These three phrases can be used to express emotions and feelings that cannot
be controlled.

For example in the following sentences:

a) １点差で負けたので、悔しく **てならない** 。  
b) １点差で負けたので、悔しく **てしょうがない** 。  
c) １点差で負けたので、悔しく **てたまらない** 。

With this,

1) How do the above sentences differ? Are they all interchangeable? Are any
"stronger" than the others? (To me てたまらない seems particularly strong due to
たまらない meaning "unbearable".)

2) If we were to literally translate the above sentences would they be
something along the lines of:

a) I lost by one point, it's so frustrating it just can't be.  
b) I lost by one point, it's so frustrating there is nothing I can do.  
c) I lost by one point, it's so frustrating it's unbearable.

Note: I understand the てならない and てしょうがない have an additional function when used
with verbs which can mean "can't help but", as in
この写真を見ると、子供の頃のことが思い出されてならない／しょうがいない。However, for the scope of this question, I
think we should keep it to the meaning of "unbearably" or "so ~".
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grammar て-form
Contrasting 〜てならない、〜てしょうがない and 〜てたまらない
This isn't really a complete answer, but I'm trying to work out what you're
getting at. Firstly, I don't think these sentences are interchangeable, and
since each means different things, I would hesitate to rate their relative
forcefulness.

I don't think your translations work for me. The meaning I get from: a)
１点差で負けたので、悔しくてならない。 is "Since I lost by (only) one point, I shouldn't be
upset". And from: b) １点差で負けたので、悔しくてしょうがない。 "Since I lost by a single point, I
can't help being upset."

Partly, I just don't understand the English. a) I lost by one point, it's so
frustrating it just can't be.

What can't be? The frustration or the losing? In the Japanese, the frustration
and the "just won't do" are pretty clearly connected, but I get the feeling
that you're trying to say something different in the English.

b) I lost by one point, it's so frustrating there is nothing I can do.

Do you mean it's frustrating _that_ there's nothing you can do, or do you mean
that you are frustrated to the point where you are physically unable to do
anything? Again,in the Japanese, "frustration" and "nothing can be done" are
connected grammatically, so it's difficult for me to see how it mean anything
other than that the frustration can't be helped.

Can you clarify? As it stands, I'm having trouble understanding exactly what
you are asking.
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## Tentative transmission of nuances

If you permit it, I'll use other sentences rather than yours, that allow me to
express better my understanding of those grammatical constructions.

The meanings are very close as you know, so, it still might be ambiguous…

> 会いたくてならない

I want to see you again, it's stronger than me.  
Keywords: inability-to-refrain, state-reached

> 会いたくてしょうがない

I want to see you again at any cost. It's a pity, I know, but there's nothing
we can do about it.  
Keywords: hopelessness, fatalism

> 会いたくてたまらない

I so much want to see you again, I'm deeply in love you know!  
Keywords: self-control, feelings

## Corpus bonus

Interesting data coming from a nice blog article ([original
link](http://nishimura-hisashi.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-post_4951.html) no
longer active and [not available in WayBack
Machine](https://web.archive.org/web/20151022233407/http://nishimura-
hisashi.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-post_4951.html)):

「てならない」  
①気がして ②思えて ③思われて ④不思議で ⑤気になって  
①思われて ②気がして ③不安で ④気になって ⑤かわいそうで

「てたまらない」  
①～したくて ②うれしくて ③おかしくて ④好きで ⑤嫌で  
①～したくて ②うれしくて ③気の毒で ④嫌で ⑤さびしくて

「てしかたがない」  
①②気がして 涙が出て ③～したくて ④見えて ⑤気になって  
①気になって ②思われて ③～したくて ④気がして ⑤涙が出て

You may also like this [Chie-like entry](http://okwave.jp/qa/q4170018.html).
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