At a glance
～ないこともない means "it's not that I don't / can't ~". It is a double negative that gives a weak, reluctant "yes": something is possible or partly true, but the speaker has doubts or conditions.
Verb (ない-form) + こともない
い-adj (～くない) + こともない
な-adj / Noun + でない + こともない
彼の気持ちも分からないこともない。 It's not that I don't understand how he feels.
How to form it
Take the negative form and add こともない.
| Attaches to | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Verb ない-form | 行く → 行かないこともない | It's not that I won't go |
| Potential verb ない-form | 行ける → 行けないこともない | It's not that I can't go |
| い-adjective | 狭い → 狭くないこともない | It's not that it isn't small |
| な-adjective | 好き → 好きでないこともない | It's not that I don't like it |
| Register | Form |
|---|---|
| Casual | ～ないこともない |
| Polite | ～ないこともありません / ～ないこともないです |
Use the plain negative for "won't / don't" and the potential negative for "can't".