Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 9: 9/16

なければならないMust do, Have to do

Verb[ない]+と+いけない/ならない is also used to express duty or necessity.

Structure

Verb［ない］ + なければ + ならない
Verb［ない］ + なきゃ + ならない

Details

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    Formal

About なければならない

Like なければいけない, なければならない is a structure that implies that something 'must be done'. However, it is important to remember that this is actually a double negative, and therefore means 'If (A) is not done, it cannot become', or more simply '(A) cannot not be done'.

To make this construction, the auxiliary verb ない will need to be conjugated with ば, creating なければ (if not). After this, ならない (to not become) will be added to the end.

As we learned in the なきゃ lesson, なければ may be shortened to なきゃ. This structure is frequently used, either with or without the added ならない.

Caution

While いけない (to not be able to go) and ならない (to not become) are quite similar, ならない will rarely be used outside of formal situations, or in writing. Due to this, いけない will be heard much more frequently in speech (when it is not omitted).

Examples

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    先生(せんせい)の話(はなし)を聞(き)かなければならないよ。

    You have to listen to the teacher (talk).

    髪(かみ)の毛(け)が長(なが)いから、切(き)らなければならない。

    My hair is long, so I have to cut it.

    飛行機(ひこうき)に乗(の)りたいなら、空港(くうこう)に行(い)かなければならない。

    If you want to ride an airplane, you have to go to the airport.

    新(あたら)しいノートを買(か)わなければならないかもしれない。

    I might have to buy a new notebook.

    日本語(にほんご)が上手(じょうず)になりたいから、勉強(べんきょう)をしなければならない。

    I want to become proficient in Japanese, so I have to study.

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なければならない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

  • LotBlind

    LotBlind

    I’m actually going to skip this grammar point because I already knew about it and the lesson doesn’t add any knowledge about differences between it and なければいけない other than the increased formality going into ならない. Maybe would be worth it bringing up how the latter can suggest more having external influences causing the necessity than the former.

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