Japanese from zero · N1 Lesson 54

Every form compared (2)

をもとに/を踏まえて/に即して/に則って/に照らして/を前提として・をきっかけに/を機に/を境に/を皮切りに/を限りに/折に/に先駆けて・ことはない/までもない/には及ばない/には当たらない/ほどのことではない・ざるを得ない/ずにはおかない/ずには済まない/を禁じ得ない/を余儀なくされる

In this lesson, you will learn to choose the right form when several N1 patterns look alike: the ways to name what something is based on, the ways to name a starting point or a turning point, the ways to say 'there's no need', and the ways to say 'must' and 'can't help'. Hiro, the kanji drill sergeant who once tested Lisa every night, brings his Japanese homework to her apartment.

By the end you will be able to say

調査の結果を踏まえて、意見を書きます。I'll write my opinion taking the survey's results into account.

入社を機に、毎日日誌をつけています。Since joining the company, I've kept a diary every day.

いいえ、来るには及びません。No, there's no need to come.

雨で、試合は中止を余儀なくされました。The rain forced the match to be called off.

その話には、同情を禁じ得ません。Hearing that story, I can't help feeling sorry.

The grammar in this lesson

Bases compared: をもとに / を踏まえて / に即して / に則って / に照らして / を前提として — What something is built from, taken into account, fitted to, ruled by, judged against, or assumes.
Occasions compared: をきっかけに / を機に / を境に / を皮切りに / を限りに / 折に / に先駆けて — What got something started, the chance you took, the turning point, the first and the last of a series, a formal occasion, and 'ahead of everyone else'.
'No need' compared: ことはない / までもない / には及ばない / には当たらない / ほどのことではない — The everyday ことはない, the obvious までもない, the formal には及ばない, には当たらない for a reaction that is not called for, and ほどのことではない for something too small.
'Must' and 'can't help' compared: ざるを得ない / ずにはおかない / ずには済まない / を禁じ得ない / を余儀なくされる — No choice but to, bound to, not settled without, a feeling you can't hold back, and being forced by events.