極性項目. Words that appear exclusively in affirmative or negative (or interrogative) environments. For example, the adverbial particle しか only appears in negative contexts. Some words have an association with one polarity but also appear outside that context; for example, 全然 appears chiefly in negative contexts but also appears in affirmative contexts. Some words, such as あまり, are polarity items only in certain uses.
Questions tagged [polarity-items]
26 questions
33
votes
3 answers
The reason for using 何も+negative, but 何でも+positive
In one of the Japanese classes I attended, I've been taught that while we use 「何も出来ない」to say "He cannot do anything", to say "He can do anything" we use 「何でも出来る」 instead of 「何も出来る」.
Why is there a grammar rule that says 「何も」 is used before negative…
Lukman
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1 answer
Does ません sometimes not negate?
彼ら は 自分 の 事 しか 考えて いません。
The translation of this sentence from my learning materials is apparently "They only think of themselves."
Now it all makes sense to me until the ません at the end. To my mind it negates the entire sentence. So it means that…
sups12
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11
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2 answers
The role of と particle in 「二度としない」
What is the role of と particle in 「二度としない」? Is it quotative, adverbialisation, change of state or supposition?
Also, what extra nuances does it contribute to the expression compared to if も is used instead (二度もしない)?
Lukman
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9
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2 answers
Does 稀に have negative polarity?
In English, you have the following phenomenon:
○ I sometimes play jazz piano.
? I rarely play jazz piano.
That is, when you have a predicate that usually does not take place, you can use "sometimes" with it, but "rarely" is weird without further…
Darius Jahandarie
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7
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How does 一回だって in this sentence mean "not even once" when there's no negative?
I came across this sentence watching March Comes In Like a Lion. I'll transcribe it to the best of my ability: (here's the episode though, and the quote happens at…
Cranberry48
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How to use ～でも and ～も?
I have looked up 誰 in the dictionary, and found that both
誰も
誰でも
can mean everyone and everybody.
If there is a difference between them, what is the correct way to use each of them?
It is not limited to 誰, I also want to consider other question…
Second Person Shooter
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誰も used in a positive sentence
I am reviewing the interrogative words like 何、誰、どこ etc. and I saw 誰も being used in a positive sentence, I wonder what the difference would be if みんな were used instead. For example:
誰もが知っている
みんなが知っている
Some people said it means the same but if there…
Tchang
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6
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2 answers
必ずしも within this sentence
I was learning about 限らない and encounter this particular sentence.
社長の意見が必ずしも正しいとは限らない
I'm pretty sure that the meaning would be
"Manager's opinion is not always right"
But if I check the dictionary entry for 必ずしも it means "not always".
How come…
Alice28
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Uncertain about なにも
I encountered a short sentence that I'm having trouble understanding completely.
なにも遊ぶのは人間だけじゃない。
The context is, a young girl is playing with a dog for the first time.
I'm pretty sure I at least understand the basic meaning and a very literal…
G-Cam
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4
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3
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3 answers
-まい suffix usage in sample sentence
This sentence is rather confusing. あの人は、二度と嘘をつくまいと誓ったのです。
Apparently the translation is: 'That person had sworn to never lie again' but I previously thought まい is a negative intention so surely it means 'they won't swear to never lie'. Obviously…
Jack D
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あまり when used to answer a negative question
When answering a negative question with あまり, it will normally be the positive (by japanese rules). For example:
person A: 彼に来ないで欲しいですか？
person B: あまり
By literal translation, person A is asking person B, "Do you want him not to come". And person B…
Newbie
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What is the grammatical function of と in the sentence 同じ心を持った人は二人といない
What is the grammatical function of と in the sentence:
同じ心を持った人は二人といない。
Arie
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What verb form is くださねばなるまい
The following is from a mystery manga. The criminal mastermind is lamenting that his accomplice Masumi failed to properly kill Kimisawa.
ますみの奴・・・
最後の最後でしくじったな
あの至近距離でよもや急所をはずす
君沢ユリエのケガの具合によっては (new bubble if relevant)
また私が直接手をくださねばなるまい
Basic…
G-Cam
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3
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どこにでもある or どこかにある
When I translate this sentence "The stone could be anywhere." into Japanese, How can I do that?
I asked a native English speaker this meaning, he said it means "The stone can only be in one place but the possibilities are not limited and instead…
Yuuichi Tam
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