JLPT N2 Shinkanzen Grammar Lesson 4: ~をはじめ・~からして・~にわたって (Starting with... / Throughout...)

~をはじめ・~からして・~にわたって (Starting with... / Throughout...)

JLPT N2
Shinkanzen N2 • 6 key grammar patterns
Point 1N2_L4_G1

1. ~をはじめ(として) (Starting with... / Including...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun (N) + をはじめ(として)
Noun (N) + をはじめとする N

Representative of... / First and foremost...
✓ Gives a representative or prominent example among many things.
✓ The following clause usually contains words indicating a plural quantity (such as いろいろ, 多く...), showing a group that includes the N introduced in the first clause.

Example Sentences (5)
日本にほんには野球やきゅうをはじめ、いろいろなスポーツが盛さかんだ。
Various sports are popular in Japan, starting with (most notably) baseball.
この体育館たいいくかんでは水泳すいえいをはじめ、いろいろなスポーツが楽たのしめる。
At this gymnasium, you can enjoy various sports, starting with swimming.
京都きょうとには金閣寺きんかくじをはじめとして名所めいしょが多おおい。
Kyoto has many famous places, starting with the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji).
日本にほんには「桃太郎ももたろう」をはじめとして、おじいさん、おばあさんが出でてくる昔話むかしばなしが多おおい。
In Japan, there are many folk tales featuring an old man and woman, most notably 'Momotaro'.
このあたりには、市役所しやくしょをはじめとする市しの公共こうきょうの建物たてものが多おおい。
In this area, there are many public city buildings, such as the city hall.
Point 2N2_L4_G2

2. ~からして (Judging from... / Even the...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun (N) + からして

Meaning: Even from... / Judging from...
✓ Two main uses: (1) present one representative point and imply that the whole is similar; (2) use N as a basis for judgment.
✓ N is often an easily noticeable or representative detail used as evidence.
✓ The following clause usually expresses an evaluation or judgment, which may be negative or positive depending on context.

Example Sentences (6)
あの言いい方かたからして、彼かれは怒おこっているようだ。
Judging from his way of speaking, he seems to be angry.
この旅行りょこうの計画けいかくには無理むりがある。出発時間しゅっぱつじかんからして早はやすぎる。
This travel plan is unreasonable. Even the departure time is way too early.
わたしはどうも猫ねこが苦手にがてだ。あの光ひかる目めからして何なんとなく怖こわい感かんじがする。
I'm not very good with cats. Even their glowing eyes somehow give me a scary feeling.
このクラスは常識じょうしきがない人ひとが多おおい。挨拶あいさつからして、きちんとしない。
This class has many people lacking common sense. Even starting from their greetings, they don't do it properly.
あのレストランはとても美味おいしくて有名ゆうめいだ。材料ざいりょうからして他ほかの店みせと違ちがう。
That restaurant is famous for its excellent food. Even the ingredients are different from those used at other restaurants.
さすがプロの選手せんしゅは走はしり方かたからしてわたしたちとは違ちがう。
As expected of a professional athlete, even the way he runs is different from us.
Point 3N2_L4_G3

3. ~にわたって (Over a period of / Throughout / Spanning)

Sentence Pattern
Noun (N) + にわたって
Noun (N) + にわたる N

Meaning: Spanning over / Extending throughout...
✓ Used with words expressing a wide scope or range (such as locations, time periods, number of times, fields...). Indicates the extensive scale of an event.

Example Sentences (6)
台風たいふうのため、広ひろい範囲はんいにわたって大雨おおあめが降ふるでしょう。
Due to the typhoon, heavy rain will likely fall over a wide area.
連休れんきゅうの最終日さいしゅうび、高速道路こうそくどうろは20キロにわたって渋滞じゅうたいが続つづいた。
On the last day of the long holiday, the traffic jam on the highway continued for 20 kilometers.
彼かれはハノイを数回すうかいにわたって訪おとずれた。
He visited Hanoi on several occasions.
彼かれはいろいろなジャンルにわたり、たくさんの本ほんを読よんでいる。
He reads many books spanning various genres.
3日間みっかかんにわたる研究発表大会けんきゅうはっぴょうたいかいが、無事終了ぶじしゅうりょうしました。
The research presentation conference that spanned 3 days has concluded successfully.
彼かれは哲学てつがくや教育きょういくなど多おおくの分野ぶんやにわたり、本ほんを出だしている。
He publishes books spanning many fields such as philosophy and education.
Point 4N2_L4_G4

4. ~を通じて / ~を通して (Throughout / Through)

Sentence Pattern
A. Throughout (Time)
Noun (Time) + を通じて / を通して
B. Through / Via (Medium, Intermediary)
Noun (Medium) + を通じて / を通して

This pattern has two main meanings depending on the preceding noun.

A. Throughout (Time)

Expresses an event or state that exists or occurs throughout an entire period of time.

B. Through / Via (Medium, Intermediary)

Expresses doing something through a medium, activity, relationship, or intermediary.
*Not used for direct, concrete tools or means such as going by bus or writing with a pen.

Example Sentences (8)
この国くには一年いちねんを通つうじて暖あたたかい。
This country is warm all year round.
この町まちには四季しきを通つうじて観光客かんこうきゃくが訪おとずれる。
Tourists visit this town throughout all four seasons.
在職期間ざいしょくきかんを通とおして皆様みなさまには大変たいへんお世話せわになりました。
Throughout my time in office, I have received a lot of help from everyone, thank you very much.
この10年間ねんかんを通とおし、彼かれはいつも新あたらしいことに挑戦ちょうせんしていた。
Throughout these 10 years, he has always been challenging himself with new things.
私わたしは共通きょうつうの友人ゆうじんを通つうじて彼かれと知しり合あった。
I got to know him through a mutual friend.
今日こんにちでは、インターネットを通つうじて世界中せかいじゅうの情報じょうほうが手てに入はいる。
Today, we can obtain information from all over the world through the internet.
子供こどもはスポーツを通つうじていろいろなことが学まなべる。
Children can learn many things through sports.
わたしたちは、ボランティア活動かつどうを通とおしていろいろな国くにの人ひとたちと交流こうりゅうを深ふかめている。
Through volunteer activities, we are deepening our exchanges with people from various countries.
Point 5N2_L4_G5

5. ~限り(かぎり) (As long as / As much as possible)

Sentence Pattern
Vる / Vている + かぎり
Noun (N) の + かぎり

Meaning: Within the maximum range or extent allowed; as much as possible.
✓ Used with limits of ability, strength, knowledge, scope, etc.
✓ Common forms include 力の限り (with all one’s strength), できる限り (as far as possible), and 知っている限り (as far as one knows).
✓ Before a noun, it can appear as ~限りの N.

Example Sentences (5)
力ちからの限かぎり戦たたかったのだから、負まけても悔くいはない。
Because I fought with all my strength, I have no regrets even if I lose.
環境かんきょうを守まもるためにわたしもできる限かぎりのことをしたい。
To protect the environment, I also want to do everything I possibly can.
命いのちの限かぎり戦たたかった。
Fought to the very limits of life (fought to the end).
君きみが知しっている限かぎりのことを全部ぜんぶわたしに話はなしてほしい。
I want you to tell me everything you know.
あしたはいよいよ試合しあいだ。力ちからの限かぎり頑張がんばろう。
Tomorrow is finally the match. Let's do our best with all our might.
Point 6N2_L4_G6

6. ~だけ (As much as... / To the fullest extent)

Sentence Pattern
Vる + だけ
Aい / Aな + だけ

Meaning: To do or reach as much as desired or as much as possible.
✓ Common with できるだけ (as much as possible), ~たいだけ (as much as one wants), and 好きなだけ (as much as one likes).
✓ The same verb may be repeated in the pattern Vるだけ V to emphasize doing something to the fullest extent possible.
✓ Before a noun, ~だけの N can mean “enough N to...” or “N sufficient for...”.

Example Sentences (5)
妻つまに本当ほんとうのことを打うち明あけるだけの勇気ゆうきもなかった。
I didn't even have the courage to confess the truth to my wife.
ここにあるダンボールを、車くるまに積つめるだけ積つんで持もって帰かえってください。
Please load as many of these cardboard boxes into the car as possible and take them home.
父ちちは働はたらくだけ働はたらいて、定年前ていねんまえに退職たいしょくしてしまった。
My father worked as hard as he could, but ended up retiring before the official retirement age.
今日きょうは部長ぶちょうに言いいたいだけの不満ふまんを全部言ぜんぶいって、すっきりした。
Today I told the manager all the complaints I wanted to get off my chest, and I felt relieved afterward.
バイキング形式けいしきの食事しょくじですから、好すきなものを好すきなだけ取とってお召めし上あがりください。
Since it's a buffet-style meal, please take as much of what you like as you want.