Japanese from zero · N2 Lesson 30
The second interview
〜ものなら ・ 〜ようでは ・ 〜ていては ・ 〜てはいられない
In this lesson, you will learn to say what you would do if only you could with 〜ものなら, to warn that a bad state leads to a bad result with 〜ようでは and 〜ていては, and to say you can't afford to keep doing something with 〜ては いられない and 〜て ばかりは いられない. It is February, and Lisa hears how her second interview went.
By the end you will be able to say
逃げられる ものなら 逃げたかったです。I'd have run away if I could.
何も 言えない ようでは、気持ちは 届きません。If you can't say anything, your feelings won't get across.
そんなに 緊張して いては、本当の 自分が 見えません。If you stay that nervous, nobody can see the real you.
合格したけど、喜んで ばかりは いられない。I passed, but I can't just celebrate.
試験まで 時間が ないから、休んでは いられない。There's no time before the exam, so I can't afford to rest.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜ものなら — if (only) I could — A potential verb + ものなら means 'if it were possible', usually followed by a wish.
- 〜ようでは — if things are like this, it won't do — 〜ようでは describes a worrying state and warns that it leads to a bad result.
- 〜ていては — if you keep doing — A て-form + いては says 'if you keep on doing this', and a bad result follows.
- 〜ては いられない / 〜て ばかりは いられない — can't afford to (keep) doing — 〜ては いられない says the situation won't let you go on doing something; with ばかり, you can't do only that.