N4 grammar Flashcards
undesu
verb taberundesu tabenaindesu tabetandesu tabenakattandesu
i adj kurai ndesu kura kunaindesu kura kattandesu kura nakunakattandesu
na adj hima nandesu hima janaindesu hima dattandesu hima janakattandesu
Noun benkyou nandesu benkyou janaindesu benkyou dattandesu benkyou janakattandesu
n desuka
When the speaker guesses the reasons or the cause as to what he has seen or heard and then confirms whether he is correct
nice watch it is, from where did you buy?
good at dance, from whom did you learn?
why are you late?
I am feeling sick
kireina tokei desune, dokode kattan desuka?
dansu ga jouzu desune, dare ni narattan desuka?
doushite okuretandesuka?
kibun ga waruindesu
n desuga
This is used to introduce a topic. It is followed by a request, an invitation or an expression seeking permission
I have written a letter in Japanese. Could you please check it for me?
I want to learn English so please introduce me to good teacher
nihongo de tegami wo kaitan desuga, chotto mite kudasai
eigo wo naraundesuga, ii sensei wo shoukaishite kudasai
Verb te form itadakemasenka
“Would you please do me a favour of ~ing?
This request expression is politer than te kudasai”
would you please open this window?
would you please write the name over here?
when you have free time would you please show me the place to put dust?
kono mado wo akete itadakemasenka
koko ni namae wo kaite itadakemasenka
himana toki gomiokiba wo misete itadakemasenka
Interrogative V ta form ra iidesuka
This is used when the speaker asks the listener for some advice or instructions about what to do
“what/when/where
which/how/who”
shall I?
Where should I buy a camera?
I don’t have small change, what shall I do?
dokode kamera wo kattara iidesuka?
komakai okane na naindesuga, dou shitara iidesuka?
Potential verbs
Group 1
kakimasu
kaimasu
Group 2
tabemasu
Group 3
shimasu
kimasu
kakeru
kaeru
taberaremasu
dekimasu
koraremasu
watashi wa nihongo wo hanashimasu
watashi wa nihongo ga hanasemasu
miraasan wa kanji ga yomemasu
kono ginkkoude doru ga kaeraremasu
miemasu and kikoemasu
You can now see the Mt.Fuji from bullet train
Can hear the sound of radio
you can now see Kurosawa’s movies in Shinjuku
shinkansen kara fujisan ga miemasu
rajio no oto ga kikoemasu
Shinjuku de kurosawa san no eiga ga mieraremasu
dekimasu
The verb dekimasu means come into being, come up , be completed, be finished, be made etc..
ekino maeni ookii suppaa ga dekimashita
tokei no shuuri wa itsu dekimasuka?
wa
dewa/niwa/hewa/karawa/madewa etc..
watashino gakkou dewa chuugokugo ga naraemasu
watashino gakkou niwa americajin no sensei ga imasu
wa is used to make contrasts
Yesterday we could see mountains, but not today
I drink wine, but not beer
I will go to Kyoto, but not to Osaka
kinou wa yamaga miemashitaga, kyou wa miemasen
wain wa nomimasuga, biiru wa nomimasen
kyouto hewa ikimasuga, oosaka hewa ikimasen
mo
Klara can speak English. She can speak French too
the sea can be seen from my room, and also from my brother’s room
kurarasan wa eigo ga hanasemasu. furansugo mo hanasemasu
watashino heya kara umi ga miemasu. otouto no heya kara mo miemasu
shika
shika is attached to nouns, quantifiers etc, and is always used with negative predicates.
I cannot write anything but Roman letters
I can only write Roman letters
roomaji shika kakemasen
roomaji dake kakemasu
Verb1 masu form nagara Verb2
This sentence pattern means that one person does two different actions (V1 and V2) at the same time. Verb2 is main action
I listen to music while eating
I am working and studying Japanese
ongaku wo kikinagara, shokujishimasu
hataraki nagara, nihongo wo benkyoushite imasu
Verb te form imasu
An individual’s customary action is expressed by this sentence pattern.
I jog every morning
I used to go to bed at eight every evening when I was a child
maiasa jogingu wo shite imasu
kodomono toki, maiban hachi ji ni nete imashita
plain form shi
For telling about characters of a person and also to give reasons.
watto sensei wa nesshin dashi, majime dashi, keiken mo arimasu
eki kara chikai shi, kuruma de mo korareushi, kono mise wa totemo benridesu
musuko ni eigo wo oshiete itadakemasenka?
uun, shucchou mo ooishi, mousude nihongo shiken mo arushi
soreni
This is used when you add another similar fact or situation
(in addition)
doushite sakura daigaku wo eranandesuka ?
sakura daigaku wa chichi ga deta daigaku dashi, ii sensei mo ooishi, soreni ie kara chikai desukara
tanakasan wa majime dashi, chuugoku mo jouzu dashi, soreni keiken mo arimasu
sorede
This is a conjunction used to show that what was said before, it is the reason or cause for the sentence following it.
(before sorede is the reason/cause and after is consequence)
kono resutoran wa nedan mo yasui shi, oishii ndesu.. sorede hito ga ooi ndesu
transitive
akemasu I will open a window
shimemasu I will close window
intransitive
akimasu Window will open
shimarimasu Window will close
mado wo akemasu
mado wo shimemasu
mado ga akimasu
mado ga shimarimashita
Noun ga verb te form imasu
The window is broken
The light is on
The road was crowded this morning
modo ga warete imasu
denki ga tsuite imasu
kesa wa michi ga konde imashita
Instransitive verbs is a verb that does not need a object is called an intransitive verb
kowaremasu, waremasu, yoburemasu, yogoremasu, hazuremasu, miemasu, kikoemasu etc…
Absolute transitive verb are the ones which doesn’t have transitive pair
ikimasu, kimasu, kaerimasu, hatarakimasu, shinimasu, nakimasu, suwarimasu, arimasu etc..
Verb te form shimaimashita / shimaimasu
shimaimashita - this expression emphasizes that an action or event has been completed. To express regret
shimimasu - shows that the action will be completed in the future
kinou katta tamago wa, tsukatte shimaimashita
kanji no shukudai wa mou yatte shimaimashita
shiryou wa kinyoubi madeni tsukutte shimaimasu
hirugohan madeni repooto wo kaite shimaimasu
naratta koto wo wasurete shimaimashita
pasupooto wo nakushite shimaimashita
arimashitayo (found something)
I have found the bag
kaban ga arimashitayo
dokokade/dokokani
I have lost my wallet somewhere
Is there a pay phone somewhere nearby?
dokokade saifu wo nakushite shimaimashita
dokokani denwa ga arimasenka?
Verb te form arimasu
Noun1 ni Noun2 ga verb te form arimasu
This is for transitive verbs
kabe ni yoteihou ga hatte arimasu
tsukue no ue ni memo ga oite arimasu
karendaa ni kongetsu no yotei ga kaite arimasu
Noun2 wa Noun1 ni verb te form arimasu
yoteihyou wa kabe ni hatte arimasu
memo wa doko desuka
memo wa tsukue no ue ni oite arimasu
kongetsu no yoteihyou wa karendaa ni kaite arimasu
kagami wa hikidashi no naka ni oite arimasu
Verb te from okimasu
This is used to express the state of the result of what somebody did for some purpose.
tanjoubi no purazento mou katte okimasu
oteru wa mou yoyaku shite okimasu
tsugino kaigi madeni oshirase wo hatte okimasu
tomodachi ga kuru mae ni hana wo kazatte okimasu
oite kudasai
after using the chair please arrange and keep it
after seeing the poster please put and keep it there
since there is a test this week, please leave the schedule at its place
since there is meeting tomorrow, please arrange the chair and keep it
isu wo tsukattara narabete oite kudasai
posutaa wo mitara asoko ni oite oite kudasai
konshuu tesuto ga arimasukara yoteihyou wa sonomamanishite oite kudasai
ashita kaigi ga arimasukara, isu wa konomomanishite oite kudasai
mada (still) Verb (affirmative)
It’s still raining
Shall I put away the tools?
still I am using, so leave them there
mada amega futte imasu
dougu wo katadzukemashouka?
mada tsukatte imasukara, sonomamani shite oite kudasai
Volitional form
doing with intention
Group1
change i to o and add u
Group2
remove masu and add you
Group3
remove masu and add you
kaimasu arukimasu isogimasu naoshimasu machimasu asobimasu
yasumimasu norimasu kaemasu oboemasu mimasu
shimasu
kimasu
kaou arukou isogou naosou matou asobou
yasumou norou kaeyou oboeyou miyou
shiyou
kou
how to use the volitional form
Shall we take rest?
Yes, let’s
How about taking a rest for a while?
Shall I help you?
chotto yasumanai
un, yasumou
sukoshi yasumouka
tetsudaouka
Verb volitional form to omotte imasu
This implies that the speaker’s decision was made some time ago
Can be used to tell others (third person) opinion or intention also
I am thinking of going to the beach at the weekend
I am going to the bank now
I am thinking of doing diet
I am thinking of climbing mountain
Father is thinking of quitting the job
He is thinking of building a classroom
He is thinking of working in a foreign country
shuumatsu wa umi ni ikou to omotte imasu
ima kara ginkou he ikou to omotte imasu
daietto wo shiyou to omotte imasu
yama ni noborou to omotte imasu
chichi wa shigoto wo yameyou to omotte imasu
kare wa kyoushitshu wo tsukurou to omotte imasu
kare wa gaikoku de hatarakou to omotte imasu
Verb dictionary form
Verb nai form nai tsumoridesu
This expresses speaker’s intention of doing something and not doing something
Even when I go back to my country, I will continue with my judo
I am determined not to smoke from tomorrow
I will return back to my country in vacation
work is busy so, I will not take test
kuni he kaettemo, juudou wo tsudzukeru tsumoridesu
ashita kara wa tabako wo suwanai tsumoridesu
yasumi ni kuni he kaeru tsumoridesu
shigoto ga isogashii desukara, shiken wo tsukenai tsumoridesu
Verb dictionary form yotei desu
Noun no yotei desu
To tell your plan, what are you planning to do
I am planning to go to Switzerland
It’s planned to arrive at 9:36 mins
I am planning to go for trip of 1 week
suisu he iku yotei desu
ku jikan san juu roppun ni tsuku yotei desu
ryokou wa isshukan gurai no yotei desu
mada Verb te form imasen
This is used to say Not yet
have you studied already?
no, not yet studied
no, not yet written
mou benkyoushimashitaka?
iie mada benkyoushite imasen
iie mada kaite imasen
Verb ta form
Verb nai form nai houga iidesu
This pattern is used to make suggestions or to give advice
It is good to do some exercise everyday
I have got fever
So you had better not take a bath
It’s not good to drink alcohol
It’s good to study daily
mainichi undoushita houga iidesu
netsu arundesu
ja, ofuro ni hairanai houga iidesuyo
osake wo nomanai houga iidesu
mainichi benkyoushita houga iidesu
Verb plain form
i adjective plain form deshou
na adjective plain form (remove da)
Noun plain form (remove da)
It will rain tomorrow
Do you think Mr.Thawaphon will pass the exam?
ashita wa ame ga furundeshou
tawaponsan wa gougakusuru deshouka
Verb plain form
i adjective plain form kamo shiremasen
na adjective plain form
Noun
This expresses the speaker’s inference, and means that there is a possibility that some event or state occured/occurs/will occur. The degree of certainity however is much lower than with deshou
yakusokuno jikan ni ma ni awanai kamo shiremasen
kono shiken ni dou kaku suru kamo shiremasen
kitto (might be) adverb
80%
in between deshou and kamo shiremasen. Mostly used with deshou
I doubt Mr. Thawaphon will pass the exam
It will undoubtedly rain tomorrow
Mr. Miller will mostly come
tawaphonsan wa kitto gougaku suru deshou
ashita wa kitto ame deshou
miraasan wa kitto kimasu
tabun
50%
mostly used with to omoimasu
I guess Mr.Tanaka don’t know about this news
I guess Mr.Miller will come
tanaka san wa kono nyuusu wo tabun shiranai to omoimasu
miraasan wa tabun kuru deshou
moshikashitara
possibility of occuring is less than tabun
used with kamo shiremasen
There is a possibility I might be unable to participate for the next year’s match
There is a possibility I might be unable to graduate in March
moshikashitara rainen no shiai sankasuru kotoga dekinai kamo shiremasen
moshikashitara san gatsu ni sotsugyou dekinai kamo shiremasen
Quantifier de
This added to a quantifier indicates the limit of price, time, quantity etc., necessary for a state, an action or an event to be realized
Can I reach the station in thirty minutes?
Can I buy a video player for 30,000 yen?
eki made sanjuppun de ikemasuka
san man en de bideo ga kaemasuka
Imperative form
Group 1
Change i to e and remove masu
Group 2
Add ro and remove masu
Group 3
Add ro and remove masu
Imperative form is used to force a person to do something and prohibitive form is used to command a person not do something.
isogimasu iimasu oyogimasu dashimasu tachimasu asobimasu nomimasu suwarimasu yamemasu demasu kimasu shimasu
isoge isoguna ie iuna oyage oyaguna dase dasuna tate tatsuna asobe asobuna nome nomuna suware suwaruna yamero yameruna dero deruna koi kuruna suro suruna
Verb masu form nasai
Used by parents to their children or by teachers to their students and is little gentler than the imperative form
benkyoushinasai (study)
~to yomimasu and ~to kaite arimasu
read like that and written like that
How do you read that kanji?
Tomare is written over there
It is read as emergeny exit
ano kanji wa nan to yomimasuka
asokoni tomare to kaite arimasu
hijouguchi to yomimasu
~wa nan toiu imidesu
This pattern is used to define the meaning of a word.
Tachiiri kinshi means don’t enter
What does this sign mean?
It means it can be washed by machine
It means go slowly
tachiiri kinshi wa hairunato iu imidesu
kono maaku wa nan toiu imidesuka?
sentakuki de araeruto iu imidesu
yukkuri iketo iu imidesu
S plain form to itte imashita
Is used when quoting a third person’s words
Mr.Tanaka said tomorrow is a holiday
Mr.Tanaka said that he would take a day off work tomorrow
tanakasan wa ashita yasumimasu to itte imashita
tanakasan wa ashita yasumu to itte imashita
S plain form to tsutaete itadakemasenka
These expressions are used when politely asking someone to convey a message
Could you please tell Mr. Wang to give me a call later
Could you please tell Ms. Watanabe that the party tomorrow will be from 6’o clock
wansan ni atode denwa wa kudasai to tsutaete itadakemasenka
sumimasenga, watanabe san ni ashitano paatii wa roku ji karada to tsutaete itadakemasenka