Grammar › N1 · 08 Extremes and impossibility

〜ようにも〜ない: want to but cannot

N1 · 08 Extremes and impossibility

Says you would like to do something, but the situation makes it impossible.

Volitional-based verb + ようにも + same verb in negative potential form: 行こうにも行けない, 話そうにも話せない. Often followed by a reason. A little stronger than 〜たくてもできない. Spoken and written.

Examples

財布さいふを忘わすれて、買かおうにも買かえなかった。

I had forgotten my wallet, so even though I wanted to buy it, I could not.

声が出こえがでなくて、助たすけを呼よぼうにも呼よべなかった。

I had lost my voice, so I could not call for help even though I tried.

Study 〜ようにも〜ない in the course →