JLPT N4
Study N4 grammar and vocabulary.
Grammar
No and Koto: Turn an Action into a Noun Phrase
の and こと can package a clause so it works as a noun phrase: 本を読むのが好きです. Their uses overlap, but they are not interchangeable in every fixed pattern. Practise with 10 explained questions.
Dake and Shika: Express Only and Limits
だけ and しか can both express a limit, but their sentence patterns differ. だけ can occur with affirmative or negative predicates; the basic しか pattern requires a negative. Practise with 10 explained questions.
Node: Give a Reason with Correct Attachment
ので connects a reason to what follows. It often presents the reason as background to an explanation or request. Practise with 10 explained questions.
Japanese Relative Clauses: Put a Description Before a Noun
A Japanese clause can come directly before a noun: 昨日買った本, “the book I bought yesterday.” There is no separate relative pronoun equivalent to “which” in this basic structure. Practise with 10 explained questions.
Nagara: Do Two Actions at the Same Time
Attach ながら to the ます-stem to describe an accompanying action: 音楽を聞きながら勉強します. In the basic simultaneous-action pattern, the same person performs both actions. Practise with 10 explained questions.
Japanese Potential Form: Godan, Ichidan, and Exceptions
Potential verbs express that an action can be done because of ability or circumstances. 読む becomes 読める and 食べる becomes 食べられる. Practise with 10 explained questions.
To Omou: Express an Opinion or Prediction
A plain proposition followed by と思う presents what someone thinks. 明日は雨だと思います contains a plain noun proposition and a polite final verb. Practise with 10 explained questions.
To Iu: Quote Speech and Say What Something Is Called
と marks what is said before 言う. A direct quotation preserves the speaker’s actual words, while an indirect report commonly uses a plain proposition. Practise with 10 explained questions.
〜と
〜と is a conditional pattern used for natural results, automatic actions, directions, and repeated facts.
〜ば
〜ば is a conditional pattern meaning if. It often focuses on the condition that must be true for something else to happen.
〜たら
〜たら is a flexible conditional pattern used for if, when, and after. It is common in daily conversation and works well with plans and requests.
〜てほしい
〜てほしい (te hoshii) is used when you want someone else to do something. It expresses your wish about another person's action.
〜たがる・〜ほしがる
〜たがる and 〜ほしがる are used to describe another person's desire from the outside. They are useful when talking about what someone seems to want.
〜なら
〜なら is used when making a condition based on a topic, assumption, or information already mentioned. It often appears in advice and recommendations.
〜つもりだ
〜つもりだ (tsumori da) expresses an intention or plan that the speaker has decided on. It is common for talking about future actions.
〜ようと思う
〜ようと思う (you to omou) expresses that you are thinking of doing something or have an intention to do it. It is softer than a firm plan.
〜ことにする
〜ことにする (koto ni suru) means to decide to do or not do something. It focuses on the speaker's decision.
〜予定だ
〜予定だ (yotei da) is used for plans or schedules. It often sounds more arranged or objective than a simple personal intention.
〜なければならない
〜なければならない (nakereba naranai) means that something must be done. It is a standard N4 pattern for obligation.
〜なければいけない
〜なければいけない (nakereba ikenai) means that you have to do something. It is common in spoken Japanese and daily obligations.
〜なくてはいけない
〜なくてはいけない (nakute wa ikenai) means that something has to be done. It is another common N4 obligation pattern.
〜なくてもいい
〜なくてもいい (nakutemo ii) means that you do not have to do something. It removes obligation and gives permission not to act.
〜てはいけない・〜てはいけません
〜てはいけない and 〜てはいけません express prohibition. They mean that doing something is not allowed.
〜てはだめ
〜てはだめ (te wa dame) means that doing something is not okay. It is a direct and common way to prohibit an action.
〜てもかまわない
〜てもかまわない (te mo kamawanai) means that doing something is okay. It is a slightly formal permission pattern related to 〜てもいい.
〜ないでください vs 〜てはいけない
〜ないでください and 〜てはいけない both stop an action, but they are not the same. One is a request, and the other expresses prohibition.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary is being added
You can study the grammar lessons above.