Japanese Grammar N5
Learn N5 grammar through meanings, translated examples, and comparisons.
Masu-Stem Ni Iku: Go Somewhere to Do Something
The ます-stem followed by に and a movement verb states the purpose of a trip: 本を買いに行きます. A destination can also appear with に or へ. Practise with 10 explained questions.
Mae Ni and Ato De: Before and After an Action
前に and 後で locate one action relative to another. The verb attachment changes: 食べる前に but 食べた後で. Practise with 10 explained questions.
Toki: Say When an Action or State Applies
とき turns a description into a time setting: 日本に行くとき, 子どものとき. The form before とき matters. Practise with 10 explained questions.
Ageru, Kureru, and Morau: Giving and Receiving
Giving and receiving verbs encode viewpoint as well as transfer. Practise with 10 explained questions.
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.
Japanese Position Words: No Ue, Shita, Naka, and More
Use の to connect a reference object to a position: 机の上, 椅子の下, 駅の前. Then add the particle needed for existence, movement or an activity.
Wa vs Ga: Topic, Subject, Contrast, and Practice
Use context to choose between は and が. は establishes what you are talking about or sets up a contrast. が can identify the person or thing that supplies the answer. Translating both as the English subject hides this difference.
The Japanese Particle を: Objects, Contrasts, and Practice
を often marks what an action acts on: 本を読みます and 水を飲みます. It also marks routes and places left behind with some movement verbs, so translating every を phrase as a direct object is too narrow.
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.
Ni vs De: Location, Destination, Time, and Means
Look at the role of the phrase, not just its English translation. に can mark where someone is, a destination or a time. で can mark where an activity happens or the means used to do it.
Ni vs E: Japanese Destination Particles Explained
Compare に and へ with movement verbs, learn where they are not interchangeable, and practise six context-based questions.
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.
Japanese Tai Form: Wants, Negatives, Past Forms, and Practice
Form たい from the ます-stem, change its tense and negative, compare ほしい, and practise six explained questions.
〜がほしい
〜がほしい (ga hoshii) means that you want something. It is used for nouns, not for actions.