として～ない | Grammar

Structure

一 + [counter] + として + [verb ない-form] 一 + [counter] + として + [noun] + は / が + ない誰一人として / 何一つとして + [verb ない-form]

Description

として～ない means "not a single…", "not even once": the count is zero, with no exceptions. として follows 一 plus a counter – ひとり一人, ひとつ一つ, いちど一度 – and the verb at the end is negative.

。

Not a single person was against it.

。

No two are alike.

。

I have never once broken a promise.

The number is always one, because the point is that not even one exists. The verb must be negative: ×一人として来た.

The tone is emphatic and formal. You meet it in writing, speeches and narration; in conversation it sounds dramatic.

として～ない or も～ない

and with a negative mean the same, and are what you say in everyday speech. として is heavier and more formal.

。

I didn't understand a single thing.

。

Not one of his works shares a theme with another.

誰一人として, 何一つとして

A question word in front makes the phrase stronger still: だれ誰ひとり一人として for people, なん何ひとつ一つとして for things.

。

Not one person knew his name.

。

Not a single thing is useless.

Examples

。

Not a single person agreed.

。

There is not a single lie in his words.

。

I have never broken a promise, not even once.

。

There was not a single student who could answer this question.

。

Not a single one is functioning properly.

。

I have never beaten her, not even once.

。

I didn't catch a single fish.

。

There is not a single useless thing in this world.

。

There is not a single book I have finished reading.

。

Not a single one of his works shares the same theme.

。

I have never regretted it, not even once.

。

There was not a single customer in that store.

References

Standpoint として（は） vs にとって（は）imabi.org