JLPT N2 Grammar – Difference between “〜限り” and “〜限りでは”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜限かぎり” and “〜限かぎりでは”
2. A限かぎり
3. A限かぎりではB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment

Q: What is the difference between “〜限かぎり” and “〜限かぎりでは”?

A: “〜限かぎり” means “to do something to the limit” or “to do something within one’s ability,” and it expresses the limit of an action or state.
On the other hand, “〜限かぎりでは” means “to make a judgment within a certain range,” and it is used when referring to the scope of one’s information or knowledge.

A限かぎり (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
To do something to the limit or within one’s ability

[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form + 限かぎり
[N] Noun + の + 限かぎり

[Examples]
わたしが知しる限かぎりの情報じょうほうを集あつめました。
I gathered all the information I know.

できる限かぎりのことをしましたが、結果けっか的てきにうまくいきませんでした。
I did everything I could, but in the end, it didn’t go well.

この試合しあいでは力ちからの限かぎり戦たたかおうと思おもっています。
In this match, I intend to fight with all my strength.

“限かぎり” is an expression used when you want to say “to do something to the limit” or “to do something within the possible range.”
In A, words that express “a limit” or “the edge of a range” are used. It mainly indicates the extreme point of an action, state, view, or scope, so the words that can be used with it are somewhat limited.

[Commonly used words]
力ちから, Words that express time or ability, words that describe one’s field of vision, words that express knowledge, words that indicate range or extent

[Examples]
見渡みわたす限かぎり、この辺あたりに民家みんかはなさそうです。
As far as the eye can see, there don’t seem to be any houses around here.
⇒ This means that even when looking to the edge of one’s field of vision, no houses can be seen.

時間じかんの限かぎり、試験しけんの問題もんだいを解ときました。
I worked on the exam questions until the very last moment.

できる限かぎりの準備じゅんびを整ととのえて面接めんせつに行いきましたが、予想よそう外がいの質問しつもんには答こたえられませんでした。
I prepared as much as I could before the interview, but I wasn’t able to answer the unexpected questions.

A限かぎりではB (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
To make a judgment based on a certain range of information or experience

[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form / past form + 限かぎりでは
[N] Noun + の + 限かぎりでは

[Examples]
彼かれからの報告ほうこく書しょを読よむ限かぎりでは、計画けいかくは順調じゅんちょうのようです。
As far as I can tell from his report, the project seems to be going smoothly.

社長しゃちょうと話はなした限かぎりでは、来年らいねんも同おなじ方針ほうしんで事業じぎょうを進すすめるそうです。
As far as I heard from the president, it seems that the company will continue with the same policy next year.

私わたしの経験けいけんの限かぎりでは、この方法ほうほうが最もっとも効率こうりつ的てきに作業さぎょうができると思おもいます。
As far as my experience goes, I think this method allows us to work the most efficiently.

“限かぎりでは” is used when A expresses information, knowledge, or experience, and the speaker limits their judgment or conclusion in B to that range.
Therefore, it is common to use verbs in A that express acts of obtaining information.

[Commonly used words]
見みる (to see), 聞きく (to hear), 知しる (to know), 調しらべる (to investigate)

[Examples]
調査ちょうさの結果けっかの限かぎりでは、大おおきな問題もんだいは見みつかりませんでした。
As far as the results of the investigation show, no major problems were found.

昨日きのうの会議かいぎで聞きいた限かぎりでは、新あたらしい方針ほうしんに大おおきな変更へんこうはないようです。
As far as I heard in yesterday’s meeting, there don’t seem to be any major changes to the new policy.

警察けいさつの発表はっぴょうの限かぎりでは、事件じけんの真相しんそうはまだ不明ふめいのようです。
As far as the police announcement goes, the truth of the incident is still unknown.

Let’s Compare

Which expression is more appropriate in the following cases?

[Example]
① 最終さいしゅう決戦けっせんは負まけるかもしれませんが、力ちからの限かぎり頑張がんばりましょう。
② 最終さいしゅう決戦けっせんは負まけるかもしれませんが、力ちからの限かぎりでは頑張がんばりましょう。

The correct answer is ① “限かぎり.”
It expresses the speaker’s intention to do their best “to the limit of their ability.”

Now, how about the next example?

[Example]
① このグラフを見みる限かぎり、入場にゅうじょう者しゃ数すうはどんどん増ふえています。
② このグラフを見みる限かぎりでは、入場にゅうじょう者しゃ数すうはどんどん増ふえています。

The correct answer is ② “限かぎりでは.”
This expression indicates “a judgment based on what is seen,” meaning the conclusion is drawn from the information obtained from the graph.

Summary

[A限かぎり]

• An expression used when you want to say “to do something to the limit” or “to do something within the possible range.”
• In “A限かぎり,” A represents words that express a “limit” or the “edge of a range.” It mainly indicates the extreme point of an action, state, view, or scope, so the words that can be used with it are somewhat limited.

[A限かぎりではB]

• This expression is used when A shows information, knowledge, or experience, and the speaker limits their judgment or conclusion in B to that range.
• In A, verbs that express acts of obtaining information are commonly used, such as “見みる (to see),” “聞きく (to hear),” “知しる (to know),” and “調しらべる (to investigate).”

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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Similer Articles

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