Is ものか always used to deny an implication/possibility or can it sometimes be used simply to express a will not to do something even if there’s no implication or possibility of doing that thing? For example with the sentence 一生忘れるものかと心に誓う does that mean the speaker is denying the possibility of forgetting/feels there is a possibility of forgetting?
2 comments
The speaker is saying basically “As long as I live, there’s no *way* that I’ll forget, I swear.”
It’s definitely an expression of volition, and ものか is often used as a (strong) expression of volition ( 行くものか => “No way in hell I’m going” )
ものかindeed is a way to express strong denial but also declare a strong intention. So the speaker is declaring he will not forget.
If you have an iPhone/ipad I highly recommend “[A Handbook of Japanese Grammar Patterns](https://www.monokakido.jp/en/dictionaries/jgp/index.html)” which is part of the Monokaido dictionaries app