Japanese Grammar Structures

1. Movement and Places

• N (place) へ いきます、きます、かえります
• どこも いきません、きません、かえりません

2. Transportation

• N (vehicle) で いきます、きます、かえります

3. Actions at a Place

• N (place) で verb

4. Invitations and Suggestions

• V ませんか – Inviting someone

• V ましょうか – Shall I? (offering help)
• V ましょう – Asking/inviting to do something together

5. Tools and Means

• N (tool/means) で verb

6. Giving and Receiving

• N (person-receiver) に あげます、かします、おしえます
• N (person-giver) に もらいます、かります、ならいます

7. Actions and Time

• もう V ました – Action done

• まだ V ません – Not yet done

8. Expressions with "あります" and "います"

• N があります、わかります、すき、きらい、じょうず、へた
• S1 から S2
• N があります、います – Thing/person exists, is present
• N1 (place) に N2 があります、います
• N1 は N2 (place) に あります、います
• N (thing/person/place) は N2 の position に あります、います

9. Expressing Wants

• N が ほしい – Want something/someone

• V たい – Want to do (V ます → drop ます + たい)

10. Purpose of Going

• N (place) へ + Object (を) + V ます-ます + に いきます、かえります、きます

• N (place) へ N に いきます、きます、かえります – Go to ... for a purpose
11. Fixed Particles with Verbs

• N に V (のる、はいる) – Fixed particles

• N を V (さんぽする、とおる、あるきます、でます、おります)

12. Indefinite Expressions

• どこか – Anywhere, somewhere

• なにか – Anything, something

13. Requests and Permissions

• V てください – Please do
• V ます-ます + なさい – Command
• V ないでください – Please don't do
• V て + います (polite), V て + いる (plain) – Action in progress (ing form)
• V てもいいですか – Asking permission (May I?)
• V てもいいです – Granting permission (You may do)
• V てはいけません – You must not do

14. Sequential Actions

• V1 てから V2 – Complete action in V1, then V2 follows

15. Obligations and Allowances

• V ないといければなりません – You must

• V ないといくてもいいです – You need not

16. Time Limits

• N (time) までに V – Action must be done before a time limit

17. Abilities and Possibilities

• N が / V (dict.) ことができます – Can (ability/possibility)

18. Hobbies

• しゅみは...N + です / V (dict.) + こと です

19. "Before" Expressions

• Vdict, N+の, Quantifier + まえに V2 – Before

20. Negative Expressions

• なかなか – Quite, not rarely, not quite (used with negatives)

21. Strong Suggestions

• ぜひ – Used with ほしい、V たい、V ます、V てください

22. Experience
 • V たことがあります / ありません – Have experienced

23. Listing Actions

• V たり、V たりします – Actions among many others

24. Becoming

• い-adj → い + く、な-adj → な + に、N → に + なります – Become

25. Expressing Agreement

• そうですね – Agreeing or conforming

26. Expressing Opinions

• とおもいます – I think that...

27. Quoting Someone

• S (plain) といいます – Say (quoting someone)

28. Seeking Confirmation

• V (plain), i-adj (plain), na-adj, N + でしょう – Confirms listener's agreement

29. Events Taking Place

• N1 (place) で N2 があります – When N2 is an event, あります means "to take place/be

held"
• N (occasion) で – When an action takes place on a certain occasion

30. Suggestions

• N でも V – Advising or making a suggestion

31. Must-do Expressions

• V ないと – Similar to なければなりません ("I must")

32. Casual Conjunctions

• ~けど – Informal form of が ("but")

33. Expressing Indecision

• どうしょうかな... – What shall I do?

• どうするの...? – What will you do?

34. Subject Particle in Modifying Clauses

• が – Used by the subject when modifying a noun

35. Expressing Time for Actions

 • Vdict + じかん / やくそく / ようじ – Expressing time for an action
o たべるじかん (time to eat)
o いくようじ (appointment to go)
o みるやくそくがあります (promise to watch)

36. "When" Expressions

• Vdict, V ない, i-adj, na-adj + な, N + の + とき – When

37. Movement Through Places

• N (place) を V (movement) – みちをわたります (cross the road)

38. Cause and Effect

• Vdict... – Inevitably, one action follows another

39. Descriptive Sentences

• N が adj / verb – おとがちいさいです (the sound is small)

40. Giving and Receiving Verbs

• くれます – Someone gives to the speaker or speaker's family

• V てあげます – One does/gives to somebody
• V てもらいます – Receiver is the subject (sense of gratitude)
• V てくれます – Giver is the subject

41. Identifying the Subject in a Sentence

• N (person) が V – さとさんがくれました (Sato-san gave it)

42. Asking Questions

• Interrogative + V...? – だれがてつだいにいきますか? (Who will go help?)

Lesson 25: Conditional Expressions (たら-form / tara-form)

1. Vta + ra – Used when stating opinions, situations, and requests in conditional form.
o i-adj: Drop i, add kattara
o na-adj: Drop na, add dattara

Examples:

• Okane o takusan chokin shitara, jibun no shopai o tatemasu.

• Gakkou wa chikakattara, ikimasu.
• Ano tokoro wa anzen dattara, asobi ni ikimasu.

Lesson 26: Explanation & Requests (んです-form / n desu-form)

1. V (plain) + n desu – Used for confirmations, reasoning, and introducing a topic.

o i-adj: Plain form
 o na-adj: Plain form (da)
o N + na

Examples:

• Ame ga futteiru n desu ka?

• Doushitan desu ka?
• Chotto kibun ga warui n desu.

2. Vte itadakemasen ka – Polite request (more polite than te kudasai)

o Example: Ii sensei o shoukai shite itadakemasen ka?
3. Interrogative + Vtara ii desu ka – Asking for advice/instructions
o Example: Dare to issho ni ittara ii desu ka?

Lesson 27: Potential Verbs & Reverse Conditions

1. Potential Verbs – Expressing ability/skill

o U-verb: Drop u, add eru
o Ru-verb: Drop ru, add rareru
o Suru → Dekiru
o Kuru → Korareru
o Polite: Drop ru, add masu
o For tsu-ending U-verbs: Drop tsu, add teru
2. Vte + mo – Even if... (Reverse condition)
o i-adj: Drop i, add kutemo
o na-adj: Drop na, add demo
o N + demo

Examples:

• Kono kuruma wa hayakutemo kaimasen.

• Ame demo sentaku shimasu.

3. Moshi & Ikura – Expressing conditions

o Moshi – Used with Vtara to indicate a condition beforehand
o Ikura – Used with temo or demo to stress the degree of conditionality
o Moshi = If
o Ikura = No matter

Example:

• Moshi okane ga takusan attara, iroiro na kuni ni asobimasu.

Lesson 28: Simultaneous Actions & Listing Reasons

1. V1masu + nagara + V2 – Doing two actions at the same time (V2 is the main action).
o Example:
▪ Shorui o kopii shinagara, uketori kanjou keisan suru.
2. Vplain + shi, Vplain + shi – Listing multiple reasons or describing characteristics.
o Na-adj: Add da before shi
o Example:
▪ Akira-san wa ryouri dekiru shi, unten suru shi, kuruma o shuuri shimasu.
▪ Koko wa nedan ga yasui shi, ryouri ga oishii shi, kara suki da.
3. Sorede – "So" or "therefore," linking cause and effect.
 o Example:
▪ Koko wa suzushi shi, anzen da shi, sorede minna de sumitai desu.

Lesson 29: Continuing States & Completion of Actions

1. Vte imasu – A state resulting from an action, or habitual behavior.

o Examples:
▪ Mado ga warete imasu. (The window is broken.)
▪ Denki ga tsuite imasu. (The light is on.)
2. Vte shimaimashita / shimaimasu – Action is completely done.
o Example:
▪ Sakubun no shukudai o kaite shimaimashita.
3. Arimashita – Used when someone finds something.
o Example:
▪ Kagi ga arimashita! (I found the key!)
4. Place ni arimasu / Place ni imasu – Something/someone exists at a place.
o Examples:
▪ Koujou ni atarashii kikai ga arimasu. (There is a new machine in the
factory.)
▪ Jimusho ni buchou ga imasu. (The department head is in the office.)
5. Dokoka de / Dokoka ni – Talking about an unspecified place.
o Dokoka de → Action happens somewhere.
o Dokoka ni → Something exists somewhere.
o Examples:
▪ Dokoka de saifu o nakushite shimaimashita. (I lost my wallet somewhere.)
▪ Dokoka ni toire ga arimasu ka? (Is there a toilet somewhere?)

Lesson 30: Preparation & Listing Examples

1. Vte arimasu – Describes a state resulting from a purposeful action.

o Example:
▪ Isu no ue ni kasa ga oite arimasu. (Someone left an umbrella on the chair.)
2. Vte okimasu – Doing something in preparation for the future.
o Examples:
▪ Dekakeru mae ni kodomo no yuushoku o tsukutte oita. (I prepared my
child's dinner before going out.)
▪ Ryokou no mae ni kippu o katte okimasu. (I will buy a ticket before the
trip.)
3. Mada... – "Still" or "Not yet" (with Vte imasen).
o Examples:
▪ Koike-san wa mada dokushin desu. (Koike-san is still single.)
▪ Ginkou wa mada aite imasen. (The bank is not open yet.)
4. Toka – Listing examples (informal and conversational, similar to ya).
o Example:
▪ Sukiyaki toka ebi furai toka suki desu. (I like sukiyaki and fried shrimp,
etc.)

Lesson 31: Volitional Form & Plans

1. Volitional form – Plain form of mashou

o U-verbs: Drop u, add ou
o Ru-verbs: Drop ru, add you
 o Examples:
▪ Chotto yasumou. (Let’s take a little break.)
▪ Suru → shiyou
▪ Kuru → koyou
2. V volitional form + to omotte imasu – Expresses intention.
o Example:
▪ Ima kara ginkou e ikou to omotte imasu. (I am thinking of going to the
bank now.)
3. Vdict + tsumori desu – Plans to do / Not to do (Vnai).
o Examples:
▪ Kuni e kaette mo, nihongo o benkyou o tsuzukeru tsumori desu.
▪ Ashita kara wa tabako o suwanai tsumori desu. (I plan not to smoke from
tomorrow.)
4. Vdict + yotei desu / N no yotei desu – Scheduled plans.
o Example:
▪ Ryokou wa isshuukan gurai no yotei desu. (The trip is planned for about a
week.)
5. Mou... – Already done.
o Example:
▪ Repooto wa mou kakimashita. (I have already written the report.)
6. Verb → Noun conversion – Drop masu from Vmasu.
o Examples:
▪ Yasumimasu → yasumi (Rest, break)
▪ Asobimasu → asobi (Play)
▪ Kaerimasu → kaeri (Return)

Lesson 32: Advice & Probability

1. Vta + hou ga ii desu – It’s better / You’d better.

o Example:
▪ Netsu ga aru toki, ofuro ni hairanai hou ga ii desu.
2. V plain + deshou – Probably / I think.
o Example:
▪ Ashita yuki ga furu deshou? (It will probably snow tomorrow.)
3. V plain + kamoshiremasen – Might, perhaps, may.
o Example:
▪ Konban no paatii ni kuru kamoshiremasen. (He might come to the party
tonight.)
4. Quantifier + de – Shows a time or quantity limit.
o Example:
▪ Eki made 30 pun de ikemasu ka? (Can you reach the station in 30
minutes?)

Lesson 33: Imperatives & Prohibitions

1. Imperative Form – Commands.

o U-verbs: Drop u, add e
o Ru-verbs: Drop ru, add ro
o Examples:
▪ Kaeru → kaere
▪ Taberu → tabero
▪ Suru → shiro
▪ Kuru → koi
 2. Prohibitive Form – Must not do.
o V plain + na
o Example:
▪ Amari nomu na. (Don’t drink too much.)
3. Reading & Meaning – "~to kaite arimasu / ~to yomimasu"
o Example:
▪ Ano kanji wa nanto yomimasu ka? (How do you read that kanji?)
4. S plain + to iimashita – Quoting speech.
o Example:
▪ Tanaka-san wa "ashita yasumimasu" to itte imashita.
5. S plain + to tsutaete itadakemasen ka? – Asking someone to pass on a message.
o Example:
▪ Shimizu-san ni "atode denwa o kudasai" to tsutaete itadakemasen ka?

Lesson 34: Following Instructions & Actions Order

1. V1ta + toori ni V2 – Do V2 exactly as V1.

o Example:
▪ Watashi ga itta toori ni kaite kudasai. (Write it exactly as I said.)
2. V1ta + ato de V2 – Do V2 after V1.
o Example:
▪ Shigoto no ato de nomi ni ikimasen ka? (Shall we go for a drink after
work?)
3. V1te + V2 / V1naide + V2 – Actions performed together or with/without something.
o Examples:
▪ Shouyu o tsukete tabemasu. (Eat with soy sauce.)
▪ Kouhii ni satou o irenaide nomimasu. (Drink coffee without sugar.)

Lesson 35: Conditional Forms ("If")

1. Vta + ra – "If" (Action A happens, then B follows).

o Examples:
▪ Shigoto o hayaku owattara, nomikai ni sanka suru.
2. ~ba – If condition A is met, then B happens (but no personal intention).
o Examples:
▪ Ashita ame ga fureba, eiga o mini iku. (If it rains tomorrow, I will watch a
movie.)
3. ~to – Natural consequence or fact-based condition.
o Example:
▪ Benkyou suru to, tesuto wa kantan ni naru. (If you study, the test will be
easy.)
4. ~nara – Condition linked to an external event.
o Example:
▪ Minna ga iku nara, watashi mo iku. (If everyone goes, I’ll go too.)

Lesson 36: Purpose & Habit Formation

1. Vdict + you ni V2 – Do V2 to achieve V1.

o Example:
 ▪ Wasure nai you ni, memo shite kudasai. (Write a memo so you don’t
forget.)
2. ~you ni shite kudasai – Requesting someone to develop a habit.
o Example:
▪ Motto takusan yasai o taberu you ni shite kudasai. (Please try to eat more
vegetables.)
3. Adjective modifying another adjective or verb
o i-adj → ku / na-adj → ni
o Example:
▪ Hayaku, jouzu ni ryouri suru you ni naritai desu. (I want to become skilled
at cooking quickly.)

Lesson 37:

1. Ukemi (Passive Verbs)

• The action was done to someone.

• Person 1 is the topic, and the person taking the action is indicated by particle ni.

Conjugation:

• U-verb: drop -u, add -areru

• Ru-verb: drop -ru, add -rareru
• Suru → sareru
• Kuru → korareru

Rei:

• Chichi wa ani ni kuruma no unten o tanomaremashita.

(My father was asked by my older brother to drive the car.)

2. N kara / N de tsukurimasu

• Kara is used when something is made from something.

• De is used when saying what something is made of.

Rei:

• Kechappu wa tomato kara tsukurimashita.

(Ketchup is made from tomatoes.)
• Isu wa ki de tsukurimashita.
(The chair is made of wood.)

Lesson 38:

1. Vdict + no wa adj desu

• Doing a verb is adj.

• Change verb to dict form → add no wa → add adjective.

Rei:

• Bareebooru o suru no wa muzukashii desu.

(Playing volleyball is difficult.)
2. Vdict + no ga adj desu

• Expresses likes, dislikes, abilities, skills, preferences, etc.

• Often used with suki, kirai, jouzu, heta, hayai, osoi, etc.

Rei:

• Watashi wa kaigan o sanpo suru no ga suki desu.

(I like walking along the beach.)

3. Vdict no o wasuremashita

• Forgot to do something.

Rei:

• Shukudai o shimashita ga, motte kuru no o wasuremashita.

(I did my homework, but I forgot to bring it.)

4. Vdict no o shitte imasu ka?

• Do you know that ~?

Rei:

• Kanojo wa N4 no shiken ni goukaku suru no o shitte imasu ka?

(Do you know that she passed the N4 exam?)

Lesson 39:

1. V-te / V-nai + kute / i-adj + kute / na-adj + de

• The second part of the sentence expresses emotions like:

sabishii, bikkuri shimasu, anshin shimasu, komarimasu, ureshii, zannen na, etc.

Rei:

• Kazoku to aenakute sabishii desu.

(I feel lonely because I can't meet my family.)

2. N de (Natural Disasters & Events)

• Used for natural phenomena and events like kaji (fire), jishin (earthquake), kouzui (flood), etc.

Rei:

• Jishin de biru ga taoremashita.

(The building collapsed due to the earthquake.)

3. Plain form + node

• Node is used for giving reasons or justifications (polite alternative to "kara").

• Often used when asking for permission.

Rei:
 • Yakusoku ga aru node osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.
(I have an appointment, so I’ll be leaving first.)

4. ~chuu de

• On the way / During ~.

• Used with Vplain and N + no.

Rei:

• Kaigi no chuu de kimochi ga waruku natta.

(I started feeling sick during the meeting.)

Lesson 40:

1. Vplain / i-adj / na-adj / N + ka dou ka

• Means "whether or not".

• Cannot be used with interrogatives (question words).

Rei:

• Machigai ga nai ka dou ka shirabete kudasai.

(Please check whether there is a mistake or not.)

2. V-te + mimasu

• Indicates trying out an action.

Rei:

• Konsaato o mite mimasu.

(I will try watching the concert.)

3. i-adj → sa (adjective to noun conversion)

• An i-adjective can be converted to a noun by changing -i to -sa.

Rei:

• Takai → Takasa (height)

• Nagai → Nagasa (length)
• Omoi → Omosa (weight)

4. ~deshou ka?

• Polite way of asking a question without demanding an answer.

Lesson 41:

1. Giving & Receiving Expressions

1. N1 (person) ni N2 o itadakimasu

• Speaker receives something (N2) from someone of higher status.

• Used instead of moraimasu.

Rei:

• Watashi wa shachou ni omiyage o itadakimashita.

(I received a souvenir from the company president.)

2. Watashi ni N o kudasaimasu

• Giver (ga) → Receiver (ni)

Rei:

• Shachou ga watashi ni omiyage o kudasaimashita.

(The company president gave me a souvenir.)

3. N1 ni N2 o yarimasu

• Used when the recipient is of lower status, an animal, or a plant.

• Giver (wa) → Receiver (ni)

Rei:

• Watashi wa musume ni okashi o yarimashita (agemashita).

(I gave my daughter some sweets.)

Lesson 42:

1. Vdict / N no + tame ni

• "In order to V" / "For N"

• Indicates the purpose of an action.

Rei:

• Kenko no tame ni mai asa hashitte imasu.

(I run every morning for my health.)
• Jibun no mise o motsu tame ni chokin shite imasu.
(I'm saving money to open my own shop.)

2. Vdict no / N + ni

• Used with tsukaimasu, ii desu, benri desu, yaku ni tachimasu, jikan ga kakarimasu to indicate
purpose.

Rei:

• Kono hasami wa hana o kiru no ni tsukaimasu.

(These scissors are used for cutting flowers.)
• Denwa bangou o shiraberu no ni jikan ga kakarimasu.
(It takes time to look up a phone number.)
Lesson 43

1. Vmasu (drop masu) + sō desu

• Speaker’s belief that an action is likely to happen.

• Appearance of something happening soon.
• i-adj: drop -i, add -sō desu
• na-adj: drop -na, add -sō desu

Rei:

• Ame ga furisō desu. (It looks like it will rain.)

• Kono keeki wa oishisō desu. (This cake looks delicious.)

2. V-te + kimasu

• Speaker goes somewhere, does something, and comes back.

Rei:

• Chotto tabako o sutte kimasu.

(I’ll go smoke and come back.)

3. N (place) e itte kimasu

• Speaker goes to a place and returns.

Rei:

• Yuubinkyoku e itte kimasu.

(I’ll go to the post office and come back.)

4. Dekakete kimasu

• Speaker goes out somewhere and returns.

Rei:

• Chotto dekakete kimasu.

(I’m going out for a bit.)

5. V-te kuremasen ka?

• "Could you...?" (More polite than V-te kudasai, but less polite than V-te itadakemasen ka.)
• Used when speaking to someone of equal or lower status.

Rei:

• Obentou o katte kuremasen ka?

(Could you buy me a boxed meal?)

Lesson 44

1. Vmasu (drop masu) + sugimasu

 • Action or state is excessive.

Rei:

• Tabesugimashita. (I ate too much.)

• Kono fuku wa takasugimasu. (These clothes are too expensive.)

2. Vmasu (drop masu) + yasui desu

• Easy to do something.

Rei:

• Kono pen wa kakiyasui desu.

(This pen is easy to write with.)

3. Vmasu (drop masu) + nikui desu

• Difficult to do something.

Rei:

• Kanji wa oboenikui desu.

(Kanji is difficult to remember.)

4. N1 o [i-adj → ku] shimasu / [na-adj → ni] shimasu / [N2 → ni] shimasu

• Indicates a change in state.

Rei:

• Kantan na mondai o muzukashiku shimasu.

(I’ll make an easy question difficult.)

5. N ni shimasu

• Indicates a choice/decision.

Rei:

• Watashi wa sushi ni shimasu.

(I’ll choose sushi.)

Lesson 45

1. Vdict/Vnai/Vta + baai wa

• Describes how to handle a situation or its consequences.

Rei:

• Ame ga futta baai wa, shiai wa chuushi desu.

(If it rains, the match will be canceled.)

2. Vplain / i-adj plain + noni / na-adj + na noni / N + na noni

 • Contradiction between two clauses.
• Expresses unexpected results or dissatisfaction.

Rei:

• Takai noni, oishikunai desu.

(It’s expensive, but it’s not delicious.)

Lesson 46

1. Vdict + tokoro desu

• About to do something.
• Used with korekara, choudo, ima kara.

Rei:

• Korekara shukudai o suru tokoro desu.

(I’m about to do my homework.)

2. V-te iru + tokoro desu

• Action is in progress.
• Used with ima.

Rei:

• Ima bangohan o tabete iru tokoro desu.

(I’m eating dinner right now.)

3. V-ta + tokoro desu

• Just finished an action.

• Used with tadaima.

Rei:

• Tadaima uchi ni kaetta tokoro desu.

(I just got home.)

4. V-ta bakari desu

• Not much time has passed since an action happened.

Rei:

• Gohan o tabeta bakari desu.

(I just ate.)

5. Vdict/Vnai/i-adj plain/na-adj + na + hazu desu

• Should / ought to.

Rei:
 • Kare wa kuru hazu desu.
(He should come.)

Lesson 47

1. Vplain form + sou desu

• "They say that ~" (Reported speech).

Rei:

• Tenkiyohou ni yoru to, ashita wa hare sou desu.

(According to the weather forecast, tomorrow will be sunny.)

2. Vplain + you desu

• It seems that... (Based on observation).

Rei:

• Kare wa byouki no you desu.

(He seems to be sick.)

3. (koe, oto, nioi, aji) + ga shimasu

• Speaker perceives a sensation.

Rei:

• Ii nioi ga shimasu!
(It smells good!)

Lesson 48: Causative Verbs

• Used to make or let someone do something.

Conjugation:

• U-verb: Drop -u, add -aseru

• Ru-verb: Drop -ru, add -saseru
• Suru → saseru
• Kuru → kosaseru

Rei:

• Kodomo ni yasai o tabesasemashita.

(I made my child eat vegetables.)

Lesson 49 & 50: Honorific Expressions

Used to show respect to others.

Respectful Expressions

• Used for others' actions (Keigo).

Verb Respectful Form Humble Form

Ikimasu Irasshaimasu Mairimasu
Kimasu Irasshaimasu / Oide ni narimasu Mairimasu
Tabemasu / Nomimasu Meshiagarimasu Itadakimasu
Morai masu - Itadakimasu

Rei:

• Tanaka-san wa mou kaisha ni irasshaimashita ka?

(Has Mr. Tanaka already arrived at the company?)