N1 Grammar Patterns 1

Connection: N + をもって. Meaning: "by means of ~; as of ~ (a cutoff)". Nuance: formal; marks a means or basis (書面をもって) or, in announcements, the point at which something ends (本日をもって). 例: 当店は三月末日をもって閉店いたします。 — This store will close as of the last day of March.

Connection: N + をもってすれば. Meaning: "if one uses ~ / with ~, (it can be done)". Nuance: praises the power of a means or ability; followed by a positive possibility. Opposite of 〜をもってしても. 例: 彼女の語学力をもってすれば、通訳の仕事も十分こなせるだろう。 — With her language skills, she could easily handle interpreting work.

Connection: N + をもってしても. Meaning: "even with ~ (it still cannot be done)". Nuance: followed by an impossibility; stresses that even a strong means fails. Contrast 〜をもってすれば (success). 例: 最新の医療技術をもってしても、その病気を完治させることはできない。 — Even with the latest medical technology, that disease cannot be fully cured.

Connection: N + を皮切りに(して) / を皮切りとして. Meaning: "starting with ~ (and spreading to others)". Nuance: ~ is the first in a series of similar events that then expand; not used for a single event. 例: 新作映画は、東京での公開を皮切りに全国で上映される。 — The new film opens first in Tokyo and will then be screened nationwide.

Connection: N + を機に(して) / V-plain + の + を機に. Meaning: "taking ~ as an opportunity". Nuance: an event becomes the occasion for a deliberate new start; more formal than 〜をきっかけに, which can also mark accidental or negative triggers. 例: 定年退職を機に、夫婦で田舎へ移り住んだ。 — Taking retirement as their opportunity, the couple moved to the countryside.

Connection: N (time: 今日, 今回, 今シーズン) + を限りに. Meaning: "as of ~ (something ends); for the last time at ~". Nuance: marks the last point at which something continues; also the set phrase 声を限りに (at the top of one's voice). 例: 今シーズンを限りに、現役を引退することを決めました。 — I've decided to retire from competition at the end of this season.