〜かねない
Might/could
〜かねない is a formal expression used to warn that a negative or harmful result might occur if a situation continues. It translates to 'might,' 'could,' or 'there is a risk that...'
How It Works
The pattern 〜かねない is used when the speaker feels a sense of anxiety or concern about a possible future event.
Key Characteristics:
- Negative Nuance: It is almost exclusively used for bad outcomes (accidents, failures, scandals, etc.).
- Realistic Risk: Unlike the neutral 〜かもしれない, this suggests that based on current evidence, the bad outcome is quite possible.
- Formal Register: It is common in news, business reports, and serious warnings.
Formation:
Verb [masu-stem] + かねない
Example: 起こす（おこす）→ 起こし + かねない = 起こしかねない (might cause)
Comparison with similar patterns:
While 〜恐れがある is also used for negative risks, it is more objective and used in public announcements (like weather or law). 〜かねない often points to a specific cause-and-effect relationship or a person's character flaw.
Examples (4)
- そんな運転の仕方をしていたら、事故を起こしかねないよ。
If you keep driving like that, you could cause an accident.
Word by Word: Such driving way doing if, accident cause might.
The speaker is issuing a warning about a dangerous behavior that has a high risk of a negative result.
- このまま放置しておくと、大きな問題に発展しかねない。
If we leave it like this, it might develop into a major problem.
Word by Word: This way leave if, big problem into develop might.
Used here to express concern about the escalation of a situation if no action is taken.
- 彼は口が軽いから、秘密を漏らしかねない。
He has a big mouth, so he might leak the secret.
Word by Word: He mouth light because, secret leak might.
This shows how the pattern can describe a risk based on someone's personality or tendencies.
- 休まずに働き続けると、病気になりかねません。
If you continue working without resting, you might get sick.
Word by Word: Without resting work continue if, illness become might (polite).
A polite warning using the ます form of the pattern (〜かねません).
Common Mistakes
Using it for positive outcomes.
一生懸命勉強すれば、合格しかねない。一生懸命勉強すれば、合格するかもしれない。〜かねない is only for negative results. For positive possibilities like 'passing an exam,' use 〜かもしれない or 〜可能性がある.
Attaching it to the dictionary form of the verb.
事故を起こすかねない。事故を起こしかねない。The pattern must attach to the verb stem (masu-stem). 起こす becomes 起こし before adding かねない.
How It Connects
Learn This First
〜かねない is used to express the possibility of a negative or undesirable outcome. To use it, you must know how to conjugate verbs into their stem form (ます-stem). It is also helpful to understand basic expressions of possibility like かもしれない to distinguish when to use this specific pattern for risks or dangers.
- かもしれないMight/maybe
Understanding the basic concept of 'might' or 'possibility' helps in learning this more specific version used for negative outcomes.
Level 2 - 〜かねるCannot/hard to
This is the positive counterpart of the same auxiliary verb, meaning 'cannot' or 'is difficult to,' which shares the same grammatical root.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- 恐れがあるThere Is a Risk
A more objective and formal way to express a risk of a negative outcome, often used in news or official reports.
Level 3 - 得る（える）Can Happen
Expresses the objective possibility of something happening (can happen), whereas 〜かねない emphasizes the risk of a bad outcome.
Level 3 - せいでBecause of (Blame)
Used to attribute a negative result to a specific cause, similar to how 〜かねない predicts a negative result from a cause.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice 〜かねない in Bubblegum
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