GRAMMAR
とても〜ない
not ~ at all
Explanation
NOTE
とても〜ない expresses strong negation: "absolutely cannot" or "there is no way" — intensifying impossibility.
こんなに多くて、とても一人では食べられない。
There's so much, there's no way one person can eat it all.
This structure is used to emphasize that something is impossible or beyond one's ability.
STRUCTURE
とても ... ない
あの値段では、とても買えない。
Ano nedan de wa, totemo kaenai.
At that price, there's no way I can buy it.
とても信じられない。
Totemo shinjirarenai.
I absolutely cannot believe it.
今日中には、とても終わらない。
Kyoujuu ni wa, totemo owaranai.
There's no way I can finish this today.
Practice exercises
1
このテストはとても合格できない。
There's no way I can pass this test.
Answer
とても
2
こんな重い荷物はとても持てない。
There's no way I can carry such a heavy load.
Answer
とても
3
朝までにとても書き終えられない。
There's no way I can finish writing by morning.
Answer
とても
4
この問題は難しくて、解けない。
This problem is so difficult that I cannot solve it at all.
Answer
解けない
5
この坂は急すぎて、登れない。
This hill is too steep to not at all (climb).
Answer
登れない
6
あの値段では、とても買えない。
At that price, there's no way I can buy it.
Answer
とても
7
今日中には、とても終わらない。
There's no way I can finish this today.
Answer
とても
8
彼女の才能には、とても敵わない。
Against her talent, I absolutely cannot compete.
Answer
とても