Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 1: 3/23

ざるを得(え)ないCan't help doing, Have no choice but

する→せざるを得ない, くる→こざるを得ない

Structure

Verb［ない］+ ざるを得ない

Details

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    Formal

About ざるを得ない

ざる is the 連体形(れんたいけい) (attributive form) of the old-fashioned auxiliary verb ざり. ざり carries the same meaning as the modern ない, in negating what comes before it.

When joined with a combination of the る-Verb 得(え)る 'to gain', or 'to acquire', and the auxiliary verb ない, it becomes a double-negative structure meaning that one 'cannot help doing (A)', or 'there is no choice but to (A)'. More literally, it means that one 'can't not (A)'.

For the most part, this structure will conjugate with other verbs in exactly the same way as ない.

Caution

As ざり is an old-fashioned structure, it conjugates a little bit differently with する than the regular ない.

  • フランスの大学(だいがく)へ行(い)くため、フランス語(ご)を勉強(べんきょう)しざるを得(え)ない。
    In order to go to a college in France, I have no choice but to study French. (Unnatural Japanese)
  • フランスの大学(だいがく)へ行(い)くため、フランス語(ご)を勉強(べんきょう)せざるを得(え)ない。
    In order to go to a college in France, I have no choice but to study French. (Natural Japanese)

Notice here that instead of しない changing to しざる, せざる will be used instead.

Examples

--:--

    サプライズのプレゼントに、驚(おどろ)かざるを得(え)なかった。

    I couldn't help but be surprised at the surprise present.

    思(おも)い掛(が)けない出会(であ)いに、感動(かんどう)せざるを得(え)なかった。

    I couldn't help but be moved at the chance meeting.

    田中(たなか)さんはとても忙(いそが)しかったのでゴルフの誘(さそ)いを断(ことわ)らざるを得(え)なかった。

    Mr. Tanaka was so busy he had no choice but to turn down an invitation to play golf.

    古(ふる)い家屋(かおく)は倒壊(とうかい)する恐(おそ)れがあるから、壊(こわ)さざるを得(え)ません。

    The old building is at risk of collapsing, so I have no choice but to tear it down.

    今(いま)まで使(つか)った顕微鏡(けんびきょう)が壊(こわ)れたから、新(あたら)しいのを買(か)わざるを得(え)ない。

    The microscope I have been using until now broke, so I have no choice but to buy a new one.

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      ざるを得ない – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

      • Greenlama

        Greenlama

        My answer to 思掛かけない出会であいに、感動_______________
        is せざるをえない。 But it is marked as incorrect. Why? The example of the same sentence seems to add せ to 感動 but the exercise does not. I have logged out and logged back in (and even entered my answer w/out せ）but Bunpro will not mark my answer as correct.
        Thank you very much in advance for any suggestions from anyone.

      • FredKore

        FredKore

        You’re using the right verb but the wrong tense.
        せざるをえない
        せざるをえなかった

      • Greenlama

        Greenlama

        Oh, duh!! Can’t believe I overlooked that. Thanks so much for replying.

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