Grammar Points
JLPT grammar patterns N5 to N1 — how each one attaches, what it means, and a worked example.
- 〜から〜まで — N5 — From... to...
- 〜らしい — N4 — it seems, I heard that
- 〜ばいい — N4 — it is good if, should
- 〜わけではない — N3 — It's not that...
- 〜ように頼む — N4 — ask someone to ...
- 〜ほうがいい — N4 — had better; it's better to
- 〜んじゃない — N3 — isn't it?; don't you think?
- 〜によると — N3 — according to
- 〜て以来 — N2 — since
- 〜みたいだ — N4 — looks like, seems like
- 〜をはじめ — N2 — starting with; such as
- 〜せいで / 〜ために — N3 — because of (negative reason) / because of (positive or negative reason)
- 〜わけにはいかない — N2 — cannot (due to social/moral reasons)
- 〜かねる — N1 — cannot (polite refusal/inability)
- 〜ものだ — N3 — should; it is natural that
- 〜と思います — N5 — I think that ~
- 〜ものだから — N3 — because (often used as an excuse)
- 〜ないまでも — N1 — even if not; not necessarily
- 〜（ら）れる — N4 — potential, passive, causative, spontaneous, honorific
- 〜（よ）うとする — N3 — try to do; about to do
- 〜げ — N3 — looks like/seems
- 〜（よ）うと思っています — N4 — plan to do; intend to do
- 〜（よ）うか〜まいか — N1 — whether to do... or not
- 〜（な）ければ〜ない — N4 — if not... not...
- 〜（な）くては〜ない — N4 — if not... not... (similar to 〜なければ〜ない)
- 〜（よ）うが〜（よ）うと / 〜（よ）うが〜（よ）うが — N1 — even if... no matter what...
- 〜（の）ではないか — N3 — isn't it?; perhaps; maybe
- 〜（よ）うと（も） — N2 — even if; although
- 〜（よ）うが（まい）が — N1 — whether or not
- 〜（よ）うに — N3 — in order to; so that; as
- 〜ので — N5 — because; so
- 〜と（引用） — N5 — quotation marker (used with verbs like 言う, 聞く, 思う)
- 〜と言います — N5 — is called; say that
- 〜は〜が〜 — N5 — Regarding X, Y is... (describing a feature/part)
- 〜ができます — N5 — can do; is completed/made; be able to
- 〜にいます / あります — N5 — exists at (location) (animate/inanimate)
- 〜に〜があります / います — N5 — There is/are (something/someone) at (location)
- 〜ます-stem + に行く / 来る / 帰る — N5 — go/come/return to do X (purpose of movement)
- 〜が好きです — N5 — likes (noun)
- 〜が上手です / 下手です — N5 — is good/bad at (noun/skill)
- 〜と（一緒に） — N5 — together with; with
- 〜とても〜ません / 〜ない — N5 — cannot possibly; by no means
- 〜どころではない — N3 — not the time/situation for
- 〜をください — N5 — Please give me (something)
- 〜をあげます — N5 — to give (to others, from sender's perspective)
- 〜をくれます — N5 — to give (to me/my group, from giver's perspective)
- 〜をもらいます — N5 — to receive (from others)
- 〜抜きで — N3 — without, leaving out
- い-adj stem + くて — N5 — and (connecting i-adjectives); because (reason)
- 〜といった — N3 — such as