So ~ that … (excess → result)
emotional/mental excess
Open details
Form: N + の + あまり ／ V-plain + あまり
Use when: excessive A leads to B (often unintended).
Contrast: simple “too ~” as adverb → あまりに（も）+ Adj/V.
Avoid: commands/requests right after it.
Mini example
I was so nervous that my hands shook.
So (N) that …
emphasize the degree of a noun
Open details
Form: あまりの + N + に
Use when: highlight an extreme degree of N causing a result.
Contrast: with verbs/clauses → use 〜あまり.
Register: tends to be written/formal.
Mini example
あまりの
It was so hot that I refrained from going out.
How ~ (exclamation, written)
often with どれほど／どんなに／なんと
Open details
Form: （どれほど／どんなに／なんと）+ Clause + ことだろう／ことか
Use when: strong emotion in a written/solemn tone.
Contrast: casual surprise → 〜なんて.
Note: rarely used in everyday conversation.
Mini example
この
How long I’ve waited for this day!
… was extreme!
often “N + といったら（ない）”
Open details
Form: N/Adj + といったら（ない）
Use when: emphasize how extreme something felt.
Variants: 〜といったらありはしない（very colloquial).
Note: often evaluative, sometimes negative.
Mini example
The crowding during rush hour is unbelievable.
“X?!” (surprise/emotion, casual)
N / plain + なんて
Open details
Form: N／Clause + なんて
Use when: show surprise, admiration, or contempt (context decides).
Contrast: formal alternative → 〜とは.
Register: casual; avoid in official writing.
Mini example
彼が
He passed by self-study? Amazing!
To my (emotion), …
sets speaker’s feeling about a fact
Open details
Form: Adj-い/Adj-な + ことに（は）（うれしいことに／残念なことに／驚いたことに）
Use when: introduce a fact with your evaluation.
Contrast: neutral transition → plain sentence without ことに.
Register: semi-formal; common in essays/reports.
Mini example
残念なことに、
Regrettably, the meeting was postponed.
Indeed … / how … it is (musing)
exclamatory, reflective use
Open details
Form: Clause + ものだ
Use when: express deep feeling/admiration or general truth with emotion.
Contrast: nostalgic past → 〜たものだ (different sense).
Avoid: using it as advice “should” (that’s another 〜ものだ).
Mini example
Time really flies.
1) 〜あまり — so ~ that … (excess → result)
Use when excessive emotion/mental state causes an unintended result. With adjectives/verbs meaning “too ~” use あまりに（も） as an adverb.
Form: N + の + あまり ／ V-plain + あまり
Contrast: N degree focus → あまりのNに.
I worried so much that I couldn’t eat.
I overthought it and couldn’t sleep.
I was so happy that I cried.
2) あまりの〜に — so (N) that …
Focus on the degree of a noun and say it caused a result. Written/neutral tone.
Form: あまりの + N + に
Contrast: clause-based excess → 〜あまり.
あまりの 忙 しさ に、昼食 を 抜 いた。
I was so busy that I skipped lunch.
あまりの 美 しさ に、言葉 を 失 った。
It was so beautiful I was at a loss for words.
あまりの 静 けさ に、物音 が 気 になった。
It was so quiet that every sound stood out.
3) 〜ことだろう・〜ことか — how ~ (written exclamation)
Express a strong feeling in writing, often with question words like どれほど／どんなに／なんと.
Form: （どれほど／どんなに／なんと）+ Clause + ことだろう／ことか
Register: literary/written tone.
どんなに 心強 かった ことか。
How reassuring it was!
なんと 貴重 な 経験 であった ことだろう。
What a valuable experience it was!
どれほど 家族 に 支 えられた ことか。
How much I was supported by my family.
4) 〜といったら — it was extreme!
Emphasize an extreme degree, often evaluative and sometimes negative. Can take 〜といったらない for “beyond words”.
Form: N/Adj + といったら（ない）
Tip: without ない, follow with an exclamation/remark.
The last-minute rush before submission is beyond words.
この 景色 の 素晴 らしさといったら！
How stunning this view is!
彼の 段取 りの 悪 さといったら、困 った もの だ。
His poor planning is truly a problem.
5) 〜なんて — “X?!” (surprise/emotion; casual)
Show surprise, admiration, or disdain. In formal writing, replace with 〜とは to avoid casual tone.
Form: N／Clause + なんて
Nuance: meaning shifts by context/intonation.
A round-the-world trip? Sounds like a dream!
こんな 偶然 が ある なんて！
I can’t believe such a coincidence!
彼が 謝 る なんて、意外 だ。
Him apologizing? That’s unexpected.
6) 〜ことに（は） — to my (emotion), …
Set your evaluation before stating a fact. Often used with 感謝／驚き／残念 etc.
Form: Adj + ことに（は）
Examples: ありがたいことに／驚いたことに／幸いなことに
ありがたいことに、多 くの 支援 が 集 まった。
Thankfully, much support gathered.
驚いたことに、予定 より 早 く 完成 した。
Surprisingly, it was finished earlier than planned.
残念なことに、契約 は 見送 りに なった。
Regrettably, the contract was put on hold.
7) 〜ものだ（感慨） — indeed/how … it is
Express admiration, musing, or a general truth with feeling. Different from advice “〜ものだ (should)”.
Form: Clause + ものだ
Related: nostalgic past = 〜たものだ (not covered here).
With small tweaks, results can really change.
People truly live by supporting one another.
Genuine craftsmanship is beautiful.
Quick contrasts & pitfalls
- 〜あまり (clausal) vs あまりのNに (nominal): both mean “so ~ that…”, but choose by what you want to emphasize.
- 〜ことだろう／ことか is literary; for casual amazement, use 〜なんて.
- 〜といったら（ない） stresses extremity; can sound negative if used with bad nouns (混雑、騒音).
- 〜なんて is casual; in formal sentences prefer 〜とは to avoid slangy tone.
- 〜ことに（は） sets the speaker’s emotion before facts; keep it to one concise adjective (驚いたことに、など).
- 〜ものだ（感慨） ≠ advice “should” ものだ. Also different from nostalgic 〜たものだ.
