Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 7: 21/21

ない事(こと)はないIs not impossible, It doesn't mean that it isn't

Structure

Verb［ない］+ ことはない(1)
［い］Adjective［ない］+ ことはない(1)
［な］Adjective + ではない(2) + ことはない(1)

(1) こともない
(2) じゃない

Details

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About ないことはない

ないことはない is an expression that utilizes either the auxiliary verb ない, or the い-Adjective ない, depending on what type of word it is used with. This structure may literally be translated as something similar to 'not (A) is not all there is'. However, the common translations are '(A) is not impossible', or 'it doesn't mean that it isn't (A)'.

This expression may be used with the ない form of any verb, い-Adjective, or な-Adjective. Let's have a look at a few examples before exploring the meaning further.

By itself, ことはない highlights something that is unneeded, or never happens. This is partly due to the adverbial particle は expressing something as being 'complete'. In this way, 'there is no situation in which (A)', is quite an accurate translation of ことはない. By adding ない to the (A) verb, all ないことはない is doing is simply changing this nuance to 'there is -not- no situation in which (A)', a double negative expressing that (A) is actually possible.

Fun Fact

ないことはない often appears with verbs in the potential form. This usually implies a lack of effort, or feelings of half heartedness toward the completion of (A). It is similar to 'it's not like I can't (A)' in English.

  • 納豆(なっとう)は食(た)べられないことはないけど、自分(じぶん)から買(か)って食(た)べようとは思(おも)わない。
    It's not that I don't like natto, it's just that I don't think I will buy it myself to eat.
  • 歩(ある)いていけないことはないけど、歩(ある)いたら6時間(じかん)ぐらいかかるよ。
    It's not that you can't walk there, but if you did, it would take about six hours.

Examples

--:--

    A：「浅(あさ)いからここで泳(およ)ごう！」
    B：「浅(あさ)いけど、危(あぶ)なくない事(こと)はない。」

    A: 'It's shallow so let's swim here!'
    B: 'It is shallow, but that doesn't mean that it isn't dangerous.'

    清水(しみず)：「昨年(さくねん)買(か)ったドレスを着(き)たら、どう？」
    木村(きむら)：「着(き)れない事(こと)はないが、少(すこ)しサイズが小(ちい)さいな。」

    Shimizu: 'What about wearing the dress you bought last year?'
    Kimura: 'It's not that I can't wear it, but it's a bit too small…'

    林(はやし)：「怪我(けが)はないか？歩(ある)ける？」
    森(もり)：「歩(ある)いて行(い)けない事(こと)はないんですが、かなりゆっくりですね。」

    Hayashi: 'Are you hurt? Can you walk?'
    Mori: 'It's not that I can't walk, but I'll be quite slow…'

    小川(おがわ)：「ビットコインのことを何(なに)か知(し)ってるの？」
    村上(むらかみ)：「何(なに)も知(し)らない事(こと)はないが、詳(くわ)しくもない。」

    Ogawa: 'Do you know anything about bitcoin?'
    Murakami: 'It's not that I don't know anything, but I am not familiar either.'

    A：「お金(かね)がないから君(きみ)と一緒(いっしょ)に旅行(りょこう)にいけないんだ。」
    B：「お金(かね)がなくても旅行(りょこう)に行(い)けない事(こと)はないよ。」

    A: 'I don't have money so I can't go on a trip with you.'
    B: 'It is not impossible to take a trip without any money.'

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ないことはない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

  • wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    I feel like I’m always confused about when I can only use one or the other.

    You’re not alone. I frequently mixed these up (and several others) when I was first learning them.

    For this example, I don’t think わけじゃない fits as well as ないことはない. It’s hard to be sure without knowing the context, but 山田さん sounds like they might be expressing deference with regards to cutting the birthday cake. I’m not sure whose birthday it is in this case, nor what the customs are in Japan, but this could be polite deference, or it could be 山田さん genuinely just doesn’t care about cutting the cake and is suggesting 吉田さん do it instead.

    わけ literally means something like “a conclusion based on reason.” ～わけじゃない could be rendered as , “… (the preceding phrase) is not a (valid) conclusion/inference,” or, “it’s not the case that … (the preceding phrase) is a (valid) conclusion/inference.” I sometimes use these stiff, “wooden” translations in my head to help better unde...

  • Elliotjoyner3

    Elliotjoyner3

    In regards to the sentence ここは危ないことはないけど、気を付けたほうがいい

    This probably has more to do with how I think about/ categorize い-adjectives like 危ない and 少ない, but to me this reads as “It`s not that this place is dangerous, but you should be careful.” rather than the rest of the double negative sentences given.

    Would using い-ajectives as they are still carry the same nuance of this grammar point? e.g.: 映画は世界で一番面白いことはないけど、笑った。 (“It`s not that the movie is the funniest in the world, but I laughed.”)

    Or are adjectives like 危ない special?

    I hope the question makes sense!

  • SoulSearchingPuppet

    SoulSearchingPuppet

    Came for the same reason. 危ない doesn’t strike me as the ない form of the adjective.
    May I ask for some clarification?

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