modality N2 common writtenpolite
〜得ない — cannot possibly ~ / it is impossible that ~
〜得ない ・ えない
Meaning
- cannot possibly ~ / it is impossible that ~ — denies that something could happen or be the case
Key sentence
彼が嘘をつくなんて、あり得ない。
There's no way he would lie.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (ます-stem) | V(stem) + 得ない | あり得ない / 想像し得ない |
Examples
この状況で利益が出るとは考え得ない。
It's inconceivable that we'd turn a profit in this situation.
プロがそんな初歩的なミスをするなど、あり得ない。
It's impossible that a professional would make such a basic mistake.
Easily confused with
Notes
- あり得ない ('no way / unbelievable') is extremely common and has also become casual slang for 'that's outrageous.' Note the reading is えない even though the dictionary form 得る may be read うる.
See 〜得ない in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜得ない the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.