JLPT N4

N4 Grammar List

254 patterns · Free reference — click any pattern for explanations and examples.

Throughout the duration of an state/action

At some point during the duration of an state/action

あまり～ない

Not very much, not particularly

After doing something

If (conditional)

In the event of, in case of

Only, nothing but

Just by, just doing

Suddenly start to do, start to bring out

でございます

Polite form of です (Keigo)

Or something, even (expressing suggestions)

ではないか

Shall we? Isn't it?

Need, is necessary

To smell, hear, taste, or feel (sensory perception)

Person who tends to feel / show a certain emotion or physical sensation

がる / がっている

Show signs of, behave like (3rd person's feelings)

ございます

Polite form of あります (Keigo)

Start doing something

Expected to, should be (based on reason/calculation)

はずがない

Cannot be, there is no way that

必要がある

Necessary to do

Volitional form (let's, I think I will)

いらっしゃる

Honorific form of いる, 行く, 来る (Keigo)

いたします

Humble form of します (Keigo)

じゃないか

Isn't it? (casual/emphasis)

I wonder if (mostly feminine)

Question marker (gentle, masculine, casual)

かもしれない

Might, may, perhaps

I wonder (casual)

Made from (materials where chemical changes occur)

Surely, definitely

Around, about (approximate point in time)

Nominalizer (the act of doing something)

ことがある

Have the experience of doing something

ことができる

Can do, be able to do

ことになる

It has been decided that (external decision)

ことにする

Decide to do (internal decision)

Make it (adverbial change)

Suddenly, quickly

As it is, leaving something in a state

Or, alternatively

Looks like, behaves like

Like, similar to (modifying noun)

Like, in the manner of (modifying verb/adjective)

As many as, even (expressing surprise/emphasis)

Do not (prohibition - very strong)

And so on, etc.

While doing (simultaneous actions)

なかなか～ない

Not easily, taking a long time to happen

なければいけない

Must do, have to do

なければならない

Must do, have to do (more formal/general duty)

If it is the case, as for

Do it (imperative form, used by parents/teachers)

Honorific form of します (Keigo)

に気がつく

To notice, to realize

Looks like, appears to be

Decide on, choose

Difficult to do

Although, despite

Cleft sentence (The one/place/thing that... is...)

お～ください

Please do (respectful request, Keigo)

お～になる

Honorific action (respectful, Keigo)

At intervals of

Finish doing something

Passive voice or Potential form

It seems like, apparently (based on reports)

Nominalizing suffix (converting adjective to noun measuring state/degree)

A short while ago

させられる

Causative-passive (be forced to do)

Causative form (make/let someone do)

させてください

Please let me do

As expected of, indeed

And, moreover (listing reasons)

So much, like that

Still, even so, despite that

In addition, besides, moreover

Looks like, about to (conjecture)

そうに / そうな

Looking like, appearing to be (modifying noun/verb)

Have just done something

Just completed an action (exact moment)

他動詞 & 自動詞

Transitive and Intransitive verbs

Want to do (3rd person's desire)

If, when (conditional)

Why don't you? (giving advice)

たらいいですか

What should I do? (asking for advice)

Expressing cause/reason

Do something for someone (favor)

Want someone to do something

Go on doing, start and go, move away

Was doing (past continuous)

ていただけませんか

Could you please? (polite request)

Someone does something for me/us

Come to do, start to, move towards

Try to do, attempt

Receive a favor, have someone do something

Do something in advance

てしまう / ちゃう

Regretfully do, completely finish doing (casual)

てすみません

Sorry for doing something

Do something for someone of lower status/animal

てよかった

Glad that I did something

ているところ

In the middle of doing

Even if, even though

Whenever, if (natural consequence)

と言ってもいい

It is safe to say that, could be called

ということ

That is to say, meaning that

と言われている

It is said that

とか～とか

Like, and (non-exhaustive listing)

Just about to, on the verge of

Continue doing something

Topic marker (casual と/というのは/と言っていた)

Passive voice (be affected by someone's action)

は〜が… は

Contrastive は

Finally, at last

Than (comparison)

Plan to do, scheduled to

It seems like, looks like (based on observation)

ように / ような

Like, similar to (analogy)

ようになる

Come to be able to, reach the point where

ようにする

Try to, make an effort to

ようと思う

Thinking of doing (volitional state)

By all means, definitely (expressing strong desire/request)

全然～ない

Difficult to do (due to physical/psychological pain)

Rapidly, steadily

Pluralizing / rough area

だが・ですが

Not being, without (reason)

Verb［れる・られる］

他動詞・自動詞

Transitive / Intransitive

When, at the time of

に (Frequency)

Per (frequency)

Finally, at last

As much as possible

るところだ

Looks like, similar to

する (Have/Wear)

To wear (accessories)

みたいに・みたいな

Like (noun modifier)

そうに・そうな

のように・のような

Like (noun modifier)

〜ようと思う・〜おうと思う

Thinking of doing

～にする・～くする

Make something...

Is not (polite)

まい～のように

かかる (Time/Price)

Takes (time/money)

そんな・こんな・あんな・どんな

Less than or equal to

Mostly, generally

ように・ような

Number/Amount + は

なん + counter + か

Pure, deep (color/state)

Number + しか〜ない

Only (negative nuance)

～は～の一つだ

～ない～はない

There is no ... that does not ...

すこしも～ない

すくなくない

Not a few, quite a lot

Verb［せる・させる］

といってもいい

It can be said that

てしまう・ちゃう

Completely do / regret

Causative-Passive

Be forced to do

Verb[て]・Noun[で] + B

Has been done (and remains)

ように～てほしい

Want someone to do so that

ているあいだに

なくてもいい

Verb[ないで]

てくれてありがとう

Thank you for doing

てくれない・てもらえない

Won't you do for me?

～のだろうか

Humble of する

ほかに(も)・ほか(に)は

Besides, other than

がひつよう

ひつようがある

Necessary to do

れる・られる (Potential)

んだけど・んですが

But / And (introductory remark)

Must do / If don't do

しか～ない

だけでなく

If (supposition)

でできる・からできる

たところだ

Just finished doing

ているところだ

Currently doing

と～と、どちらが

ようにいう

Tell someone to do

ようにいのる

To become, -ize

Imperative form

In order to, so that

がみられる

Can be observed

にきがつく

〜でも〜でも

Therefore, and then

Question-phrase + か

Embedded question

とかんがえられている

Is considered to be

とされている

Is supposed to be

といわれている

It is said that

ばよかった

Master N4 grammar with AI practice

Practice each grammar pattern in context. Nihongo Pass identifies which patterns you struggle with most.