Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 7: 3/21

と言(い)うものでもないThere is no guarantee that…, Not necessarily

というものではない is also OK

Structure

Verb + というものではない(1)
［な］Adjective + というものではない(1)
［い］Adjective + というものではない(1)
Noun + というものではない(1)


(1) でもない、じゃない

Details

  • Register

    Formal

  • Rare Kanji

    物

About というものでもない

というものではない is an expression in Japanese that indicates that 'there is no guarantee that (A)', or that it is 'not necessarily (A)'. As this structure is just a combination of と, the う-Verb 言(い)う 'to say', もの 'thing', and ではない 'isn't', the literal meaning can be thought of as being similar to 'it's not a thing that one can say is (A)'.

は may be replaced with も, with only a slight change in nuance. As with many grammar patterns, the version with も will be considered a bit more emphasized.

というものではない may follow any word in its standard form, but may occasionally be preceded by だ when used with nouns or な-Adjectives (despite not being required).

In most cases, this grammar pattern will indicate that while most of the time (A) might be something that is expected to be true, there are exceptions.

Fun-fact

Although not specifically limited to it, というものではない sentences are often preceded by phrase including であれば. These sentences merely emphasize the fact that 'even if it's (A), it doesn't necessarily mean that (B)'.

Related

Examples

--:--

    愛(あい)があれば結婚(けっこん)できるというものでもない。

    It is not necessarily true that you are able to get married if you love each other.

    スマートに見(み)える人(ひと)が皆(みな)痩(や)せているというものでもない。

    There is no guarantee that everyone who looks slim is actually thin.

    車(くるま)は高(たか)ければ高(たか)いほどいいというものでもない。

    The more expensive the better is not necessarily true when it comes to cars.

    漫才(まんざい)は、素人(しろうと)だからといってできないというものでもない。

    Just because you're a novice, it's not necessarily true that you can't do comic dialogue.

    図鑑(ずかん)にはすべての生(い)き物(もの)が載(の)っているというものでもない。

    There is no guarantee that all living animals are listed in the field guide.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

というものでもない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    @megatron0000

    I have changed the link

    Thank you very much

    PS
    Long time no see on forums, haha

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @Hadros232232 !

    We apologize for the very late response.

    というものでもない is used when the speaker want to express how an idea for a statement is not necessarily true and that there are other possibilities. わけがない is used to state that a statement is definitely not possible. とは限らない is used when the speaker wants to express that the idea is not wrong, but there are circumstances where it may not apply.

    小さい商店だからといって、売り上げが悪いというものでもない。
    ’ It is not necessarily true that just because it is a small shop, that it has bad sales.’
    The nuance that this has is, ‘The idea that you have that this store has bad sales because it is small is not right. It could be a very popular store with a owner that wants to keep the shop small. There are many other factors to prove your reasoning wrong.’

    ここは小さい商店だから、売り上げがいいわけがない。(sentence changed so that it makes sense)
    ‘Because this is a small shop, there is no way they have good ...

  • ka_hamdi

    ka_hamdi

    というものではない ということではない の違いは何ですか？

Got questions about というものでもない? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion