Lesson 15
Topic & standard: speaking of / as a ~
- 1 〜ときたら ~to kitara speaking of ~ (complaint) Name someone or something close to you and let the complaint pour out — 'don't even get me started on ~!' — in everyday speech.
- 2 〜ともなると ~to mo naru to once it comes to (a higher level) ~, naturally… When a position, age or occasion reaches a higher or special level — 'at that point, of course things are different'.
- 3 〜ともあろう ~to mo arō (someone) of all people, a ~ (should know better) When someone with a high position or a good name does something unworthy of it — 'a ~, of all people!' — formal surprise and criticism.
- 4 〜たるもの ~taru mono anyone who is a ~ (must…) A very stiff, formal way to state the ideal — how anyone in a responsible role must be.
- 5 〜なりに ~nari ni in one's own way / within the limits of ~ Even though the ability or situation isn't great, one does the best one can within it — a warm, modest form.
- 6 〜に言わせれば ~ni iwasereba if you ask ~ / in ~'s view Whatever others say, 'if you ask me (or them), it's like this' — putting forward someone's strong, personal opinion.
- 7 〜からある ~kara aru as much as ~ (or more) — a big amount Stating a big weight, length, height or distance and stressing 'that much!'
Lesson check
All 7 forms of this lesson together — pick the right one from its look-alikes, the way the exam does. 6/8 completes the lesson.
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「うちの兄＿＿＿、借りたお金を全然返してくれない。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Someone close + a complaint.
N + ときたら + complaint = don't get me started on my brother. たるもの takes an ideal; ともなると is for what naturally comes at a higher level.
「大臣＿＿＿、自由に一人で出かけることもできない。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:A high position → the natural state.
N + ともなると = once you're a minister (naturally). This is not a complaint, so ときたら doesn't fit; なりに is for modest limits.
「医者＿＿＿人が、患者の名前を間違えるなんて。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:「人が」and 「なんて」follow.
N₁ + ともあろう + 人が〜なんて = a doctor, of all people! たるもの does not take 人 directly and only states an ideal.
「親＿＿＿、子どもの前で人の悪口を言うべきではない。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:A role + the ideal 'should'.
N + たるもの + 〜べきだ = anyone who is a parent should not ~. ともあろう needs 人 after it; ときたら is for complaints.
「料理は得意じゃないけど、自分＿＿＿工夫して毎日お弁当を作っている。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:'Not great, but in my own way.'
N + なりに = in my own way. ともなると and たるもの are for high positions and don't fit here.
「みんなはいい会社だと言うが、そこで十年働いた父＿＿＿、給料のわりに仕事がきつすぎるそうだ。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:One person's opinion, against the common view.
N (person) + に言わせれば = if you ask my father. The 「そうだ」at the end reports his opinion.
「片道15キロ＿＿＿道を、毎日自転車で通勤している。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:A long distance + a noun (道).
Number + からある + N = a road of a good 15 km. ともなると cannot link straight to a noun.
Which sentence is natural?
💡 Hint:After which form can a clause follow directly?
ともなると is followed by the natural state — correct. ともあろう needs a noun like 人; たるもの does not take 人; からある goes only with numbers.
Your score: /8