JLPT N4 grammar

〜はずがないmeaning and usage

Meaning

Cannot be A; should not be A (when describing a situation, not the actions of the subject)

This point is also listed at N3.

How to form it

  • verb (plain form)/い-adjectiveはずがない
  • な-adjective (stem)なはずがない
  • nounのはずがない

How it is used

A confident denial based on reasoning: “there's no way that”. Close to 「〜わけがない」. 「〜ないはずだ」 is weaker: “it shouldn't be”.

Examples

  1. 彼はそれを見たはずがない。

    He cannot have seen it.

  2. あんなにやさしい人が、うそをつくはずがない。

    There's no way someone that kind would lie.

  3. 昨日買ったばかりの時計が、もう壊れるはずがありません。

    A watch I bought only yesterday can't be broken already.