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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Japanese Volitional Form: Let’s, ようとする, and Polite Invitations
FormPlainPoliteMeaningU-verb (ご)飲もう飲ましょうLet’s drink / I will drinkRU-verb (よう)食べよう食べましょ... -
The Japanese ば-Form: Complete Guide to the ば Conditional
PointDetailsForm nameば-form (ba conditional)UsageHypothetical “if” — condition leads to resultNuanceFormal/literary; implies general truth or adviceConjugation: u-verbChange u-sound to e-sound + ば (歩... -
ている vs てある: The Complete Deep-Dive Guide (With Examples)
ている vs てある explained thoroughly: ongoing action vs deliberate preparation, particle differences, verb compatibility, and side-by-side comparisons. Essential N4 grammar guide. -
Japanese Dictionary Form: The Plain Form Every Learner Must Master
The Japanese dictionary form (plain form) explained clearly: what it is, all three verb groups, how to use it in casual speech and grammar patterns. Essential for N5-N4 learners. -
Japanese Causative-Passive: させられる (Saserareru) — Complete Guide
Learn the Japanese causative-passive form (saserareru) — how to conjugate it, when to use it, and how it differs from plain passive. Essential for N3/N4 grammar. -
〜てあげる vs 〜てくれる vs 〜てもらう: Japanese Giving and Receiving Verbs
Master the three Japanese giving/receiving verbs — ageru, kureru, morau — with clear direction rules, te-form patterns, and politeness levels. Essential grammar for all learners. -
お vs ご: 日本語の敵語接頭辞の使い分け方
Japanese has two honorific prefixes — お (o) and ご (go) — that make words sound polite, respectful, or simply more refined. But which one do you use? And why do some words take o while others take go? This guide breaks it al... -
Japanese Causative Form: How to Use させる (Saseru) and させられる (Saserareru)
Your Japanese teacher gives you a pile of homework. Your boss makes you stay late again. Your mum finally lets you have dessert first. Every one of these situations needs the same grammar tool in Japanese: the causative form (使役形／し... -
Japanese Formal Numerals: Daiji (大字) Guide for Bank Forms and Legal Documents
If you have ever filled out a Japanese bank form, looked at a formal contract, or noticed the numbers on Japanese banknotes, you may have seen characters like 壱 (ichi), 弐 (ni), and 参 (san) instead of the familiar &#x... -
Japanese Counters Deep Dive: Animals, Flat Things, Long Objects, and More
Japanese counters are one of the first big grammar challenges for learners. When you count objects in Japanese, you cannot just say "one, two, three" and stop — you have to attach a special suffix called a counter (助数詞, josusushi) to ...
