JLPT N3 grammar

ことかmeaning and usage

Meaning

How A; so A; how much A!

This point is also listed at N2.

How to form it

  • どんなに/何度verb (plain form)ことか
  • どんなに/どれほどい-adjectiveことか
  • どんなにな-adjective (stem)な/だったことか

How it is used

Exclaims how great something is: 'how A!', 'I can't count how many times...'. Usually paired with 「どんなに」, 「何度」 or 「どれだけ」. Emotional, and more formal than 「なんて〜んだろう」.

Examples

  1. その部屋はなんて寒かったことか。

    How cold it was in the room!

  2. 合格の知らせを聞いて、どんなにうれしかったことか。

    How happy I was to hear that I'd passed!

  3. このドアを閉めてと、何度言ったことか。

    How many times have I told you to close this door!