Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 3: 12/22

事(こと)はないThere is no need to, Never happens

Structure

Verb + ことはない

Details

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About ことはない

ことはない is an expression that has two primary purposes in Japanese. To convey that there is 'no need for (A)', or that '(A) never happens'. In these cases, (A) is a verb that will appear directly before こと. ことはない is often used to reassure someone that something will not come to pass.

In this expression, the adverbial particle は is working to present (A) as the extent (a regular role of adverbial particles), while the 形容詞(けいようし) ない negates that extent. This negation is up to interpretation, with the literal meaning simply being 'There is no (A)'.

Caution

This structure is very different to たことがない, which presents a single instance of something not having happened. As opposed to the case marking particle が, は presents the verb/verb-phrase as a topic itself in non-past form, highlighting its non-existence. Due to this, ことはない can imply that (A) is unthinkable, or even impossible.

Antonyms

Related

Examples

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    そんな急(いそ)ぐ事(こと)はない。ぼちぼちやればいい。

    There is no need to hurry. You should take your time.

    もうあの家(いえ)に帰(かえ)る事(こと)はないだろう。

    We will never return to that house, right?

    もう彼(かれ)に教(おし)える事(こと)はありません。

    There is no need to teach him anymore.

    これ以上(いじょう)何(なに)も言(い)う事(こと)はない。

    There is no need to say more.

    この抽選(ちゅうせん)で車(くるま)が当(あ)たる事(こと)はないと思(おも)う。

    I think that winning a car in this lottery never happens.

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ことはない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • ulurujamman

    ulurujamman

    Any particular reason why it’s ことがある for “it happens” and ことはない for "it never happens?

  • Daru

    Daru

    Just the nature of the Grammar Points. The fact that the translations have this polar-end opposite meaning to them is just a coincidence. If you were to say, ことはある or ことがない, depending on the sentence they could work, but remember that these are Grammar Points for a reason.

    Hope this helps!

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