Mastering the JLPT N4 Grammar Section: Question Types and Study Routine

Understanding the JLPT N4 Grammar Section

Whether you are preparing for the December JLPT N4 for your Specified Skilled Worker visa or the NAT-Test for your student visa, mastering grammar is key. The Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) and Reading section carries 120 points, with a pass mark of 38. At the N4 level, you need to know about 150 grammar points. Since Nepali and Japanese are both SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) languages and use postpositions (particles), you will find the logic familiar.

Question Type 1: Sentence Composition (Star Questions)

You get a sentence with four parts and one blank marked with a star (★). You must rearrange them. Because Japanese particles work like Nepali postpositions, look for how they connect phrases.

Example: 昨日は、＿＿＿　＿＿＿　★　＿＿＿　行きました。

  1. 友達と 2. 映画を 3. 見に 4. 渋谷へ

Correct order: 1 (友達と) -> 4 (渋谷へ) -> 3 (見に) -> 2 (映画を). The answer for the star is 3.

Strategy: Identify the verb first. In this case, "行きました" (went) requires a destination (渋谷へ) and a purpose (映画を見に). Look for particles that connect phrases, such as 'と', 'に', or 'を'.

Question Type 2: Sentence Grammar

This tests your ability to choose the correct particle or auxiliary verb.

Example: 田中さんは、明日から旅行に＿＿＿そうです。

  1. 行く 2. 行き 3. 行って 4. 行った

Correct answer: 1. The grammar point '～そうです' (hearsay) follows the dictionary form of a verb.

Traps: Be careful with verb conjugation. N4 tests transitive vs. intransitive verbs and forms like '～てしまう' or '～ておく'. Always check the tense.

Question Type 3: Passage Grammar

This is a short text (100-150 words) with blanks. You must select the word to maintain the logical flow. This tests your understanding of conjunctions.

Strategy: Read the entire sentence before and after the blank. The clue is often in the following sentence, such as a contrasting conjunction like 'しかし' (however) or 'ですから' (therefore).

A Concrete Weekly Study Routine

Whether you are studying in Kathmandu for the JFT-Basic or preparing for the annual JLPT, dedicate 45 minutes daily.