is essential; 「ともなると／ともなれば」 says "once you reach A — a higher stage or status — B naturally follows"; 「とあれば」 says "if it's for A, I'll do even what I normally wouldn't"; 「たら最後／が最後」 says "once A happens, that's it — there's no going back"; 「ようでは」 says "if things are like A, there's no hope", a critical, warning tone; and 「ないまでも」 says "even if not A, at least B". On the test, the key is the main clause: which patterns allow only a negative, which allow the speaker's will, and which describe a natural consequence.
Vocabulary
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 伴う | ともなう | v to involve; to come withsomething that necessarily goes along with another, often difficulty, danger or pain危険を伴う to involve risk痛みを伴う改革 a painful reform |
| 立て直す | たてなおす | v, trans. to rebuild; to put back on its feetrestoring an organisation or situation that has got into trouble経営を立て直す to turn a business around財政の立て直し fiscal reconstruction |
| ひっきりなしに | ひっきりなしに | adv constantly; without a breakof calls, visitors, traffic and the likeひっきりなしに電話が鳴る the phone never stops ringing車がひっきりなしに通る cars go by nonstop |
| 冷え込む | ひえこむ | v, intrans. to turn cold; to cool off; 「朝晩が冷え込む」 mornings and evenings get cold |
| ごった返す | ごったがえす | v, intrans. to be packed; to be in a crushso crowded it's chaotic観光客でごった返す to be swarming with tourists駅がごった返す the station is jammed |
| 印税 | いんぜい | n royaltieswhat an author or musician earns per copy sold印税が入る to receive royalties印税生活 living off royalties |
| 犠牲 | ぎせい | n sacrifice; victimwhat one gives up for something, also the victims of an accident or disaster犠牲を払う to pay a price事故の犠牲者 the victims of an accident |
| 厭う | いとう | v, trans. to begrudge; to mindalmost always in the negative 厭わない, "not to mind, to be willing"労を厭わない to spare no effort手間を厭わない not to mind the trouble |
| 恩師 | おんし | n one's former teacher, to whom one owes a great deal恩師を訪ねる to visit an old teacher高校時代の恩師 a teacher from high school who made a difference |
| 手を抜く | てをぬく | idiom to cut corners; to do a sloppy jobnot putting in the effort something needs仕事の手を抜く to slack off at work手抜き工事 shoddy construction |
| 知れ渡る | しれわたる | v, intrans. to become widely known; to spreadof news or a reputation世間に知れ渡る to become common knowledge名前が知れ渡る one's name becomes well known |
| 迷い込む | まよいこむ | v, intrans. to stray into; to wander intogetting lost and ending up somewhere森に迷い込む to wander into a forest路地に迷い込む to get lost in the back streets |
| 没頭 | ぼっとう | n, suru-verb absorption; immersionbeing so absorbed in something that one forgets everything else研究に没頭する to be absorbed in research仕事に没頭する to bury oneself in work |
| 動揺 | どうよう | n, suru-verb agitation; being shakenlosing one's composure after a shock, also of markets動揺を隠せない cannot hide one's agitation市場の動揺 market turmoil |
| 務まる | つとまる | v, intrans. to be up to (a role); to be fit forusually in the negative or a question私には務まらない I'm not up to it主役が務まる to be able to carry the lead role |
| 突破 | とっぱ | n, suru-verb breaking through; getting pastof a round or barrier, also a number passing a mark一回戦を突破する to get through the first round一億人を突破する to pass 100 million |
1. 〜なくして（は） ~nakushite (wa) (Without… / But for…)
Conjugation
- Noun + なくして（は）
- Verb dictionary form + ことなくして（は）
※ Written and formal — speeches, addresses, editorials. 「なくしては」 is a little stronger than 「なくして」. The set phrase 「努力なくして成功なし」 ("no success without effort") is common.
Meaning
"Without…" or "but for…". A is indispensable for B, and the speaker uses this to stress how important and valuable A is — often to thank someone or to make a point.
Restrictions:
- The main clause is normally negative or says something is impossible: 「〜ない」, 「〜できない」, 「〜ありえない」, 「〜語れない」, 「〜望めない」.
- A is usually something valuable and abstract (cooperation, understanding, effort, love, sacrifice…). With everyday things it sounds overblown: △ 「傘なくしては出かけられない」; just say 「傘がないと出かけられない」.
- The main clause can't be a positive volition or command: ❌ 「ご協力なくして、頑張りましょう」.
Example Sentences
- 皆様のご協力なくして、今回のプロジェクトの成功はありえませんでした。(Without your help, this project could never have succeeded.)
- 地域住民の理解なくしては、ダムの建設を進めることはできない。(Without the understanding of local residents, construction of the dam cannot go ahead.)
- 彼の長年にわたる研究なくして、この新薬の開発は語れない。(You can't talk about the development of this new drug without his years of research.)
- 「努力なくして成功なし」というのが、祖父の口癖だった。("No success without effort" was my grandfather's favourite saying.)
- 痛みを伴う改革なくしては、財政の立て直しは望めないだろう。(Without painful reforms, there is little hope of putting public finances back in order.)
Comparison
| Expression | Attaches to | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| なくして（は） | noun | Formal; stresses that A is indispensable, often with thanks or a claim |
| なしには | noun | Similar meaning, slightly less formal (Lesson 84) |
| ないことには | verb nai-form | "Unless you first do A, B can't even start"; common in speech too (N2 Lesson 68) |
| がなければ／がないと | noun | A neutral hypothetical, no special evaluation |
「皆様のご支援なくして、今日の私はありません」⭕ (a typical line in a speech of thanks)
「実際に食べてみないことには、おいしいかどうかわからない」⭕ (with a verb, use ないことには)
❌ 実際に食べてみなくして、わからない → with a verb it would be 「食べてみることなくして」, which is stiff; ないことには is the normal choice.
On the test, after 「〜なくして」, pick the option with a negative or "impossible" main clause.
✍ Practice this point (4 questions)
2. 〜ともなると/〜ともなれば ~to mo naru to / ~tomo nare ba (Once it comes to… / When one becomes…)
Conjugation
- Noun + ともなると／ともなれば
- Verb dictionary form + ともなると／ともなれば (less common)
※ The two mean much the same; 「ともなれば」 is a little more formal and more hypothetical. A is usually a time (December, the weekend, late at night), a status (company president, university student, professional) or a scale (a hundred people, a hundred million yen).
Meaning
"Once it comes to…" or "when one reaches (that level, status, time)…". A is a stage that is special or high in degree, and once you reach it, B is only natural. The main clause describes a general tendency, a natural result or the speaker's judgement.
Restrictions:
- A has to be a stage or status worth mentioning, not something ordinary or low: △ 「平日ともなると、店は空いている」 (a weekday isn't a special stage; just say 「平日は」).
- The main clause is usually a state, tendency or judgement (「〜ものだ」, 「〜はずだ」, 「〜べきだ」, 「〜らしい」), not the speaker's one-off intention or an invitation: ❌ 「週末ともなると、映画を見に行こう」.
- Different from 「ともあろう」 in Lesson 91, which is followed by criticism: "how could someone like that do such a thing".
Example Sentences
- さすがに12月ともなると、朝晩はかなり冷え込む。(Once it's December, it does get quite cold in the mornings and evenings.)
- 社長ともなると、休日でも仕事の電話がひっきりなしにかかってくるらしい。(When you're company president, I hear the work calls never stop, even on days off.)
- 人気作家ともなれば、一冊の本で数千万円の印税が入ることもあるそうだ。(Once you're a bestselling author, they say a single book can bring in tens of millions of yen in royalties.)
- 週末ともなると、この通りは観光客でごった返す。(Come the weekend, this street is packed with tourists.)
- 大学生ともなれば、自分の小遣いくらいは自分で稼ぐべきだ。(Once you're at university, you ought to earn at least your own spending money.)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| ともなると／ともなれば | once it comes to (that level)… | Stresses that A is a special, higher stage; B follows naturally |
| となると | if it's…; when it comes to… | More neutral; A needn't be a "higher stage" and can just mean "if that's the case" |
| ともあろう | someone of that standing… (of all people) | Followed by criticism (Lesson 91) |
「社長ともなると忙しい」= at the level of company president, of course you're busy (stressing the high status)
「明日出発となると、今夜中に準備しなければならない」 — here A is just a situation, so 「となると」, not 「ともなると」.
「社長ともあろう人が、そんな嘘をつくなんて」= that a company president, of all people, would tell such a lie (criticism)
✍ Practice this point (3 questions)
3. 〜とあれば ~to are ba (If it's for… / If it's a matter of…)
Conjugation
- Noun + とあれば
- Verb / i-adjective plain form + とあれば
- Na-adjective stem + とあれば
※ The 「だ」 after a noun or na-adjective is normally dropped. Set combinations: 「〜のためとあれば」, 「必要とあれば」, 「〜の頼みとあれば」.
Meaning
"If it's for…" or "if it's a matter of…". A is a special reason or circumstance, and given that, the speaker is willing to do what they normally wouldn't — or accepts that something can't be helped.
Restrictions:
- A is a special, weighty reason (for one's children, a request from an old teacher, the needs of the job…); it isn't used for an ordinary condition: △ 「雨とあれば、傘を持っていく」 (just say 「雨なら」).
- The main clause can be the speaker's will, resolve or judgement (「〜する」, 「何でもする」, 「〜も厭わない」, 「〜わけにはいかない」, 「仕方がない」) — the biggest difference from 「とあって」 (Lesson 82).
- It isn't used for a one-off past fact: ❌ 「社長の命令とあれば、私は大阪へ行った」.
Example Sentences
- 子どもの命を救うためとあれば、親はどんな犠牲も厭わないものだ。(If it's to save their child's life, parents will make any sacrifice.)
- 必要とあれば、こちらから御社に伺います。(If necessary, we will come to your office.)
- 恩師の頼みとあれば、断るわけにはいかない。(If it's a request from my old teacher, I can't say no.)
- 大好きなバンドのライブとあれば、彼女は地方でも海外でも駆けつける。(If it's a gig by her favourite band, she'll rush there, whether it's out in the provinces or abroad.)
- 社長自らが出席するとあれば、準備に手を抜くわけにはいかない。(If the president himself is attending, we can't cut any corners in preparing.)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Main clause |
|---|---|---|
| とあれば | if it's… (a special reason) | will, resolve, "I'll have to…"; hypothetical |
| とあって | because it's… (a special situation) | an observed fact, never the speaker's will (Lesson 82) |
| からには | now that… | resolve or obligation; A is already settled (N3 Lesson 37) |
| なら | if… | a neutral condition with no special weight |
「家族のためとあれば、どんな仕事でもする」⭕ (hypothetical + resolve)
「連休とあって、道路が混んでいる」⭕ (fact + observed result)
❌ 連休とあれば、道路が混んでいた → the main clause is a past fact, so 「とあって」 is needed.
✍ Practice this point (3 questions)
4. 〜たら最後/〜が最後 ~tara saigo / ~ga saigo (Once… that's the end of it)
Conjugation
- Verb ta-form + ら最後
- Verb ta-form + が最後
※ 「たら最後」 is a little more colloquial; 「が最後」 is more written.
Meaning
"Once… that's it" or "once… there's no going back". Once A happens, an irreversible bad outcome is bound to follow. It can also describe someone's habit: "once they start, they can't stop".
Restrictions:
- The main clause is a bad, irreversible result, or a state of "can't stop / beyond saving", often with 「二度と〜ない」, 「〜てしまう」 or 「〜まで〜ない」. Good results don't fit: ❌ 「この薬を飲んだら最後、すぐに治る」.
- A is a single, decisive action, often with 「一度」 or 「いったん」.
- The main clause can't be a command or request.
Example Sentences
- あの人に秘密を話したら最後、翌日には会社中に知れ渡ってしまう。(Tell that person a secret and that's it — the whole company will know by the next day.)
- 父は一度言い出したら最後、誰が何と言おうと聞かない。(Once my father has said something, he won't listen, no matter who says what.)
- このジャングルに迷い込んだが最後、二度と生きては出られないと言われている。(It is said that once you stray into this jungle, you'll never come out alive.)
- 信用は一度失ったが最後、二度と取り戻せない。(Once trust is lost, it can never be won back.)
- 夫はゲームを始めたら最後、食事の時間も忘れて没頭する。(Once my husband starts a game, he's so absorbed he even forgets about meals.)
Comparison
| Expression | Attaches to | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| たら最後／が最後 | ta-form | Once A happens, there's no way back; A can be something that really happens |
| ようものなら | volitional form | "If you dare do A (you'll regret it)"; A is hypothetical and unwanted (N2 Lesson 70) |
| たとたん（に） | ta-form | A one-off "the moment…", with no sense of "irreversible" (N3 Lesson 48) |
「あの人に話したら最後、みんなに知られてしまう」= tell them and it's over (an inevitable result)
「あの人に話そうものなら、みんなに知られてしまう」= should you tell them, everyone will find out (a warning, hypothetical)
The form is the quickest way to tell them apart: ta-form + ら最後／が最後, volitional form + ものなら.
✍ Practice this point (4 questions)
5. 〜ようでは ~you de wa (If… [like this], then… no good)
Conjugation
- Verb plain form (dictionary, nai- or te-iru form) + ようでは
- Noun + の / na-adjective + な + ようでは (こんな成績のようでは)
- In speech, often 「〜ようじゃ」
※ Typically used by a superior to a subordinate, or an elder to a younger person, to criticise or warn.
Meaning
"If things are like…, then (it's no good / there's no hope)…". The speaker judges state A negatively and points out that, if it continues, the result will be bad.
Restrictions:
- The main clause can only be a negative result or evaluation (「〜ない」, 「〜無理だ」, 「〜困る」, 「先が思いやられる」); a good result doesn't fit: ❌ 「毎日練習するようでは、上手になる」.
- A is an unsatisfactory state, seen in reality or expected, and the tone is critical.
Example Sentences
- こんな簡単な問題も解けないようでは、合格は難しいだろう。(If you can't even solve a problem this easy, passing will be hard.)
- 遅刻を繰り返すようでは、社会人として信頼されない。(If you keep coming in late, no one will trust you as a working adult.)
- 一度の失敗であきらめるようでは、何をやっても成功しないよ。(If you give up after one failure, you won't succeed at anything.)
- 自分の部屋も片付けられないようでは、一人暮らしなんてとても無理だ。(If you can't even keep your own room tidy, living on your own is out of the question.)
- この程度の批判で動揺しているようでは、政治家は務まらない。(If you're shaken by criticism like this, you're not cut out to be a politician.)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| ようでは | if it's like this, it's no good | Criticises state A; the main clause is always negative |
| ては | if… then… | States a bad consequence neutrally, not necessarily as criticism (「そんなに食べては体に悪い」) |
| ないことには | unless… | A is a necessary condition; no criticism of the present state (N2 Lesson 68) |
| ようものなら | if one dares… | Imagines an unwanted act and warns of serious consequences (N2 Lesson 70) |
「こんな成績のようでは、志望校は無理だ」= with grades like these, your first-choice school is out of reach (criticising the present)
「もっと勉強しないことには、志望校には入れない」= unless you study harder you won't get in (a necessary condition)
What comes before 「ようでは」 is always a sorry state; dismissive phrasing like 「〜も〜ない」 or 「〜くらいで」 is a strong hint that the answer is 「ようでは」.
✍ Practice this point (3 questions)
6. 〜ないまでも ~nai made mo (Even if not… at least…)
Conjugation
- Verb nai-form + までも (言わないまでも, できないまでも)
- Noun + とは言わないまでも／とはいかないまでも (set phrases)
※ The main clause often has 「せめて」, 「少なくとも」 or 「〜くらいは」.
Meaning
"Even if not…, at least…". A is a higher degree and B a lower one on the same scale: even if A can't be reached, the speaker hopes or judges that at least B can.
Restrictions:
- A and B are on the same scale, and B is lower than A: 「満点は取れないまでも、合格したい」 ⭕; the other way round is ❌: 「合格しないまでも、満点を取りたい」.
- The main clause is usually a wish, demand or obligation (「〜たい」, 「〜てほしい」, 「〜べきだ」, 「〜なさい」) or an evaluation (「かなりのものだ」, 「〜はずだ」); unlike 「ともなると」, 「たら最後」 and 「ようでは」, it can take the speaker's will or a command.
- The main clause can't say that even B failed: ❌ 「優勝できないまでも、一回戦で負けた」.
Example Sentences
- 毎日とは言わないまでも、週に一度くらいは実家に電話しなさい。(I won't say every day, but at least call home once a week.)
- 優勝はできないまでも、せめて一回戦は突破したい。(Even if we can't win, I'd at least like to get through the first round.)
- 謝罪は求めないまでも、事情の説明くらいはしてほしい。(I'm not asking for an apology, but I'd like at least an explanation of what happened.)
- 完璧とはいかないまでも、合格点には達しているはずだ。(It may not be perfect, but it should be up to the pass mark.)
- プロ並みとは言わないまでも、彼の料理の腕はかなりのものだ。(I wouldn't call it professional, but he's a pretty impressive cook.)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| ないまでも | even if not…, at least… | A high, B low: settling for less on the same scale |
| までもない | there's no need to… | A completely different meaning: "unnecessary" (Lesson 85) |
| ないにしても | even if not… | Close in meaning, but A and B needn't be on one scale; more conversational |
「謝らないまでも、説明くらいはしてほしい」= no need to apologise, but at least explain (settling for less)
「わざわざ謝るまでもない」= there's no need to go out of your way to apologise (unnecessary)
They differ by a single 「ない」, a common N1 distractor: if the main clause has 「せめて」 or 「くらいは」, it's 「ないまでも」.
✍ Practice this point (3 questions)
Practice
Part 1: Choose the appropriate grammar (なくして / ともなると / とあれば / たら最後 / ようでは / ないまでも / ないことには / ようものなら)
- 社員一人ひとりの努力（ ）、会社の発展はありえない。
- 年末（ ）、どこの店も買い物客で混雑する。
- かわいい孫の頼み（ ）、祖父は何でも買ってやる。
- 彼は一度眠っ（ ）、目覚ましが鳴っても起きない。
- 挨拶もろくにできない（ ）、接客の仕事は任せられない。
- 毎日とは言わ（ ）、週に三日は運動したほうがいい。
- 実際に現地を見（ ）、本当のことはわからない。
- あの上司に口答えし（ ）、即座に担当を外されかねない。
Part 2: Translate into Japanese
- Without everyone's support, I wouldn't be where I am today. (Use なくして)
- Once it's November, it's already snowing in the mountains. (Use ともなると)
- If it's for my family, I'll gladly do any job, however hard. (Use とあれば)
- Once that dog bites, it never lets go. (Use が最後)
- If you have to ask others about something this small, you can't call yourself fully capable. (Use ようでは)
- Even if you can't come every day, please come at least once a week. (Use ないまでも)
Answers
- なくして (なくしては also works)
- ともなると (ともなれば also works)
- とあれば
- たら最後
- ようでは
- ないまでも
- ないことには (a verb comes before the blank, and なくして attaches to nouns)
- ようものなら (「口答えしようものなら」. 「口答えしたら最後」 also fits the form, but たら最後 says the bad outcome is certain, which sits badly with 「かねない」 ("could well"); for imagining something you shouldn't do and warning of the consequences, ようものなら is the textbook choice)
- 皆さんの支えなくして、今の私はありません。
- 11月ともなると、山ではもう雪が降る。
- 家族のためとあれば、どんなにきつい仕事も厭わない。
- あの犬は一度かみついたが最後、決して離さない。
- この程度のことまで人に聞いているようでは、一人前とは言えない。
- 毎日来られないまでも、せめて週に一度は来てください。
Done with the exercises above? Try 19 JLPT-style questions online (grammar + vocabulary): marked as you go, each explained, and the ones you miss are saved for review.
✍ Practise online →
Comments