JLPT N1 Shinkanzen Grammar Lesson 18: ~までもない・~までだ・~ばそれまでだ (No need to... / All one can do is... / If... then that is the end...)

~までもない・~までだ・~ばそれまでだ (No need to... / All one can do is... / If... then that is the end...)

JLPT N1
Shinkanzen N1 • 5 key grammar patterns
Point 1N1_L18_G1

1. ~までもない

Sentence Pattern
Vる (Dictionary form) + までもない
Meaning: There is no need to... / It is not necessary to go so far as to...

Explanation: Used when something is already obvious or so minor that making the extra effort is unnecessary. It often follows intentional actions such as saying, going, or checking.

Example Sentences (2)
日本にほんの夏なつの暑あつさは、今いまさら言いうまでもない。
The heat of Japanese summers is something that hardly needs saying at this point.
ネットで調しらべればすぐ分わかることなので、わざわざ図書館としょかんに行いくまでもない。
You can find out immediately by searching online, so there is no need to go all the way to the library.
Point 2N1_L18_G2

2. ~までだ / ~までのことだ

Sentence Pattern
Vる (Dictionary form) + までだ / までのことだ
Vた + までだ / までのことだ
Meaning: At worst, I will simply... / I have no choice but to...; I merely... and nothing more

Explanation: ~までだ has two distinct uses. With Vる, the speaker accepts the situation with resolve: if things do not work out, they will simply take the remaining option; it often follows a conditional. With Vた, the speaker explains or defends a past action as something done for a simple reason, with no deeper intention.

Example Sentences (4)
終電しゅうでんを逃のがしてしまったなら、歩あるいて帰かえるまでだ。
If I miss the last train, at worst I will just walk home.
誰だれにも頼たのめないなら、自分じぶんで何なんとかするまでのことだ。
If I cannot ask anyone for help, I will simply manage somehow on my own.
聞きかれたから、知しっていることを答こたえたまでだ。
You asked me, so I merely answered what I knew; that is all.
あなたの成功せいこうが嬉うれしかったから、お祝いわいの言葉ことばを言いったまでのことだ。
I was happy about your success, so I simply offered you some words of congratulations; nothing more.
Point 3N1_L18_G3

3. ~ばそれまでだ

Sentence Pattern
Vば / Vたら + それまでだ
Meaning: If that happens, it is all over / everything becomes meaningless

Explanation: Expresses resignation or helplessness: if the condition in the first clause occurs, all previous effort becomes meaningless and nothing more can be done. A common fixed expression is 「~と言われればそれまでだ」.

Example Sentences (2)
どんなに高価こうかな時計とけいでも、壊こわれてしまえばそれまでだ。
No matter how expensive a watch is, if it breaks, that is the end of it.
いくら一生懸命作いっしょうけんめいつくっても、提出期限ていしゅつきげんに遅おくれればそれまでだ。
No matter how hard you work on it, if you miss the submission deadline, it is all for nothing.
Point 4N1_L18_G4

4. ~には当たらない

Sentence Pattern
Vる (Dictionary form) + には当あたらない
Verbal noun N する + には当あたらない
Meaning: Not worth... / There is no reason to...

Explanation: Used to restrain an excessive reaction: the matter is not serious enough to justify such surprise, pessimism, criticism, praise, etc. It is mainly used with verbs of evaluation or emotion such as 驚く, 悲観する, 非難する and 称賛する.

Example Sentences (2)
彼かれの才能さいのうを考かんがえれば、今回こんかいの優勝ゆうしょうは驚おどろくには当あたらない。
Considering his talent, his victory this time is nothing to be surprised about.
ちょっと失敗しっぱいしたくらいで、そんなに悲観ひかんするには当あたらない。
It was only a small failure; there is no reason to be so pessimistic.
Point 5N1_L18_G5

5. ~でなくてなんだろう(か)

Sentence Pattern
Noun N + でなくてなんだろう(か)
Meaning: If this is not..., what is? / This is surely...

Explanation: Strongly and rhetorically asserts the speaker's judgment: nothing else could describe it; it must be exactly that. Often used with emotionally charged nouns such as 感動, 嘆き, 称賛, 愛 and 奇跡.

Example Sentences (2)
命いのちを懸かけて子供こどもを守まもる、これが愛あいでなくてなんだろう。
Risking one's life to protect one's children—if that is not love, what is?
こんなに美うつくしい景色けしきが、奇跡きせきでなくてなんだろうか。
If scenery this beautiful is not a miracle, what is?