Grammar– category –
Japanese grammar for English speakers. Particles, verb conjugation, sentence patterns, conditionals, and nuanced expressions organized by JLPT level N5 to N1. Browse by level: N4/N5, N2/N3, N1/N2. By topic: Particles, Verb Conjugation, Conditionals, Sentence Patterns. Full overview at the Japanese Grammar Hub.
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JLPT N3 Grammar: Hearsay and Conjecture — そうだ, らしい, ようだ, みたいだ
Expressing hearsay and conjecture is an N3 focus. Four overlapping patterns — そうだ, らしい, ようだ, and みたいだ — each convey "it seems" with different sources of evidence. 【At a Glance】 PatternSource of infoNuance 〜そうだ (hearsay... -
JLPT N4 Grammar: Permission and Prohibition — てもいい, てはいけない, なくてもいい
Expressing permission and prohibition is a major N4 grammar area. This guide covers the four key patterns tested on the exam. 【At a Glance】 PatternMeaningExample 〜てもいいMay / it's okay to入ってもいい (may enter) 〜てはいけない / 〜... -
JLPT N4 Grammar: Giving and Receiving Expressions — あげる, もらう, くれる
Giving and receiving expressions (あげる, もらう, くれる) and their て-form extensions are tested heavily on JLPT N4. This guide prepares you specifically for the exam question types. 【At a Glance: The 6 Key Forms】 FormPlainPoliteDirec... -
JLPT N3 Grammar: Key Patterns You Need to Know
JLPT N3 grammar includes about 170 grammar points. This guide focuses on the most frequently tested — patterns that appear again and again in past exams. 【At a Glance: High-Frequency N3 Patterns】 PatternMeaningExample 〜ことにするDecid... -
JLPT N4 Conditionals: なら, たら, ば, と — All Four Explained
Japanese has four conditional patterns tested on JLPT N4: と, たら, ば, and なら. Each implies a different type of condition. This guide clarifies all four with exam-ready practice. 【At a Glance】 PatternMeaningKey Use とWhen / if (natu... -
JLPT N4 て-Form Grammar Patterns: ておく, てしまう, てみる, てほしい
Four essential N4 て-form extensions you need to master: ておく, てしまう, てみる, and てほしい. This guide covers all four with JLPT-style practice questions. 【At a Glance】 PatternMeaningExample 〜ておくDo in advance予約しておく (book... -
JLPT N4 Grammar: 〜ながら and 〜ても — Two Key Patterns Explained
Two frequently tested N4 grammar points: 〜ながら (while doing) and 〜ても (even if / even though). Master these and you'll handle a major chunk of N4 grammar questions. 【At a Glance】 PatternJLPT LevelMeaningKey Usage 〜ながらN4While d... -
〜てあげる vs 〜てもらう vs 〜てくれる: Giving and Receiving Favors in Japanese
When you combine て-form verbs with あげる, もらう, and くれる, you can express doing favors — or receiving them. This guide shows you how the direction of kindness changes meaning. 【At a Glance】 PatternWho does the favorDirectionExamp... -
〜ほうがいい: How to Give Advice in Japanese
〜ほうがいい (hou ga ii) is the standard way to give advice or recommendations in Japanese. It means "it would be better to" or "you should." Learn when to use the present vs past form. 【At a Glance】 FormMeaningWhenExample V dict + ほ... -
こんな vs そんな vs あんな vs どんな: Japanese Demonstrative Adjectives
こんな, そんな, あんな, and どんな are the "ko-so-a-do" demonstrative adjectives. They mean "this kind of," "that kind of," etc. — and they appear everywhere in everyday Japanese. 【At a Glance】 WordDistanceMeaningExample こんなNear spe...
