Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 8: 2/18

他(ほか)に

Other, Another, Any other, Anything else, As well as, Besides, In addition

ほかにも cannot be used in negative sentences, with the exception of questions
外 is another way to write ほか

Structure

他(ほか) + の + Noun
（その(1)） + 他(ほか) + にも(2)
Noun + の + 他(ほか) + にも(2)
Verb + 他(ほか) + にも(2)
（その(1)） + 他(ほか) + には(3) + Phrase［ない］
Noun + の + 他(ほか) + には(3) + Phrase［ない］
Verb + 他(ほか) + には(3) + Phrase［ない］

(1) この
(2) に、も、は、には
(3) に、は

Details

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About ほかに(も)・ほか(に)は

他(ほか)に is regularly considered to be one of the more difficult structures to master in Japanese, so let's take a thorough look at it. Basically, 他(ほか) by itself just means 'another', or 'other'. に highlights 他(ほか) 'another thing' as being the target of what comes next in any particular sentence. The possibilities are as follows:
他(ほか)に - Another thing.
他(ほか)に（も） - Even another thing (sounds less certain).
他(ほか)に（は） - Was there another thing (focuses on something pre-existing, which someone may have forgotten).
  • 他(ほか)に、欲(ほ)しいものはある？
    Is there anything else you want?
  • 動物園(どうぶつえん)の他(ほか)にもどこかへ行(い)きますか。
    Is there anywhere else you want to go, other than the zoo?
  • 他(ほか)にはない物(もの)が食(た)べたい。
    I want to eat something that isn't anywhere else. (Something unique to this place)
他(ほか)の + Noun - Another 'specific thing'.
  • この電子(でんし)レンジは壊(こわ)れているので他(ほか)の電子(でんし)レンジをお使(つか)いになってください。
    This microwave is broken so please use a different one.
他(ほか)に（は） may be used in either positive or negative sentences, but it tends to appear in negative sentences more often.
  • お金(かね)の他(ほか)には何(なに)が欲(ほ)しいですか。
    Other than money, what do you want?
  • 彼(かれ)の他(ほか)にはフランス語(ご)を話(はな)せる人(ひと)はいません。
    Other than him, there isn't anyone else that can speak French.
Caution
Because 他(ほか)に（も） focuses on the 'addition' of another thing, it cannot be used in negative sentences (with the exception of questions).
  • 欲(ほ)しいものは、その他(ほか)にもない。
    There is also nothing else besides what I want. (Unnatural Japanese)
  • その他(ほか)にも何(なに)か質問(しつもん)がありませんか？
    Besides that, are there no other questions? (Natural Japanese)
The reason this is acceptable in questions, but not statements, is due to the 'isn't it?' meaning that negative questions can have in Japanese (just like English). It is the equivalent of the following:
この他(ほか)にもない - In addition to this, there is also nothing (sounds strange in English!)
その他(ほか)にもないか - In addition to that, is there nothing else? (sounds normal in English!)

Examples

  • （その）他(ほか)に、行(い)きたいところはありますか？

    Are there any other places (in addition to that) you would like to go to?

  • この本(ほん)だけですか。(この/この本(ほん)の)他(ほか)にもほしいものはありますか。

    Only this book? Is there anything else (besides this one/ this book) you want?

  • 他(ほか)は？

    Anything else?

    This is a commonly used set phrase. Similar to 晩ご飯は etc, the listener is expected to answer it.

  • いいえ、他(ほか)はいりません。

    No, I don't need anything else.

    ほかにも cannot be used here, since it is a negative sentence and not a question.

  • 私(わたし)はあまりジュースを飲(の)まないから、他(ほか)の飲(の)み物(もの)がほしいです。

    Since I do not really drink juice, I want another beverage.

    In this sentence the noun 飲み物 is modified or qualified by ほか, meaning 'another beverage'.

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ほかに(も)・ほか(に)は – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (24 in total)

  • Asher

    Asher

    Hi guys, and thanks for the feedback about this one! Since we added the proper writeup for this grammar point, we originally anticipated that there would be a lot less issues with it, due to the topic we cover in the caution section being the main point that most users seems to get mixed up with.

    At the moment we are not planning on splitting this into two separate grammar points, as the part that appears to be the most confusing is the difference between は being used primarily in negatives, and も not being able to be used in negative sentences unless it is a question. We initially thought that seeing these both next to eachother (in the same way that we group the 誰かに 誰にも grammar structure) would actually be beneficial to the learning of this point and its variations.

    After having read the guide/caution section for this grammar point, are there any areas that you feel we specifically don’t explain sufficiently well? I would love to make some small adjustments if there ...

  • Ayla

    Ayla

    I’m back to level 0 after 4 months of SRS reviews.

    Is there anyone to explain me like I’m 5?

    Here are specific examples from my latest cram session I don’t understand:

  • 11442

    11442

    What is the hint “inclusive” supposed to indicate on the prompt?

    That concept is never addressed in the body of the grammar point, and in so far as I’ve found anyone using the terms in researching this grammar point, they use them in the opposite way. (that, は is exclusive, and も is inclusive)

    他には（another “thing” separate from what was previously established)
    他にも（another “thing” that is also part of what was previously established)

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