文法JLPT N4 grammar
80 grammar patterns with meanings, usage and examples
- 〜ことになるkotoninaru It has been decided; be arranged toDescribes an arrangement or outcome decided by other people, rules or circumstances, rather than simply announcing the speaker's own decision. Use こ...
- 〜らしいrashii Apparently; I hear that; typical ofReports information heard from others or an inference based on indirect evidence. With nouns, らしい can also mean typical of that person or category,...
- ～のようなno you na Like; similar to; in the manner ofCompares something with a noun. のような modifies another noun, while のように describes an action or quality. The final form のようだ states the comp...
- ～ば～ほどba-hodo The more, the moreShows that the degree of one condition rises or falls together with another. Repeat the same verb or adjective in the conditional part and before ほど...
- ～ばかりbakari Nothing but; keep doing the same thingEmphasizes that someone chooses only one kind of thing or repeatedly does one action. With てばかりいる it often suggests criticism that other necessa...
- ～的teki Having the character of; in a particular wayForms an adjective-like expression from certain nouns. 的な modifies a noun, and 的に modifies an action or quality. Common combinations include 具体...
- ～ておく（ておきます）teoku Do in advance; leave something as it isDescribes preparation for a later purpose or deliberately maintaining a state without changing it. Context distinguishes doing something beforehand fr...
- ～なかなかnakanaka nai Not easily; not for a long time; quiteWith a negative verb, it describes something that does not happen easily or takes longer than hoped. With an affirmative adjective, it can mean quite...
- ～ようにするyou ni suru Make an effort to; make sure toDescribe a deliberate effort to do or avoid an action. You ni shite iru emphasizes an ongoing habit, while you ni shite kudasai is a reminder or reque...
- ～始めるhajimeru Begin to; start doingCombines with another verb to mark the beginning of an action or process. Conjugate 始める to show tense or politeness while the first verb remains in...
- ～てもtemo Even if; even though; related permission expressionsても introduces a condition that does not change the outcome. In てもいい it forms the separate expression for permission. The examples currently incl...
- ～ようにyou ni So that; in order thatIn this purpose construction, you ni connects a desired state or result with an action taken to achieve it. Potential verbs, verbs such as wakaru and...
- ～についてni tsuite About; regardingIdentify the topic of speaking, asking, learning, writing, or thinking. Add no when modifying another noun. It is not generally interchangeable with n...
- ～（も）～し、～しmo-si-si Not only; both; listing reasonsLists multiple qualities or reasons, often suggesting further reasons could also be given. Repeating も can emphasize that both items apply.
- ～によると～そうです。niyoruto-soudesu According to; I hear thatIdentifies a source of information and reports what it says. The hearsay form そうだ attaches to a plain clause without the appearance-form changes.
- ～そうに／そうな／そうです。souni Looks; seems; I hear thatAppearance そうだ is based on signs that something looks likely or has a quality. そうな modifies a noun and そうに modifies a verb. Hearsay そうだ re...
- ～てみるtemiru Try doing; do and see what happensDescribes performing an action experimentally to learn its result or experience. Conjugate みる for tense, politeness or requests.
- ～とto When; whenever; if a natural result followsLinks a condition with a regular, predictable result. It can also report something discovered after doing an action, such as opening a window and feel...
- ～たらtara If; when; afterIntroduces a condition or an event that must happen before the next action. It is widely used for hypothetical situations and for discovering a result...
- ～ならnara If that is the case; as forTakes up a topic or situation as the basis for advice, a request or a judgment. It can also limit a statement to one option, as in baseball, yes, but...
- ～ばba If; provided thatStates a condition for the result in the second part. Verb endings change to the e-row plus ば, while negative ない becomes なければ.
- ～たがるtagaru Show signs of wanting toDescribes another person's observable desire to do something. The progressive form often presents a current desire inferred from behavior or words.
- ～かもしれない、～かもしれませんkamoshirenai May; might; perhapsExpresses an uncertain possibility rather than a firm conclusion. かもしれません is polite, and かも is a common conversational abbreviation.
- ～でしょうdeshou Probably; I expect thatExpresses the speaker's prediction or assessment of likelihood. It is common in weather forecasts and polite conversation.
- ～しか～ない、 〜ほかないsika-nai Only; have no choice but toしか with a negative predicate restricts the available amount or choice. With a dictionary-form verb, しかない or ほかない expresses that no alternati...
- ～ようyou It seems; apparently, based on evidencePresents an inference based on visible signs or other evidence. The same forms can also express resemblance, so context is important.
- 〜ようとおもう、〜うとおもうyoutoomou Be thinking of doing; intend toExpresses an intention or plan. と思っている often indicates a plan already being considered or held, rather than a decision made at the moment of spe...
- ～つもりtsumori Intend to; plan toStates an intention about an action. The positive form expresses a plan to act, while the negative form states an intention not to act.
- ～予定 Be scheduled to; be planned toDescribes a schedule or plan, often one with a relatively concrete time or arrangement. 予定です is the polite form.
- ～てあげるteageru Do something for someonePresents an action as a benefit given by the subject to another person. The receiver may be marked with に when the underlying verb allows it.