Easy JLPT NewsGrammar
Every JLPT N5 and N4 grammar point with a plain-English explanation, example sentences, common mistakes and a three-question check. Also available in Vietnamese.
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Explanatory 'the thing is...' / asking for or giving an explanation
〜んです adds the feeling 'the thing is...'. You use it to explain the reason or background of something that both you and the listener can see or already know about. 〜んですか asks the listener for that kind of explanation, so it shows interest or surprise. んです is spoken; のです is used in writing and formal speech.
Preface before a request, question, or invitation
〜んですが explains your situation first and then leads softly into a request, a question, asking for advice or permission, or an invitation. The が here does not mean 'but'; it only connects the background to what you really want to say. If you stop at 〜んですが……, the listener understands that you need help, and this sounds polite and reserved.
Could you please...? (very polite request)
〜ていただけませんか literally asks 'Couldn't I receive the favor of your doing...?'. It is a very polite way to ask someone to do something for you, and it is used with teachers, bosses, customers, and strangers. いただけ is the potential form of いただく, the humble word for もらう. With friends and family, 〜てもらえませんか or 〜てもらえない？ is enough.
Would you please...? (polite request)
〜てくださいませんか is a polite request that literally asks 'Won't you kindly do... for me?'. It is much softer than 〜てください and is used with teachers, bosses, and people you do not know well. くださいます is the ます-form of くださる, the respectful word for くれる. With friends and co-workers you are close to, use 〜てくれませんか or 〜てくれない？.
What / how / where should I...? (asking for advice)
〜たらいいですか literally means 'If I do what, will it be good?'. You use it when you do not know what to do and want advice or instructions from the listener. It is often used after 〜んですが, which explains the problem first. The answer 〜たらいいですよ gives simple, friendly advice.
Why don't you...? / How about doing...? (suggestion)
〜たらどうですか literally means 'How would it be if you did...?'. You use it to suggest an idea to a listener who has a problem or cannot decide what to do. The action is done by the listener, not by the speaker. It is often used together with 〜てみる (聞いてみたらどうですか) to make the suggestion lighter.
You had better... (advice)
Used to give advice or a recommendation, suggesting that a particular action is the better choice for the listener.
May / it's okay to...
Used to ask for or give permission to do something.
It doesn't matter if... / you may... / I don't mind if...
〜てもかまわない means 'it is no problem even if...'. It gives permission or shows that the speaker does not mind, and 〜てもかまいませんか politely asks for permission. It means almost the same as 〜てもいい but sounds a little more formal and reserved. 〜なくてもかまわない means that something is not necessary.
Must not / not allowed to
Expresses prohibition — something that is not allowed.
Must / have to
Expresses obligation or necessity — something that must be done.
Don't have to / need not
〜なくてもいい means 'it is all right even if you don't', so it says that something is not necessary. It is the opposite of 〜なければならない (must). It does not forbid the action: the person can still do it if they want to. In casual speech も is often dropped: 行かなくていい.
Must / have to (common spoken forms)
Both forms literally say 'it is no good if you don't', so they mean 'must' or 'have to'. They mean the same as 〜なければならない but are used more in everyday conversation. To say that something is not necessary, do not make these forms negative; use 〜なくてもいい.
Potential form: can do / be able to do
The potential form shows that someone has the ability to do something, or that the situation makes it possible. It has the same meaning as dictionary form + ことができる, but it is shorter and more common in conversation. In speech, many people drop ら from Group II verbs and 来る (食べれる, 見れる, 来れる), but on the JLPT and in writing use the full forms 食べられる, 見られる, 来られる. わかる and できる already mean 'can', so they have no potential form.
Can be seen / can be heard (it comes to your eyes or ears naturally)
見える and 聞こえる mean that something comes into your eyes or ears naturally, without any special effort. They are used when something is visible or audible because of distance, light, noise, or your eyesight and hearing. They are not the potential forms of 見る and 聞く; those are 見られる and 聞ける.
Only / nothing but (with a negative verb)
〜しか〜ない means 'only' or 'nothing but'. It is always used with a negative predicate, and it usually shows that the speaker feels the amount is small or not enough. For example, 100円しかありません means 'I have only 100 yen (and that is too little)'. (Dictionary-form verb + しかない, 'have no choice but to', is a different use that is usually studied at N3.)
as many as (emphasis) / at least
After a quantity, も shows that the speaker feels the number is large or surprising: 'as many as', 'as much as', 'as long as'. After a quantity, は shows the lowest number the speaker expects: 'at least'. The real number may be higher. With 1 + counter and a negative verb, も means 'not even one'.
While doing / at the same time as
Expresses that the subject does two actions at the same time, with the second action being the main one.
and what's more / listing reasons
し adds one fact on top of another: 'and what's more'. It is often used to list two or more reasons for the judgment, decision or suggestion that comes after it. The facts must all point in the same direction (all good, or all bad). Even when し is used only once, it tells the listener that there are other reasons too, so it sounds softer than から.
Doing things like A and B
Lists a few example actions or states out of several possible ones, without implying a strict order. Often used to describe a varied or repeated set of activities.
things like A and B (casual listing)
とか gives two or three examples and shows that there are other similar things too: 'things like A and B'. It is the casual, spoken version of や〜など. Unlike や, it can also follow verbs, so it is handy for giving example actions, often as advice or suggestions.
... or something (light suggestion)
This でも gives one light example: 'tea or something'. The speaker does not insist on that thing, and anything similar is fine, so the invitation or suggestion sounds soft and easy to accept. It is a different use from でも meaning 'but', noun + でも meaning 'even', and question word + でも (何でも).
intransitive and transitive verb pairs
Many Japanese verbs come in pairs. A transitive verb says that someone does something to a thing, so the thing takes を: ドアを開けます (I open the door). An intransitive verb says what happens to the thing itself, without saying who did it, so the thing takes が: ドアが開きます (The door opens). Japanese often uses the intransitive verb to describe a change or a result, even when a person caused it.
resulting state (the window is open)
With an intransitive verb that shows a change, 〜ている does not mean 'is doing'. It means that the change happened and its result can still be seen now: 窓が開いています = the window opened at some point, and it is open now. The speaker simply describes what he or she sees, and does not say who did it or why.
has been done (and left that way on purpose)
〜てある shows that someone did something on purpose, and the result of that action is still there now. It is used (1) to describe a scene where things have been put, written, opened and so on for some purpose, and (2) to say that a preparation has already been made. The verb is a transitive verb, but the thing often takes が because the sentence describes its state.
do in advance / leave as is
〜ておく has two main uses. (1) Doing something in advance, as preparation for a later need: 旅行の前に切符を買っておきます. This includes doing something now so that things are ready for the next time, such as putting tools back. (2) Leaving something in its present state on purpose: 窓を開けておきます (I'll leave the window open). It is used with actions that a person does on purpose.
End up doing / finish completely (often with regret)
Attaches to the て-form of a verb to show that an action is completed entirely. It very often carries a nuance of regret, surprise, or an unintentional/uncontrollable result ('end up doing'), but it can also simply emphasize that something is finished completely, with no negative feeling at all.
Try doing something / do and see
Attaches to the て-form of a verb to express doing an action once to see what happens or find out the result, out of curiosity or as a light, exploratory attempt. It does not imply serious effort; it simply means 'try (it) and see'.
go and come back / do and go (direction of movement)
〜てくる and 〜ていく add a direction of movement to an action. くる means the movement is toward the place where the speaker is (or will be); いく means it is away from that place. 買ってきます means 'I'll go, buy it and come back', and 食べていきます means 'I'll eat (here) and then go'. With verbs such as 歩く, 走る, 持つ and 連れる, the pattern shows how, or with what, someone comes or goes.
has come to / will go on (gradual change over time)
Here くる and いく show movement in time, not in space. The speaker stands at 'now'. 〜てきた looks back: a change started in the past and has come up to the present (寒くなってきました = it has been getting colder). 〜ていく looks forward: a change will go on from the present into the future (寒くなっていきます = it will go on getting colder). 〜てきた can also show that something has just started to appear, as in 雨が降ってきた (It has started to rain).
have not ... yet
まだ〜ていません says that something has not happened or been done up to now, and the speaker expects that it will or may happen later: 'not yet'. Japanese uses the 〜ている form here, not the simple past negative, because the sentence describes the present state of 'not done'.
volitional form: let's / shall we (plain)
The volitional form is the plain-style partner of 〜ましょう. It is used (1) to say 'let's ...' to friends and family: 帰ろう; (2) with か, to suggest 'shall we ...?' or to offer 'shall I ...?': 行こうか, 持とうか; (3) when you decide something in your own mind: 今日は早く寝よう. It is also the base of 〜（よ）うと思う, which tells other people your intention.
I think I will / I'm thinking of doing
Tells the listener what you intend to do. 〜（よ）うと思います often shows a decision you are making now or have just made, and 〜（よ）うと思っています shows that you have had the idea for some time. To talk about another person's intention, 〜（よ）うと思っています is normally used, not 〜（よ）うと思います. It sounds softer and less fixed than つもりです.
I intend to / plan to
Expresses the speaker's intention or plan to do (or not do) something.
be scheduled to / plan to
Shows that something is on a schedule or has been arranged. It can be your own plan, but it is also used for plans that are not decided by your own will, such as meetings, trains, events and company business. It sounds more fixed and objective than つもりです.
decide to
Shows that someone decides by his or her own will to do, or not to do, something. It is most often used in the past form 〜ことにしました to report a decision. To say 'decided not to', put the verb in the ない form: 行かないことにしました. The form 〜ことにしている (a personal rule or habit) is studied at N3.
it has been decided that
Shows that something has been decided, without saying who decided it. The decision usually comes from other people, a group, a discussion or the situation, not from the speaker's will alone. Japanese speakers also use it for their own decisions, such as marriage or a move, because it sounds modest, as if things turned out that way. The form 〜ことになっている (a rule or custom) is studied at N3.
decide on / I'll have ...
Shows that you choose one thing from several possibilities. It is very common when ordering in a restaurant, when shopping, and when fixing a date, a place or a present. 〜にします is used at the moment you decide, and 〜にしました reports a choice already made.
Probably / I think... (presumption)
Expresses the speaker's guess or presumption about something, often paired with words like たぶん (probably). Softer and less certain than a plain declarative statement.
probably (plain form of でしょう)
The plain form of でしょう. It shows the speaker's guess about something that is not certain, and it often goes with たぶん or きっと. At the end of a sentence, だろう is used in writing and in casual speech, where it can sound rather strong or masculine. In polite conversation, people say 〜でしょう or 〜だろうと思います instead. With rising intonation (〜だろう？) it asks the listener to agree.
might / may
Shows that something is possible, but the speaker is not sure. The speaker feels that it may be true and may also be not true. It is weaker than でしょう / だろう, and it often goes with もしかしたら (perhaps). In casual speech it is shortened to 〜かも.
should be / is expected to
Shows that the speaker is fairly sure about something because there is a reason: a fact, a schedule, a promise or something the speaker remembers. It is a judgment from reasoning, not a simple guess. It is usually not used for the speaker's own intentional plans, and it does not mean 'should' in the sense of advice or duty.
cannot be / there is no way that
Strongly denies a possibility: from what the speaker knows, it is impossible or very hard to believe. It is the speaker's own strong judgment, based on a reason. It is often used when the speaker hears or sees something surprising and cannot accept it (そんなはずはない).
looks like / seems about to
Tells your impression from what you see or feel right now, before you have checked it. With adjectives it means 'looks ...' (おいしそう: looks delicious). With verbs it means that something seems about to happen or seems likely to happen (雨が降りそう: it looks like rain). It is a different pattern from the hearsay そうです, which follows the plain form (降るそうです: I heard it will rain).
I heard that... (hearsay)
Reports information the speaker heard or read from someone else, without adding their own judgement.
according to
Shows where a piece of information comes from: the weather forecast, the news, a newspaper, a person's story and so on. Because the speaker is passing on information from that source, the end of the sentence normally shows this too, most often with the hearsay 〜そうです.
it seems that (judging from what I sense)
Shows a judgment that the speaker makes from what he or she sees, hears, smells or feels in the situation. The speaker is not completely sure, so it sounds careful: 'it seems that ...'. It is the speaker's own judgment, not information from someone else. In casual conversation, みたいだ is used in the same meaning.
It seems that... / looks like... (casual)
みたいだ has two main uses. First, it shows the speaker's guess from what they see, hear, or feel: 'it seems that ...'. Second, it says that something is similar to another thing: 'like ...' (春みたいだ = it is like spring). It is the spoken, casual partner of ようだ. In formal writing, ようだ is used instead.
Apparently... / I hear that... / it seems that...
らしい shows that the speaker thinks something is probably true because of information from outside: something they heard from other people, read, or noticed. The speaker did not check it directly, so the sentence sounds a little distant: 'apparently', 'from what I hear'. It is often used for rumors and news. The らしい that means 'typical of' (男らしい) is a different use and is studied at N3.
Like... / similar to... / such as...
This pattern compares one thing to another thing that is similar: 'like A'. のような describes a noun, and のように describes a verb or an adjective. It is also used to give an example of a kind of thing: 東京のような大きい町 (a big city such as Tokyo). This is a different use from ようだ for a guess and from ように for a purpose.
There is a sound / smell / taste / feeling
がする is used when a sound, a voice, a smell, a taste, or a feeling comes to you naturally. You are not doing anything; you just notice it. する here does not mean 'to do', and the thing you sense is marked with が, not を. In English we say 'I hear / I smell / it tastes', but Japanese says '(a sound / a smell / a taste) がする'.
Imperative form: Do it! (strong command)
The imperative form gives a strong, direct order. It sounds rough, so it is used mainly by men to close friends, family members, or people below them, and it is not used to teachers, bosses, or customers. It is also heard in emergencies (逃げろ！), when cheering (がんばれ！), and on road signs (止まれ). It is often used inside a quotation to report an order: 父は「早く寝ろ」と言いました. 〜てくれ is a rough, casual way to ask someone to do something for you.
Don't ...! (strong prohibition)
Dictionary form + な is a strong, direct order not to do something. It is the negative partner of the imperative form (行け ↔ 行くな). It sounds rough, so it is used mainly by men to close friends, family, or people below them, and it is not used to superiors. It is also used for warnings in danger, in cheering (負けるな！), on signs, and inside quotations that report what someone was told.
Do ... (a firm but soft command to children, or in instructions)
なさい is a command from a person in a higher position to someone they guide: a parent to a child, or a teacher to a student. It is softer than the imperative form (食べろ), but it is still a command, not a polite request. It is also the standard form in test instructions, such as 答えなさい and 選びなさい. It is not used to superiors, customers, or strangers.
It means ... (explaining words and signs)
Use this pattern to explain what a word, a kanji compound, a sign, or someone's words mean. The meaning comes before という, and X (the thing you explain) is the topic with は. When you do not understand a word or a sign, ask 〜はどういう意味ですか. The same と is used in 〜と読みます to give a reading and in 〜と書いてあります to say what is written somewhere.
A ... called ... / named ...
という gives the name of a person, place, or thing together with the kind of thing it is. Use it when the speaker or the listener (or both) does not know that person or thing well. The name comes first and the general noun comes after it: フエという町 = a town called Hue. The verb 言う has lost its meaning 'to say' here, so nobody is actually saying anything.
(Someone) said that ... (passing on a message)
Use 〜と言っていました to tell the listener what another person said to you earlier. You are passing on that person's words as a message or as information. The speaker of the original words is usually a third person, not you. When you want someone to carry your message to another person, use 〜と伝えていただけませんか or 〜と伝えてください.
Casual と / という / は: 'said that ...', 'called ...', 'as for ...'
って is a casual spoken form. Most often it replaces the quoting と, so 〜って言っていた means the same as 〜と言っていた. It also replaces という between a name and a noun, and it can bring up a word or a person as a topic when you ask about it or give your impression. At the end of a sentence, 〜って passes on what you heard from someone. It is used in conversation with friends and family, and it is not used in formal writing.
Tell / ask someone to do (or not to do) something
This pattern reports an order, a request, or a piece of advice indirectly, without repeating the exact words. 先生は「早く来なさい」と言いました becomes 先生は早く来るように言いました. The verb at the end shows the kind of message: 言う (tell), 伝える (pass on a message), 頼む (ask a favor), 注意する (warn). This ように is different from the ように that shows a purpose.
exactly as / in the same way as
〜とおりに means you do something in exactly the same way as what you saw, heard, read, or planned. The part before とおり is the model (words, instructions, a map, a plan), and the action after it follows that model without changing it. Use the dictionary form for a model that comes from now on (今から言うとおりに) and the た-form for one that you have already seen or heard (さっき言ったとおりに).
without doing / instead of doing
〜ないで joins two actions of the same person and has two uses. (1) 'Without doing A, do B': B is done in a state where A was not done (朝ごはんを食べないで、学校へ行きました). (2) 'Instead of doing A, do B': the person chooses B and does not do A (バスに乗らないで、歩きました). The polite request 〜ないでください ('please don't') comes from the same form and has its own page.
without doing (written style)
〜ずに means 'without doing' and has the same meaning as 〜ないで. It sounds more formal, so you see it mostly in writing, news, and notices, but some set phrases are also common in speech. The two actions are done by the same person: the second action is done in a state where the first one was not done, or in place of it. In written Japanese, 〜ず without に is also used to connect two clauses.
as it is / with a state left unchanged
〜まま shows that a state stays the same and is not changed. In 'A まま、B', the state A continues while B happens: 電気をつけたまま、寝ました (I slept with the light left on). A is often a state that people would normally change first, so the sentence can sound like 'that is not the usual way'. With a verb, the た-form is used because A is the result of an action that is already finished.
when / whenever / if (natural result)
'A と、B' means that whenever A happens, B follows naturally or automatically. It is used for nature, machines, directions, habits, and other results that are always the same. Because B is a natural result, B cannot be the speaker's will, a request, an invitation, or a wish (〜たいです, 〜てください, 〜ましょう, 〜つもりです); use 〜たら for those.
if / when / after
'A たら、B' means that B happens after A has come true. It has two main uses: (1) 'if', for a condition that may or may not happen (雨が降ったら、出かけません), and (2) 'when / after', for something that is sure to happen (駅に着いたら、電話してください). The form contains た, but it is not the past tense: it is used for the future too. After たら you can freely use a request, an invitation, the speaker's will, or a wish. When the sentence ends in the past, たら tells what happened after someone did A (薬を飲んだら、元気になりました).
even if / even though
'A ても、B' means that B is true or happens in spite of A: the result you would expect from A does not come. It can be used for something that has not happened yet ('even if', 雨が降っても、行きます) and for something real ('even though', 薬を飲んでも、熱が下がりません). This ても is different from the ても in 〜てもいい (permission).
If... then... (conditional)
A hypothetical conditional: if the condition in the first clause is met, the result in the second clause follows. One important exception: when the sentence ends in のに or a past tense and describes regret about something that did NOT happen (a counterfactual), ば is the natural choice even though the event is in the past — e.g. もっと早く出れば、間に合ったのに (If only I'd left earlier, I would have made it).
if that is the case / if you mean ...
〜なら takes up what the other person has just said, or what the speaker sees in the situation, and gives advice, a request, an offer, or an opinion about it: 'if that is the case, then ...'. With a noun, it picks that noun as the topic: パソコンなら、駅前の店が安いです ('If it's computers you mean, ...'). Unlike 〜たら, the action after なら can happen before the action in front of it (車で来るなら、お酒を飲まないでください). For な-adjectives and nouns, なら is also the ordinary 'if' form (暇なら, 雨なら).
no matter how much / however ...
This pattern makes 〜ても stronger: however large the amount or degree of A is, the result B stays the same. B is often a negative or unexpected result (いくら食べても、太りません), but it can also show strong will (どんなに忙しくても、勉強します). いくら is common with amounts, numbers of times, and effort, and どんなに with degree; in many sentences either one can be used.
no matter what / who / where / when
A question word together with 〜ても means 'in every case': whatever, whoever, wherever, or whenever A is, the result B is the same. The question word does not ask anything here, so the sentence does not end in か unless the whole sentence is a question. The particle after the question word stays as it would be in a normal sentence (何を, だれに, どこへ).
any- (anything, anyone, anytime, anywhere)
A question word + でも means 'any-' or 'every-': whichever one you choose, the sentence is true, with no exception. It is mostly used in affirmative sentences, and it is common with 〜いいです ('any ... is fine'), potential verbs, and requests. To say 'nothing / nobody / nowhere' with a negative verb, Japanese uses question word + も instead (何も食べません). You can also say どんな + noun + でも ('any kind of ...'): どんな質問でもいいです.
in the case that / if it happens that
〜場合は takes one possible situation out of several and tells what to do, or what happens, in that situation. It sounds a little formal and is common in rules, notices, and instructions, often for trouble or emergencies (fire, illness, delay, a lost card). It is not used for things that are sure to happen or for a single real event that already happened. With a verb, the た-form is used when the situation must already have happened at that moment (なくした場合は), and the dictionary form when it is still going to happen (遅れる場合は).
I hope that... / it would be nice if...
〜といい and 〜たらいい literally mean 'if ... happens, it will be good'. You use them to say what you hope will happen, often for things you cannot control, such as the weather, a result, or another person's health. 〜といいですね shares the hope with the listener, 〜といいなあ is what you say to yourself, and 〜といいんですが sounds a little worried. For your own action, use the potential form: 行けるといいなあ (I hope I can go).
so that... (a state comes about)
A ように B means 'do B so that A becomes true'. A is a goal state, such as being able to do something, something being visible or clear, or something bad not happening. B is what you do to reach that state. Compare it with ために, which is used when A is an action you decide to do yourself.
Come to (do) / become able to
Expresses a gradual change in state or ability — something that was not possible or did not happen before becomes possible, or starts happening, over time.
try to / make sure to (do or not do)
〜ようにする means that you make an effort so that you do, or do not do, something. It does not say that you succeed every time; it says that you try and pay attention. 〜ようにしています is used for an effort that continues as a habit. 〜ようにしてください asks the listener to take care about something from now on or regularly, and it is softer and less direct than 〜てください.
in order to / for (the sake of)
A ために B means 'do B in order to do A' or 'do B for A'. With a verb, A is a goal that you decide on yourself, such as buying something, studying abroad, or passing an exam. With a noun, it shows the goal or the person who benefits: 家族のために = for my family. A different use of ため(に) shows a cause ('because of'); that use has its own page.
because of / due to (formal)
A ため(に) B means 'because of A, B happened / happens'. It states a cause and its result in an objective, formal way, so you often see and hear it in news, notices, station announcements and business writing. The result B is usually a fact, and often an unwelcome one such as a delay or a cancellation. In everyday conversation, から and ので are more common.
for doing... (use, time, cost, need)
Here の turns the verb phrase into a noun, and に shows the purpose or use: 'for doing ...'. The words that follow are limited. They say what a thing is used for, whether it is convenient, useful or good for that purpose, or how much time or money the action needs. This のに is different from the のに that means 'even though'.
Passive form: be done (by someone)
The passive form tells a story from the side of the person who receives an action. The active sentence 先生はわたしをほめました (The teacher praised me) becomes わたしは先生にほめられました (I was praised by the teacher). The person who receives the action is the subject, and the person who does it is marked with に. Japanese speakers often choose the passive when they talk about something that was done to themselves.
Passive of being adversely affected ('had my ... done' / 'was ... on')
This passive shows that someone is affected, usually in an unwelcome way, by what another person or thing does. When something is done to your belongings or your body, you, the owner, become the subject: 足を踏まれました (someone stepped on my foot). When an event such as rain or a baby crying causes you trouble, Japanese can also use the passive: 雨に降られました (I got rained on). English has no direct equivalent, so do not translate word for word.
Passive with a thing as the subject (was built, is held, is used)
When you describe a fact about a thing or an event and the doer is not important, Japanese makes the thing the subject and uses the passive. This style is objective, so it is common in explanations, news, guidebooks and textbooks: when something was built, where an event is held, what language is spoken, what something is made from. Unlike the passive with a person as the subject, it carries no feeling of being troubled.
Nominalizer の: doing ... is ~ / I like doing ... / I forgot to ...
A verb cannot come directly before the particles は, が or を. Adding の turns the verb phrase into a noun, like '-ing' or 'to do' in English, so that it can be the topic, the subject or the object of the sentence. 〜のを忘れました means 'I forgot to do', and 〜のを知っていますか asks 'Do you know that ...?'. こと can also turn a verb into a noun, but in some patterns only one of the two is possible.
It is ... that ... / The one (place, time) that ... is ... (emphasis)
This pattern takes one part out of an ordinary sentence and puts it at the end to stress it. わたしは北海道で生まれました (I was born in Hokkaido) becomes わたしが生まれたのは北海道です (The place where I was born is Hokkaido). The clause before のは is information that the listener already knows or can guess, and the word before です is the new, important information. It is often used to correct a misunderstanding or to answer a question with だれ, どこ or いつ.
Have done before (experience) / sometimes happens
With the past tense (た-form), states that the subject has had the experience of doing something at least once. With the dictionary form, expresses that something happens occasionally.
Embedded question: (I don't know) what / when / where ...
This pattern puts a question with a question word inside a bigger sentence, like 'I don't know what time it arrives' or 'Do you know where the meeting is?'. The inner question changes to the plain form and keeps か, and then the main verb follows. If the inner question has no question word (a yes / no question), use 〜かどうか instead.
whether or not / if
かどうか puts a yes/no question inside a bigger sentence. It means 'whether or not' or 'if': 来るかどうか、わかりません = 'I don't know whether he will come.' Use it only when the inside question has no question word (何, いつ, だれ ...). The inside question is in the plain form even when the whole sentence is polite.
because / and so (cause with the て-form)
The て-form (and noun + で) can show a light cause: 'A happened, and so B.' The cause comes first, and the result follows naturally from it. The result is usually a feeling, a state, or something you could not do. When the second part is a request, an invitation, or your own decision, use から or ので instead.
because ... not / not ... and so
〜なくて is the negative of the て-form of cause. It means 'something does not happen (or is not so), and because of that ...'. The second part is usually a feeling or a result you cannot control, such as 困りました, 残念です or 安心しました. It is different from 〜ないで, which means 'without doing'.
because / since (soft, polite reason)
ので comes at the end of the reason and joins it to the result: 'reason ので、result'. It presents the reason as a fact, so it sounds softer and more polite than から. It is often used when you explain your situation, make an excuse, or ask for permission. The part before ので is usually in the plain form, even in a polite sentence.
I'm glad that ...
〜てよかった says that you are glad or relieved about something that really happened or that you really did: 日本に来てよかった = 'I'm glad I came to Japan.' よかった is the past form of いい, and the て-form before it gives the reason for the good feeling. With 〜なくてよかった, you are glad that something did not happen.
Even though / although
Connects two clauses where the result in the second clause goes against what you'd expect from the first, often carrying a nuance of surprise, disappointment, or complaint.
but / although
けれども, けれど and けど join two sentences and mean 'but' or 'although'. They are the spoken partners of が. Like が, they also have a second use: a soft introduction before a question or a request (すみませんけど、…), where there is no real contrast. In conversation, a sentence often stops at 〜けど… to sound soft and let the listener guess the rest.
do something for someone
〜てあげる means that someone does an action as a favor for another person. It is the 'action' version of あげる (give): you give the benefit of the action. Because it stresses your own kindness, it is used about friends, family and people below you. Said directly to a superior, it can sound rude, so offers to a superior use 〜ましょうか or お〜します instead.
have someone do something for me / receive the favor of
〜てもらう means that the subject receives the benefit of another person's action. In English it is often 'have someone do ...' or simply 'someone did ... for me'. The person who does the action is not the subject; it is the person marked with に. The pattern shows gratitude, and it often suggests that the receiver asked for the action.
someone does something for me
〜てくれる means that another person does something for me or for someone on my side. It is the 'action' version of くれる (give to me). The speaker uses it to show that the action was a kindness and that he or she is thankful. Without くれる, the sentence is only a plain report and the feeling of thanks is lost.
receive / give (humble and honorific verbs)
These three verbs are the polite partners of もらう, くれる and あげる. They are used when the other person is someone you should respect, such as a teacher, a boss or a customer. The direction of giving does not change: いただく = I receive, くださる = a superior gives to me, さしあげる = I give to a superior. They are not used about your own family when you talk to people outside the family.
give / do for (a younger family member, an animal, a plant)
やる is a 'downward' version of あげる: the giver is above the receiver. It is used for giving water to plants, food to animals, and things to one's own children or younger brothers and sisters; 〜てやる is the same for actions. Today many people use あげる in these cases too, because やる can sound rough. やる is not normally used for friends, strangers or superiors: to a friend it sounds rough, and to a superior it is rude.
have someone (a superior) do something for me
〜ていただく means that I receive the favor of an action from someone I should respect, such as a teacher, a boss, a customer or a stranger. The meaning is the same as 〜てもらう, but いただく is a humble verb, so the sentence shows respect to the person who did the action. It is very common in polite thanks and polite requests.
(someone of higher status) kindly does something for me
〜てくださる is the respectful form of 〜てくれる. It says that a person of higher status, such as a teacher, a boss or a customer, does something for me or for a person on my side, such as my family. The speaker shows respect to that person and also a feeling of thanks. It is often used when you thank someone: 〜てくださって、ありがとうございます.
do something for (someone of higher status)
〜てさしあげる is the humble form of 〜てあげる. It says that I, or a person on my side, do something helpful for a person of higher status, such as a teacher, a customer or an elderly person. If you say it directly to that person, it can sound as if you are pushing your kindness on them, so it is mostly used when you tell another person about what you did. When you speak directly to the person, お〜します or お〜しましょうか is usually better.
want someone to do something
〜てほしい says that the speaker wants another person to do something, or wants something to happen. The person who should do the action takes に. With 〜んですが at the end, it becomes a soft request. Said directly to a teacher or a boss, 〜てほしいです sounds too direct, so use 〜ていただけませんか there.
show signs of feeling ~ (about another person)
〜がる turns an adjective of feeling into a verb that means 'to show that feeling in words or actions'. In Japanese, you usually do not state another person's inner feeling with a plain adjective such as ほしいです or こわいです, because you cannot feel it yourself. So for a third person, 〜がる is used to describe what you can see from outside. It is not normally used for the speaker's own feelings, and about a teacher or a boss it can sound impolite.
(someone else) wants to do
〜たがる says that a third person wants to do something, as seen from that person's words or behavior. 〜たい is mainly for the speaker's own wish, so for someone else Japanese uses 〜たがっています or 〜たいと言っています. It is not normally used for the speaker's own wish. About a teacher or a boss it can sound impolite, so it is mostly used for family, friends, children and animals.
Too much / excessively
Attaches to verbs and adjectives to express that an action or state goes to an excessive, usually undesirable, degree.
easy to do / happens easily
〜やすい has two uses, and its opposite is 〜にくい. With actions that a person does on purpose, it means that the action is easy or comfortable to do: このペンは書きやすい (This pen is easy to write with). With things that happen by themselves, it means that they happen easily or often: このコップは割れやすい (This glass breaks easily). The second use is often about something you do not want.
hard to do / does not happen easily
〜にくい is the opposite of 〜やすい and has two uses. With actions that a person does on purpose, it means that the action is hard or uncomfortable to do, usually because of what the thing is like: この靴は歩きにくい (These shoes are hard to walk in). With things that happen by themselves, it means that they do not happen easily, which is often a good point: このガラスは割れにくい (This glass does not break easily).
begin to do / start doing
〜はじめる shows that an action or a change starts. It is used for things a person does on purpose (読みはじめる, 習いはじめる) and also for natural events (雨が降りはじめる, 花が咲きはじめる). The action or change is one that goes on for some time after it starts. Because it can express the speaker's will, it can be used with 〜ましょう, 〜てください and 〜たい.
suddenly start doing
〜だす shows that an action or event starts suddenly or unexpectedly. It is often used with 急に and describes something the speaker sees or notices, such as rain, crying or laughing. It is usually not used for a start that the speaker plans or decides, so it does not go well with 〜ましょう, 〜てください or 〜つもりです. In some words, だす has a different meaning, 'out': 取りだす (take out), 思いだす (remember).
continue doing / keep doing
〜つづける shows that an action or state goes on without stopping, or that a habit is kept up for a long time. It is often used with words that show a length of time, such as 三時間, 十年間 or 朝まで. It can be used for things a person does on purpose (勉強しつづける) and for events that go on by themselves (電話が鳴りつづける).
finish doing
〜おわる shows that a person finishes an action that took some time and had a fixed amount to do, such as reading a book, writing a report or eating a meal. It simply says that the action has reached its end. It is usually not used for natural events such as rain, or for actions that happen in one moment.
-ness (turning an adjective into a noun)
〜さ turns an adjective into a noun. With adjectives of size and amount, it names something you can measure: 長さ (length), 高さ (height), 重さ (weight), 大きさ (size), 速さ (speed). With other adjectives, it names the quality itself or how strong it is: 暑さ (the heat), やさしさ (kindness), 便利さ (convenience). For pairs such as 長い / 短い, the noun for the measure is usually made from the 'big' side: 長さ, 高さ, 重さ.
be about to / be in the middle of / have just done
ところ means 'place', and here it shows which point of an action you are at right now. The form of the verb decides the meaning: dictionary form = just before the action, ている = in the middle of it, た-form = just after it. It is often used to explain your present situation to someone, for example on the phone. Words like これから, 今 and たった今 often appear with it.
have only just done
たばかり says that, in the speaker's feeling, very little time has passed since something happened. The real time can be a few minutes, but it can also be weeks or months if the speaker feels it is short. It is often followed by まだ (still not used to it) or もう (already broken, already forgot), to show that the result is natural or surprising for such a short time.
nothing but / always only
Noun + ばかり says that there is a lot of the same thing, or that someone does the same thing again and again. It often carries the speaker's feeling that this is too much, so it is common in complaints and worries. It does not have to mean exactly 100%: 肉ばかり食べる means 'eats meat almost all the time', not that the person never eats anything else.
during the whole time that / all the while
あいだ (間) means the space between a start and an end. A あいだ、B says that B continues from the start to the end of period A. Because A is a period with some length, the verb before あいだ is usually in the ている form, and B is something that lasts, not a single quick event. The subjects of A and B can be different.
at some point while / before a period ends
A あいだに、B says that B happens at some point between the start and the end of period A. The particle に points to a point in time, just like 3時に. B is not something that continues through the whole period: it is an action you finish, or a change or event that takes place, before A ends. It is often used for things you want to get done while you have the chance.
by / no later than (a deadline)
までに marks a time limit. The action can happen at any time before that point, but not after it. It is used with actions that are done once and finished, so it is very common in requests, rules and plans: 〜までに出してください, 〜までに返さなければなりません. Before a verb, use the dictionary form even when the sentence is about the past.
not as ... as
A は B ほど〜ない means 'A is not as ... as B', so B is the one with the higher degree. ほど shows the level that A does not reach. The sentence must end in a negative form. It often suggests that both A and B have the quality to some degree: 今日は昨日ほど寒くない says yesterday was cold, and today is less cold.
the same as / about as ... as (and と違う: different from)
と marks the thing you compare with. B と同じ says that A and B are the same thing or the same kind. B と同じくらい adds くらい (about) and compares the degree of a quality: A is at about the same level as B. B と違う says that A and B are not the same. You can also put both nouns first: A と B は同じです / A と B は違います.
about / concerning
について shows the subject matter of talking, writing, thinking or research: 'about X'. It attaches directly to a noun, with no の. The verb that follows is an activity that has content, such as 話す, 質問する or 調べる. To describe a noun, as in 'a book about X', use についての.
Causative form: make / let someone do
The causative form says that someone causes another person to do something. It has two main uses: making someone do it (an order, even if they do not want to) and letting someone do it (permission for what they want to do). The form is the same, so the context tells you which one it is; 〜させてくれる / 〜させてあげる usually show permission. It is normally used from a higher position to a lower one, such as parent to child or manager to staff.
please let me do / could you let me do
This pattern asks the listener to allow the speaker's own action. The causative (させる) means 'let me do', and てください turns it into a request, so the person who acts is the speaker, not the listener. 〜させていただけませんか is more polite and is used with a boss, a teacher or a customer. 〜させていただきます politely announces what you are going to do, as something the other person allows.
Causative-passive: be made to do
The causative-passive is the passive of the causative form. It describes the situation from the side of the person who is forced: 'I was made to do it'. The subject is the one who actually does the action, but does it because someone else (marked with に) ordered it. It usually shows that the speaker did not want to do it or found it unpleasant.
Honorific verb form (same shape as the passive)
This form shows respect for the person who does the action, such as a teacher, a boss, or a customer. It is a light honorific, less formal than お〜になる, and is very common at work and in the news. The shape is the same as the passive, so you tell them apart by the particles and the context. You never use it for your own actions.
Honorific verb pattern (someone you respect does something)
お〜になる raises the person who does the action: a teacher, a boss, a customer, or someone you do not know well. It is more respectful than the れる／られる honorific. You never use it for your own actions; for those, use the humble pattern お〜する.
Special honorific verbs (いらっしゃる, 召し上がる, おっしゃる ...)
These verbs show respect for the person who does the action, such as a teacher, a boss, or a customer. For these everyday verbs, the special verb is usually preferred to お〜になる. You never use them for your own actions or, when talking to outsiders, for your own family.
Please do ... (honorific request)
お〜ください is a more respectful version of 〜てください. Staff use it to customers, and you hear it in stations, shops, hotels, and written notices. It is mostly used to invite or guide the listener politely. To ask someone politely not to do something, 〜ないでください or a fixed phrase like おやめください is used.
Humble verb pattern (I do something for you)
With お〜する the speaker lowers their own action to show respect for the person the action is for or directed to: a teacher, a boss, or a customer. The doer is always the speaker or someone on the speaker's side. It is used only when the action involves the respected person, for example carrying their bag, sending them something, or telling them something.
Special humble verbs (参る, 申す, いただく, 拝見する ...)
Humble verbs lower the speaker's own action, or the action of someone on the speaker's side such as family or co-workers, to show respect for the listener or the person the action is directed to. You hear them in self-introductions, at work, and in shops. They are never used for the action of the person you respect.
Extra-polite あります / です
ございます and でございます are very polite forms of あります and です. They do not raise or lower any person; they simply make the speech more polite toward the listener. Shop staff, hotel staff, and announcers use them with customers. でございます is normally used about the speaker's own side or about things, not about the listener.
I wonder ...
かな is put at the end of a sentence when you are wondering about something, mostly talking to yourself. It is casual, so it is used with plain forms among friends and family. かしら has the same meaning; it is traditionally used by women and is less common today. Said to a listener, かな can also work as a soft, indirect question.
Not easily / not readily (and affirmative なかなか: quite, pretty)
なかなか〜ない says that something you expect or want does not happen easily: it takes a long time or is hard to do, even though you are waiting or trying. It often carries a feeling of impatience or trouble. With an affirmative adjective, なかなか means 'quite' and shows that something is better than the speaker expected.
And so / because of that
それで connects two sentences: the first gives a cause or situation, and the second tells what happened as a result. The result is normally a fact, something that happened or is true. It is not normally followed by a request, a command, or an invitation; だから is used for those. As a question, それで asks 'and then what?'
Besides / moreover / on top of that
それに adds one more point of the same kind to what you have just said: another good point after a good point, or another bad point after a bad point. It is common in conversation when you give several reasons or describe something. It does not show a result, a contrast, or the order of actions.
Even so / nevertheless / but still
それでも accepts what was said in the first sentence and then says that, in spite of it, something different from what you would expect is true or will happen. It is stronger than でも: it stresses 'even with that'. It is often used with まだ, やはり, or なかなか〜ない.