Verbる や否や JLPT N1 Very formal / literary
Verb-ru ya ina ya
Expresses the idea of 'as soon as', 'the moment...'.
Formal, literary "no sooner than" - written narrative style.
Formation
Verb-dictionary form + や否や
Explanation
The grammar point Verbる や否や is used to express something happening immediately after another action or event. It can be translated as 'as soon as...' or 'the moment...'. The verb must be in dictionary form.
Example sentences
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As soon as she returned home, she turned on the TV.
Kanojo ga ie ni kaeru ya ina ya, sugu ni terebi o tsukemashita.
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The moment I opened the mailbox, the letters fell out.
Watashi ga yuubinbako o akeru ya ina ya, tegami ga ochimashita.
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As soon as school was over, the children ran to the park.
Kodomo-tachi wa gakkou ga owaru ya ina ya, kouen ni hashirimashita.
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The moment my father read the newspaper, he started trembling about something.
Chichi ga shinbun o yomu ya ina ya, nanika ni furuete imashita.