Grammar Points

JLPT grammar patterns N5 to N1 — how each one attaches, what it means, and a worked example.

• 〜きらいがある — N3 — To have a tendency to (usually something negative or undesirable).
• 〜ずにはおかない — N3 — Cannot help but do; will certainly do (strong determination or inevitable outcome).
• 〜た末に — N3 — After a long process of; as a result of (often after a difficult or long time).
• 〜だらけ — N3 — Full of (usually something dirty, messy, or undesirable).
• な-adj stem + で / noun + で — N5 — and (connecting na-adjectives/nouns); because (reason)
• 〜あいだ — N4 — While / during the time that
• 〜あいだに — N4 — Within the time that / while
• 〜を通して — N3 — through/via/throughout
• 〜きり — N4 — Just / only / since
• 〜ことだ — N2 — Should / must (advice or suggestion)
• 〜さ — N4 — Noun-forming suffix for adjectives
• 〜さえ〜ば — N3 — If only (you do this one thing)
• 〜そうもない — N3 — Doesn't look like it will happen
• 〜たびに — N3 — Every time
• 〜っぽい — N3 — -ish / like
• 〜てからでないと — N3 — Unless (you do X first), (you can't do Y)
• 〜てたまらない — N2 — Cannot help but feel / extremely
• 〜てばかりいる — N3 — Doing nothing but
• 〜でいいです — N4 — Is fine / will do
• 〜といっても — N3 — Even though I say X, in reality Y
• 〜ばあい — N4 — in the case that, if
• 〜ばよかった — N4 — I wish I had done...
• 〜つもりだ — N4 — to plan to, intend to
• 〜べきだ — N4 — should, ought to
• 〜に関して — N3 — regarding/concerning
• 〜にわたって — N3 — throughout/over a period of time or area
• 〜こととなっている — N3 — it has been decided that
• 〜ものがある — N3 — there is something about... that makes one feel
• 〜かわりに — N3 — instead of/in return for
• 〜に限る — N3 — nothing is better than/is the best
• 〜にすぎない — N3 — no more than/just
• 〜からといって — N3 — just because... doesn't mean
• 〜に反して — N3 — contrary to
• 〜ことになっている — N3 — It has been decided that; it is a rule that
• 〜とは限らない — N3 — It is not necessarily the case that; it doesn't mean that.
• 〜ついでに — N3 — While you are at it; taking the opportunity to
• 〜がち — N3 — Tending to; prone to
• 〜気味 — N3 — A little bit; feeling slightly
• 〜わけだ — N3 — The reason is that; it means that
• 〜にほならない — N3 — is nothing other than, is none other than
• 〜ことになった — N3 — It has been decided that
• 〜得る — N3 — can, to be possible
• 〜っこない — N3 — no chance of, definitely cannot
• 〜を皮切りに — N3 — starting with, beginning from
• 〜に至るまで — N3 — up to, as far as, even
• 〜っこ — N3 — child, kid (used as a suffix for groups)
• 〜ちゅう — N3 — In the middle of
• 〜かと思えば — N3 — just when I thought..., no sooner had... than
• 〜てまで — N2 — Even to the point of doing (a extreme or undesirable action).
• 〜げな — N3 — having the appearance of, seeming

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