引き止められる

[eeky]

Hi,

「おまえのようなコチコチのマグルに、この子を引き止 められるもんなら、拝見しようじゃないか」

a) This sentence structure confuses me. What verb form is 引き止められる?

b) What does しようじゃないか mean? I understand that it is しよう (from する) + じゃないか, but I don't understand very clearly what that combination means.

 

[Toritoribe]

It's the potential of 引き止める.

ひきとめる【引き留める】の英語・英訳 - 和英辞書 - goo辞書

b)
～じゃないか is used as a counter-argument to the addressee here. The meaning is the same as 拝見しよう, but it implies "I strongly believe you are wrong / I'm correct. Let's see you in action." or like that.

 

[eeky]

Thanks, so why is it に in

「おまえのようなコチコチのマグルに、この子を引き止 められるもんなら、拝見しようじゃないか」

?

 

[Toritoribe]

に indicates the subject (the one who has the ability) of the potential form of a verb. に or には often appears in a negative sentence or when the sentence has a nuance of contrast.
e.g.
お前に（は）あいつは倒せない。
You can't defeat him.

あいつにできるなら俺にだってできるよ。
If he can do it, I too can do.

 

[eeky]

OK, thanks, I'm sure I should know that. Maybe I did but forgot...