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JLPT N3Modal Expressions

～ことはない— No Need To

Tells someone there is no need to do something, or no reason to feel a certain way — 'you don't have to ~'. It is often used to reassure or comfort, downplaying a worry. The action is presented as unnecessary rather than forbidden.

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Pro lessonUNIT 28 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Verb dictionary form] + ことはない

Examples · 例文

  • あなたが謝ることはないよ。

    Anata ga ayamaru koto wa nai yo.

    There's no need for you to apologize.

    謝る + ことはない = 'no need to apologize'

  • そんなに心配することはない。

    Sonna ni shinpai suru koto wa nai.

    There's no need to worry that much.

    心配する + ことはない reassures the listener

  • 急ぐことはない、時間はたっぷりある。

    Isogu koto wa nai, jikan wa tappuri aru.

    There's no need to hurry — we have plenty of time.

    急ぐ + ことはない = 'no reason to rush'

Usage notes · 注意

  • Attaches to the dictionary form of the verb.
  • Commonly used to comfort or reassure; softened further with よ/から.
  • Do not confuse with 〜たことがない (never have done), which uses the past tense + がない.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～ことはない is tested against.

vsなくてもいい

なくてもいい gives neutral permission not to do something ('you may skip it'); ことはない more actively asserts there's no need/reason, often to reassure.

vsべきではない

べきではない says one shouldn't do something (it's wrong); ことはない merely says it's unnecessary, not that it's improper.

More modal expressions

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