41988
アリバイがない限り、犯人 **になる** 可能性がある。

アリバイがない限り、犯人 **である** 可能性がある。

アリバイがない限り、犯人 **の** 可能性がある。

Which sentences are correct / awkward / wrong? Why is there a difference, if
any?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-26T07:52:31.160
41987
2016-12-26T10:59:48.947
11849
question
grammar particle-の copula
Difference between になる / である / の
> 1) アリバイがない限{かぎ}り、犯人{はんにん} **になる** 可能性{かのうせい}がある。
>
> 2) アリバイがない限り、犯人 **である** 可能性がある。
>
> 3)アリバイがない限り、犯人 **の** 可能性がある。

This might depend on how you define "correct" here, but I am going to say that
all three are correct.

You should, however, expect to see/hear sentence #1 by far the **least often**
out of the three. This is partly because of the slightly ambiguous meaning of
「犯人になる」, which could be taken to mean " ** _to become a criminal of one's own
volition_** ". Here, the phrase 「アリバイがない限り」("unless one has an alibi") is
barely saving it from being taken that way.

To me, sentences #2 and #3 would almost equally be "correct" and common. #2
would often sound more declarative than #3. 「の」 is such an almighty particle,
which makes things easier to say but because of its versatility, it can make
phrases using it sound less formal and more conversational.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-26T10:59:48.947
41988
2016-12-26T10:59:48.947
41987
answer