Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 3: 2/17

あってのExist only because of or due to, Owe everything to

が is usually omitted

Structure

Noun (A) + （が）+ あっての + Noun (B)

Details

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    Standard

About あっての

あっての is a pattern which emphasizes that (B) is something that only exists because of (A). It will often be translated as '(B) owes everything to (A)', or '(B) existing is only due to (A)'. This structure is a combination of the う-Verb ある 'to be' in its て-form, and the case-marking particle の.

あっての will be preceded and followed directly by nouns, where the first noun is (A), and the second noun is (B).

あっての will primarily be used when (B) is something that benefits positively from (A), and therefore is showing or should show some kind of gratitude toward it.

Occasionally, the case-marking particle が will come between the (A) noun and あっての. However, it is often omitted.

Fun Fact

あっての can be thought of as an evolution of the basic grammar structure がある 'to have'. The main difference being that の allows (B) to be marked as the thing that has (A), while the て-form indicates that there is more information that will be given later about why this is important. Due to this information that comes later being important, (B) will almost always be followed by structures like から, or ので.

Examples

--:--

    「あなたあってのわたしです。あなたがいなければ私(わたし)の人生(じんせい)は無意味(むいみ)ですよ。」

    'I can only exist because of you. My life would be meaningless without you.' (owe everything to)

    彼(かれ)が大学(だいがく)をやめるのは、何(なに)か理由(りゆう)があってのことだろう。

    I guess he is dropping out of university only because some sort of reason exists.

    支配人(しはいにん)、社員(しゃいん)に：「ゲストあっての遊園地(ゆうえんち)だということを忘(わす)れてはいけません。」

    Manager to employees: 'You must not forget that the amusement park exists only because of the customers.'

    ベストセラー作者(さくしゃ)の演説(えんぜつ)：「 私(わたし)の本(ほん)は、家族(かぞく)の支(ささ)えあってのものです。息子(むすこ)と夫(おっと)がいなければここまでやってこれなかったと思(おも)います。」

    Best Selling author's speech: 'My books exist only because of the support from my family. I believe, if it was not for my son and husband, I would not have gotten this far.' (owe everything to)

    切手(きって)のコレクションが火事(かじ)で全焼(ぜんしょう)して悲(かな)しいのは分(わ)かっているけどさ、生(い)きて逃(に)げられたのは何(なに)よりだよ。「命(いのち)あっての物種(ものだね)」だね。

    I understand that you are sad because your stamp collection was destroyed in the fire, but getting out of there with your life is more important than anything. 'While there is life, there is hope,' right? (only exist because of)

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