～のは Noun ぐらいのものだ
〜no wa Noun gurai no mono da
Formation
Verb-casual + のは + Noun + ぐらいのものだ, い-Adjective + のは + Noun + ぐらいのものだ, etc.
Conveys that 'only (Noun) is the case' or 'nothing but (Noun)'.
When to use
のは Noun ぐらいのものだ: only X would (そんなことするのは彼ぐらいのものだ).
Explanation
The ～のは Noun ぐらいのものだ pattern indicates that something is exclusively or solely that particular Noun, conveying the sense of 'That's the only thing...' or 'There's nothing but...' about a situation.
Example sentences
-
Reading this novel is nothing but a way to kill time.
Kono shousetsu o yomu no wa hima tsubushi gurai no mono da.
-
About the only good thing at tonight's dinner was the pizza.
Kyou no yuushoku de yokatta no wa piza gurai no mono da.
-
Watching this movie is nothing but a waste of time.
Kono eiga o miru no wa jikan no muda gurai no mono da.
-
Talking to him is nothing but stressful.
Kare to hanasu no wa sutoresu gurai no mono da.
Exclusivity (Only / Nothing But)
- Noun だけ〜〜dakeN5Indicates 'only', 'just', or 'merely'.
- Noun しか～ないNoun shika~naiN4Expresses 'only', 'nothing but', or 'no other'.
- ～だけしか～dake shikaN3Emphasizes the scarcity or insufficiency of something…
- Noun ばかり〜bakariN4Expresses 'only', 'nothing but', 'always', or 'just'.
- ～に過ぎない〜ni suginaiN2Expresses that something is 'just' or 'nothing more than'…
- ～に限り〜ni kagiriN2Expresses limitation; 'only', 'limited to', 'exclusive to'.
- ～にほかならない〜ni hoka naranaiN2Express that something is 'nothing but' or 'none other…
- ～しかない〜shika naiN3Express the idea of 'only', 'no other option but'…
- ～ばかりだ〜bakari daN2Express a continuing state or negative tendency; 'just'…
- Noun を おいて他に Verb ない〜wo oite hoka ni〜naiN1Means 'apart from ~ there's nothing else,' implying the…