Japanese Grammar N5
Structured N5 grammar detail pages for long-term SEO and future learning flows.
あります・いますの違い
あります (arimasu) and います (imasu) are used to say that something or someone exists. Use あります for things and places, and います for people and animals.
て形
The て形, or te-form, is a basic verb form used to connect actions and build many beginner grammar patterns, including requests, permission, and prohibition.
〜があります
〜があります (ga arimasu) means that a thing, place, or non-living noun exists. It is often translated as there is or there are.
〜てください
〜てください, or te kudasai, is used to make a polite request, such as asking someone to do something for you or giving a simple instruction.
〜がいます
〜がいます (ga imasu) means that a person or animal exists somewhere. It is used for living beings such as teachers, friends, dogs, and cats.
〜ないでください
〜ないでください, or nai de kudasai, is used to politely ask someone not to do something.
〜てもいい
〜てもいい, or te mo ii, means that doing something is okay or allowed. It is also used in question form to ask for permission.
〜は〜にあります
〜は〜にあります is used to say where a known thing, building, or place is located. It often translates as is at or is in.
〜てはいけない
〜てはいけない, or te wa ikenai, means that doing something is not allowed. The polite form 〜てはいけません is common in rules and instructions.
〜は〜にいます
〜は〜にいます is used to say where a known person or animal is. It is the living-being version of the location pattern.
場所に〜があります／います
場所に〜があります／います is used to say that something or someone exists in a place. The place comes first, followed by に.
〜はどこにありますか／いますか
〜はどこにありますか／いますか is used to ask where something, someone, or an animal is. Use ありますか for things and いますか for people or animals.
〜の上・下・中・前・後ろ
〜の上・下・中・前・後ろ are basic location expressions used with あります and います to describe where something or someone is.
は vs が
は (wa) marks the topic of a sentence, while が (ga) marks the subject or focused new information. This page explains the basic N5 difference with simple examples.
を
を (o) marks the direct object of an action verb. It is used when you eat, drink, read, write, watch, or study something.
に
に (ni) points to a specific time, destination, location of existence, or person related to an action. It is one of the most important N5 particles.
で
で (de) marks where an action happens or what means, tool, or language is used. It is different from に, which often marks existence or destination.
に vs で
に and で are both used with places, but they do different jobs. に often marks where something exists, while で marks where an action happens.
に vs へ
に and へ can both mark direction with movement verbs, but に focuses more on the destination, while へ focuses more on the direction toward it.
の
の (no) connects nouns. It is used for possession, belonging, origin, category, and simple noun descriptions.
も
も (mo) means also or too. It replaces particles such as は, が, or を when adding another person or thing to the same statement.
〜たい
〜たい (tai) is used to say that you want to do something. It is a basic way to express your own desire in Japanese.
〜がほしい
〜がほしい (ga hoshii) means that you want something. It is used for nouns, not for actions.