〜に違いない: must be (certainty) is a JLPT N2 grammar point. A confident conclusion: “it must be…”. Structure: [Nom / proposition neutre] + に違いない. This page explains the construction, gives Japanese examples with furigana readings, and links to related grammar points at this level.

〜に違いない: must be (certainty)

Structure

[Nom / proposition neutre] + に違いない

Explanation

に違いない states a strong conviction drawn from evidence: “there's no doubt that…”. It is more certain than だろう and more formal than きっと…はず in writing.

Examples

The light is on, so someone must be there.

He must have known.

Quiz preview

  • に違いない ✓
  • わけがない
  • はずがない
  • どころではない

~に違いない expresses strong certainty: “someone must be there.”

  • に違いない ✓
  • わけがない
  • はずがない
  • どころではない

に違いない = a strong deduction: “my bag is gone, so it MUST have been a burglar”.

More N2 grammar points

〜にもかかわらず: despite / in spite of〜ざるを得ない: have no choice but to〜一方だ: keep …ing (one-way trend)〜どころか: far from / let alone〜わけにはいかない: can't afford to〜に応じて: according to〜たとたん(に): the moment that…〜ものの: although / but〜ばかりでなく: not only… but also〜ようがない: no way to…〜に関して: concerning / regarding

See all N2 points →