JLPT · Grammar

27 JLPT grammar patterns. Learn conjugation visually through four stages: curiosity, intuition, visualization, essence. Grouped by category, filterable by N5-N1 level.

Base forms

3

～ないN5Verb nai-form: the plain negative, matching the polite -masen.～たN5Verb ta-form: the plain past/perfective, matching the polite -mashita.～てN5Verb te-form: the connecting form ("and / so"). It is the gateway to countless patterns.

Aspect

2

～たことがあるN5Verb ta-form + koto ga aru: past experience, "have done (before)."～ているN5Verb te-form + iru: an ongoing action, or a continuing resulting state.

Desire

1

～たいN5Verb masu-stem + tai: (I/you) want to do.

Obligation & request

3

～なければならないN5Verb nai-form → nakereba naranai: must / have to.～たほうがいいN4Verb ta-form + hou ga ii: gives advice, "had better V." The negative is ~nai hou ga ii.～てくださいN5Verb te-form + kudasai: please do (polite request).

Potential

2

～ことができるN5Verb dictionary form + koto ga dekiru: can / be able to.～られる・～える (可能)N4Verb potential form (~rareru/~eru): "can do." More common in speech than koto ga dekiru.

Voice

2

～させる (使役)N4Verb causative (~saseru/~seru): make or let someone do something.～られる (受身)N4Verb passive (~rareru/~reru): makes the receiver of the action the subject ("be V-ed").

Conditionals

2

～ばN4Verb/adjective ba-form: the general/hypothetical "if," common for natural cause and effect.～たらN4Verb ta-form + ra: the most versatile conditional, "if/when X (happens)."

Volition

2

～よう・～ましょうN4Verb volitional (~you/~ou, polite ~mashou): expresses will or invitation, "let's / I will."～ようとするN4Verb volitional + to suru: marks an attempt or the moment of being about to do something.

Auxiliary verbs

5

～てくれる・あげる・もらうN4Verb te-form + ageru/kureru/morau: shows who does the action for whom (the direction of the favor).～てあるN4Transitive verb te-form + aru: a resulting state someone has set up ("has been V-ed").～てみるN4Verb te-form + miru: marks an attempt, "try V-ing (to see)."～ておくN4Verb te-form + oku: doing something in advance or in preparation ("do beforehand").～てしまうN4Verb te-form + shimau: completion, or regret/chagrin ("end up V-ing").

Inference & evidentiality

5

～はずだN3Verb/adjective adnominal + hazu da: logical expectation, "it should / is bound to be" based on grounds.～かもしれないN4Plain form + kamoshirenai: low-confidence possibility, "might / may."～らしいN3Plain form + rashii: inference from heard/read information ("apparently"), or "typical of / -like."～そうだN4~sou da has two uses: stem/root + sou (appearance: "looks like / about to") and plain form + sou da (hearsay: "I hear that").～ようだ・みたいだN4Plain form + you da (= casual mitai da): evidence-based inference ("it seems") or likeness ("like").

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