Learn Hardcore Japanese: simekiri made zikan ga tarinaino ni, kanozyo ha saigo made ganbaru tumori da. - Even though there isn’t enough time until the deadline, she plans to do her best until the end.

まで marks an endpoint/extent: 締め切りまで = “until the deadline.” It describes a span.
までに means “by (the time)” for a one-off action to be done before that point: 締め切りまでに提出する (“submit by the deadline”).
Here we’re stating a condition across the span (“there isn’t enough time until…”), so まで is natural. 締め切りまでに時間が足りない sounds odd; use 締め切りまで時間がない or 締め切りに間に合わない instead.

What does the が after 時間 do? Could it be は?

が marks the subject/new information: “(the) time is lacking.”
は topicalizes/contrasts: 時間は足りないのに… = “As for the time, it’s not enough, yet…” It feels more contrastive/known-topic. が is the neutral choice here.

Why use 足りない instead of ない or 少ない with time?

足りない = “insufficient relative to a needed amount” (time, money, points, materials).
時間がない = “no time”/“hardly any time.”
時間が少ない is unnatural; for time use 短い (“short”) or stick with 足りない／ない.
Progressive nuance: 足りていない emphasizes an ongoing shortfall.

What nuance does のに add? How is it different from けど or ても?

のに = “even though/despite,” a stronger, “contrary to expectation” contrast (often with a hint of frustration/surprise).
けど／けれど(も) = softer “but,” not necessarily a strong contradiction.
ても = “even if/even though,” focusing on the outcome being unaffected. Here のに highlights the unexpectedness: not enough time, yet she still intends to push through.

Is the の in 足りないのに a nominalizer? When do I need なのに?

のに is a fixed connector “even though.”
After verbs and i-adjectives: plain form + のに (e.g., 足りないのに).
After nouns/na-adjectives: plain form + なのに (e.g., 雨なのに, 元気なのに). The の here isn’t separately nominalizing.

Why are there two まで (in 締め切りまで and 最後まで)? Are they redundant?

They modify different things:

締め切りまで: the time span up to the deadline.
最後まで: the extent of her effort “all the way to the end.” Not redundant.

Why is it 彼女は and not 彼女が?

は makes 彼女 the topic (“as for her”), often implying contrast with others/the situation.
が would identify/focus on her: 彼女が…つもりだ = “It’s she (as opposed to someone else) who intends…”.

Does 彼女 mean “she” or “girlfriend” here?

Both are possible; without context readers usually take it as “she.” In natural Japanese, pronouns are often avoided; people use names or omit the subject if it’s clear.

Is it okay to use つもりだ with a third-person subject?

Yes, if you know their intention (e.g., she said so). If you’re inferring or reporting:

つもりらしい／つもりだそうだ (hearsay/report)
つもりのようだ (seems like)
…と言っている to quote: 彼女は…つもりだと言っている.

How does つもりだ differ from 予定だ or たい?

つもりだ: one’s intention/resolution; natural with 頑張る.
予定だ: scheduled plan/event; 頑張る予定 sounds odd. Use with things like 出発する予定, 会う予定.
たい: desire of the speaker (or quoted subject): 頑張りたい = “want to try hard,” weaker than an intention.

Why 最後まで and not 最後に?

最後まで = “through to the end” (extent/continuation).
最後に = “at the end” (a point in time). 最後に頑張る would mean “make an effort at the very end,” not continuously.

Is 頑張る transitive? Can I say 仕事を頑張る?

Classically intransitive, but in modern Japanese Nを頑張る is very common and acceptable to mark the focus of effort: 勉強を頑張る, 仕事を頑張る, 試験を頑張る.

Is 締め切りまで時間が足りない the best way to say it? Any close alternatives?

Natural and common. Alternatives:

締め切りまで時間がない (even less time).
締め切りに間に合わない (won’t make the deadline).
締め切りまでの時間が足りない (explicitly “the time until the deadline” is insufficient).

What’s the politeness level, and how do I make it polite?

It’s plain form. Polite version:

締め切りまで時間が足りないのに、彼女は最後まで頑張るつもりです。 (Subordinate clauses typically stay plain even in polite sentences.)

Can I drop particles like が here?

Casually, yes: 締め切りまで時間足りないのに…. For learners and in writing, keep が.

Why are there spaces between the words?

They’re instructional spacing to show word boundaries. Standard Japanese writing typically doesn’t use spaces.