てならない · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | てならない | てならなくない |
| Polite | てならないです | てならなくないですalso てならなくありません |
| Past polite | てならなかったです | てならなくなかったですalso てならなくありませんでした |
| Past | てならなかった | てならなくなかった |
| Te-form | てならなくて | てならなくなくて |
| Adverbial | てならなく | |
| Conditional | てならなければ | てならなくなければ |
| Tara conditional | てならなかったら | てならなくなかったら |
can't help but; irresistibly; unbearably
Attaches to the て-form of verbs and adjectives to express an uncontrollable feeling or urge. Often used with emotional or sensory words like 気になる, 思える, 腹が立つ, 悲しい, etc. The subject is typically the speaker.
See also: でならない
I can't help but be curious about him.
This movie makes me unbearably sad.
I can't stop worrying about the exam results.
Derived from the negative form of the verb なる (to become) attached to the て-form, literally meaning 'it does not become (that way)', which evolved into an expression of inevitability or uncontrollability.