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Japanese Grammar Reference

N5 and N4 Japanese grammar patterns with English explanations and examples.

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N5 Grammar Patterns (35 patterns)

～wa ～desu Copula

[Topic] is [X]

わたしはがくせいです。

I am a student.

～ga ～desu Particles

[Subject] is [X] (emphasis)

これがわたしのほんです。

This is my book.

～wo ～masu Particles

[Object] + verb (polite)

ごはんをたべます。

I eat rice/meals.

～ni ikimasu Particles

Go to [place]

がっこうにいきます。

I go to school.

～de ～masu Particles

Do [verb] at [place/means]

でんしゃでいきます。

I go by train.

～no ～ Particles

[Possessive] - [A's B]

わたしのくるまです。

It is my car.

～mo ～ Particles

[Also/too] - X also

わたしもにほんごをべんきょうします。

I also study Japanese.

～to ～ Particles

And [joins nouns] / With [person]

ともだちとえいがをみます。

I watch a movie with a friend.

～ne / ～yo Sentence Enders

Sentence-ending: ね (seeking agreement), よ (asserting)

いいてんきですね。

Nice weather, isn't it?

～kara ～made Time/Place

From [X] to [Y]

くじからごじまではたらきます。

I work from 9 to 5.

～nai Negation

Do not [verb]

たべない。

[I] don't eat.

～masen Negation

Do not [verb] - polite

いきません。

I don't go.

～masen deshita Past Tense

Did not [verb] - polite past

きのうべんきょうしませんでした。

I didn't study yesterday.

～mashita Past Tense

Did [verb] - polite past

テレビをみました。

I watched TV.

～te kudasai Requests

Please do [verb]

まってください。

Please wait.

～naide kudasai Requests

Please don't [verb]

はなさないでください。

Please don't speak.

～te imasu Progressive

[Verb]-ing / ongoing action

いまたべています。

I am eating now.

～te kara Sequential

After doing [verb]

たべてからねます。

I sleep after eating.

～mashou Suggestions

Let's do [verb]

いきましょう！

Let's go!

～masen ka Suggestions

Won't you [verb]? (invitation)

いっしょにたべませんか？

Won't you eat together?

～tai Desire

Want to [verb]

にほんにいきたいです。

I want to go to Japan.

～hoshii Desire

Want [noun/thing]

あたらしいくるまがほしい。

I want a new car.

～dekimasu Ability

Can do [verb]

にほんごができます。

I can speak Japanese.

～ga suki / kirai Likes/Dislikes

Like / Dislike [noun]

すしがすきです。

I like sushi.

～ga jouzu / heta Ability

Good at / Bad at [noun/verb]

えいごがじょうずです。

[They are] good at English.

kore / sore / are / dore Demonstratives

This / That (near you) / That (far) / Which

これはなんですか？

What is this?

kono / sono / ano / dono Demonstratives

This [N] / That [N] / That [far N] / Which [N]

このほんはおもしろいです。

This book is interesting.

ikutsu / ikura / nansai Questions

How many / How much / How old

おいくつですか？

How old are you?

doko / dare / nani / itsu / doushite Questions

Where / Who / What / When / Why

どこへいきますか？

Where are you going?

～i ～desu Adjectives

[い-adj] is [X] (plain i-adj + desu)

このごはんはおいしいです。

This meal is delicious.

～na ～desu Adjectives

[な-adj] is [X]

きれいなへやです。

It's a beautiful room.

～kunai Adjectives

[い-adj] is not [X]

たかくないです。

It's not expensive.

～ja nai Adjectives

Is not [な-adj / noun]

げんきじゃないです。

I'm not well.

～arimasu / imasu Existence

Exist (things) / Exist (people/animals)

ねこがいます。つくえがあります。

There is a cat. There is a desk.

～ni arimasu / imasu Location

[Thing] is at [Location]

ほんはつくえのうえにあります。

The book is on the desk.

N4 Grammar Patterns (30 patterns)

～te iru Progressive/State

Ongoing state (result of action)

かれはけっこんしています。

He is married.

～te miru Try/Attempt

Try doing [verb]

たべてみてください。

Please try eating it.

～te shimau Completion

End up doing (completion/regret)

たべてしまいました。

I ended up eating it (all).

～te oku Preparation

Do [verb] in advance / for later

やさいをきっておきます。

I'll cut the vegetables in advance.

～te ageru / morau / kureru Giving/Receiving

Give/receive the favor of [verb]

ともだちにおしえてもらいました。

I had my friend teach me.

～te iru tokoro Progressive

In the middle of [verb]-ing

いまたべているところです。

I'm in the middle of eating right now.

～ta tokoro Just Did

Just did [verb]

かえってきたところです。

I just got back.

～nakereba narimasen Obligation

Must / Have to [verb]

べんきょうしなければなりません。

I have to study.

～te mo ii desu Permission

It's OK to [verb] / May I...?

はいってもいいですか？

May I come in?

～te wa ikemasen Prohibition

Must not / Not allowed to [verb]

ここでたばこをすってはいけません。

You must not smoke here.

～nagara Simultaneous

While doing [verb] (simultaneous)

おんがくをきながらべんきょうします。

I study while listening to music.

～tari ～tari shimasu Listing Actions

Do things like [A and B] (list of actions)

えいごをよんだりきいたりします。

I do things like reading and listening to English.

～ba / ～eba Conditional

If [verb], then... (conditional)

たべればげんきになります。

If you eat, you'll get better.

～tara Conditional

When/If [event happens] (softer condition)

うちにかえったられんらくします。

I'll contact you when I get home.

～to Conditional

When/If [condition] → [natural result]

みぎにまがるとゆうびんきょくがあります。

If you turn right, there's a post office.

～te mo Concessive

Even if / Even though [verb]

たかくてもかいます。

Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it.

～no ni Concessive

Even though [A], unexpectedly [B]

たくさんべんきょうしたのにしけんにおちた。

Even though I studied a lot, I failed the exam.

～kara Reason

Because [reason]...

あめだからいえにいます。

I'm at home because it's raining.

～node Reason

Because (polite/soft reason)

びょうきなのでやすみます。

Since I'm sick, I'll take a day off.

～shi Listing Reasons

And moreover (listing multiple reasons)

やすいしおいしいしとてもいい。

It's cheap, and it's delicious, so it's great.

～sou Conjecture

Looks like / Seems [adj/verb]

このりょうりはおいしそうです。

This dish looks delicious.

～rashii Hearsay

Seems like / I heard that (evidence-based)

あしたあめらしい。

It seems like it'll rain tomorrow.

～you da / ～mitai da Conjecture

It seems like / Appears to be

かれはがくせいみたいです。

He seems to be a student.

～kamo shirenai Possibility

Maybe / Might be

あしたあめかもしれません。

It might rain tomorrow.

～hazu desu Expectation

Should be / Supposed to [verb]

もうかえったはずです。

He should have already come home.

～tame ni / ～you ni Purpose

In order to [goal] (ために = concrete goal, ように = vague goal/hope)

にほんごをべんきょうするためにほんをかいます。

I buy books in order to study Japanese.

～sugiru Excess

Too much / Excessively [verb/adj]

たべすぎました。

I ate too much.

～yasui / ～nikui Ease/Difficulty

Easy to / Hard to [verb]

このペンはかきやすいです。

This pen is easy to write with.

～hodo Comparison

To the extent that / As [X] as [Y]

ねむいほどつかれています。

I'm tired to the point of being sleepy.

～yori Comparison

More than [X]

でんしゃよりバスのほうがやすいです。

The bus is cheaper than the train.

📖 How to Use This Reference

🔊 Click any pattern or example sentence to hear Japanese pronunciation
🔍 Use the search box to find specific patterns (try "conditional", "want", "negative")
📝 Focus on N5 first - most JFT Basic questions test N5-level grammar
✅ N4 patterns appear in JFT Basic reading comprehension sections
🃏 Combine with Flashcard tool to actively test your grammar knowledge

About Grammar Reference

Japanese Grammar Basics for Beginners

Japanese grammar follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order, which differs from the subject-verb-object pattern used in English and Nepali. Understanding this fundamental difference early on helps you construct sentences naturally rather than translating word by word from your native language.

Particles like は (wa), が (ga), を (wo), and に (ni) are the building blocks of Japanese sentences. They mark the grammatical role of each word, and mastering their usage is essential for both the reading and listening sections of the JFT-Basic exam.

N5 Grammar Essentials

JLPT N5 grammar covers the most fundamental patterns you need to communicate in basic Japanese. This includes the polite です/ます form, basic verb conjugations, adjective usage, and essential sentence connectors like から (because) and けど (but).

For JFT-Basic preparation, N5 grammar forms the core of what you need to know. Patterns like ～たい (want to do), ～てください (please do), and ～てもいいですか (may I) appear frequently in exam questions about daily life situations.

N4 Grammar Patterns

N4 grammar builds on N5 foundations with more complex sentence structures. Key patterns include the conditional forms ～たら and ～ば, the passive voice ～られる, giving and receiving expressions like ～てあげる/もらう/くれる, and compound sentences using ～ながら (while doing).

These patterns are important for understanding workplace instructions and longer reading passages on the JFT-Basic exam. Students who can recognize N4 grammar in context have a significant advantage in the reading comprehension section.

Grammar in the JFT-Basic Exam

The JFT-Basic exam tests grammar through practical situations rather than abstract rules. You will encounter grammar points embedded in conversations, signs, notices, and short passages about everyday topics like shopping, asking directions, visiting a hospital, or communicating at work.

Rather than memorizing grammar rules in isolation, practice recognizing patterns in context. Our reference tool organizes grammar points by level and provides example sentences that mirror the types of situations you will face on exam day.

How to Use Grammar Reference

Select N5 or N4 grammar level to browse.

Browse grammar patterns organized by category.

Read example sentences for each pattern.

Practice with related exercises to reinforce learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many grammar points do I need for JLPT N5? +

JLPT N5 requires knowledge of approximately 80 to 100 grammar points. These cover basic sentence patterns, verb conjugations, particle usage, and common expressions. For the JFT-Basic exam, which is at a similar level, mastering these core patterns will help you understand most exam questions.

What is the difference between N5 and N4 grammar? +

N5 grammar covers the most basic sentence structures like polite form, simple questions, and basic verb tenses. N4 grammar introduces more complex patterns including conditional forms, passive voice, causative expressions, and compound sentences. N4 allows you to express more nuanced ideas and understand longer conversations.

Is Japanese grammar hard for Nepali speakers? +

Nepali speakers actually have some advantages when learning Japanese grammar. Both languages place the verb at the end of the sentence, and both use postpositional particles to mark grammatical relationships. The biggest challenge is usually the different politeness levels in Japanese, as the formal and informal verb forms require practice to use correctly.

Should I study grammar or vocabulary first? +

It is best to study both simultaneously. Learn basic grammar patterns alongside the vocabulary needed to use them. For example, when you learn the pattern ～たいです (want to), also learn common verbs like 食べる (eat) and 行く (go) that you can use with it. This integrated approach helps you build practical communication skills faster.