Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 9: 8/16

なければいけない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 + いけない
Verb［ない］ + なきゃ + いけない

Details

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    Formal

About なければいけない

Like なくてはいけない, なければいけない 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 go', 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, いけない (to not be able to go) will be added to the end.

As 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 いけない.

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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    仕事(しごと)に行(い)かなければいけない。

    I have to go to work.

    冬(ふゆ)になったら、暖房(だんぼう)をつけなければいけません。

    When winter comes, I will have to turn on the heater.

    覚(おぼ)えにくいけど、覚(おぼ)えなければいけません。

    It is difficult to remember, but I must remember.

    すごく汚(よご)れたから洗(あら)わなければいけない。

    Because it is very dirty, I must wash it.

    彼(かれ)に会(あ)いたくないけど、会(あ)わなければいけません。

    I don't want to see him, but I must (meet him).

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なければいけない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (16 in total)

  • stefyglp

    stefyglp

    I am also struggling with this. Does anyone know? All I get as a hint is “must do…” in red. If なければいけない and なくてはいけない are “completely interchangeable”, why doesn’t bunpro grade me correct when I stick with one form for my reviews? Honestly getting annoyed.

  • Redmusashi13

    Redmusashi13

    I agree with this, whenever I’m reviewing this grammar, its almost entirely random on whether I choose the conjugation Bunpro is looking for. Sometimes it tells me I need to be less polite, so I change it to いけない and then it says a different conjugation so I change it to なくては and then it turns out it actually wanted なくてはならない, and sometimes it will just flat-out mark me wrong.

    I have come to the conclusion that while いけない and ならない do have differences that, should I make a mistake with, I should take the incorrect mark, but if the mistake comes from the なくては・なければ difference, I undo my answer until I fit the “requirement”. Very frustrating at times tbh.

  • torpedotaiyaki

    torpedotaiyaki

    I’m also struggling with the same points Redmusashi and Stefy mentioned, i.e. XXXなければ vs XXXられなくて. I suspect I’m actually struggling with multiple grammar points on these “I must XXX” questions, such as ikenai/naranai. However, I don’t want to hazard veering off into disparate conflated grammar points. To to stay on topic, is there a difference between られなくては／なければ? e.g. Using the problem question “冬になったら、暖房を_______。”, I default to two answers, usually:

    ・ つけられなくてはなりません
    ・ つけなければいけません

    Right now I went with the former in what is little more than just a crapshoot guess. It was wrong. I’m sure later I’ll try something else for equally tenuous reasoning. Correct answer was つけなければいけません.

    It’s rather frustrating as I’m not sure if this is simply a manifestation of a personal failure (either reading comprehension, cognitive capabilities, or whatever), or an information gap in grammar covered thus far. Or – perhaps – if this is simply...

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