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JLPT N2Modal Expressions

ないことはない— It's Not That You Can't

A double negative used to give a reserved, cautious affirmative — 'it's not that (something) can't/isn't (done)'. It softens a statement, admitting a possibility while holding back full commitment. Often used to concede something reluctantly or leave room for conditions.

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Pro lessonUNIT 43 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Verb / い-adj / な-adj / Noun (negative plain)] + ことはない／こともない

Examples · 例文

  • この漢字が読めないことはないが、少し自信がない。

    Kono kanji ga yomenai koto wa nai ga, sukoshi jishin ga nai.

    It's not that I can't read this kanji, but I'm a little unsure.

    読めない + ことはない gives a hedged 'I can read it' with reservation.

  • 時間があれば、手伝わないこともない。

    Jikan ga areba, tetsudawanai koto mo nai.

    If I have time, it's not like I wouldn't help.

    手伝わない + こともない reluctantly concedes willingness under a condition.

  • この料理、おいしくないことはないけど、また食べたいとは思わない。

    Kono ryouri, oishikunai koto wa nai kedo, mata tabetai to wa omowanai.

    It's not that this dish isn't tasty, but I don't want to eat it again.

    おいしくない (い-adj negative) + ことはない gives a lukewarm affirmation.

Usage notes · 注意

  • Conveys reluctance, hedging, or partial agreement rather than a firm 'yes'.
  • こともない is slightly softer/more casual than ことはない.
  • Frequently followed by が or けど to add a caveat.

Commonly confused with

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

vsわけではない

わけではない denies a conclusion someone might draw ('it doesn't mean that…'); ないことはない gives a hedged affirmative possibility ('it's not that you can't').

vsないわけにはいかない

ないわけにはいかない means 'must / can't avoid doing'; ないことはない merely admits something is possible with reservation.

More modal expressions

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