JLPT N5 Grammar Points: All 48 Patterns Explained
Every grammar point in the A Star Japanese JLPT N5 course, grouped by lesson. Open a pattern for its meaning, how to build it, example sentences and practice questions.
Sentence Structure and ใงใ
- ใงใ (desu)The polite copula โ "to be" in Japanese.
- SOV word orderJapanese is Subject-Object-Verb.
- ใใใใฉ (ko-so-a-do)The Japanese system of demonstratives based on distance: ใ (near speaker), ใ (near listener), ใ (faโฆ
- ใฎ (no)Possessive particle linking owner to possession: ใใใใฎใปใ (my book).
Particles ใฏ and ใ โ Topic and Subject
Particles ใใใซใใงใใธ โ Object and Location
- ใ (wo)Marks the direct object of an action verb.
- ใซ (ni)Three uses: destination (ใใฃใใใซใใใพใ), specific time (ใใใใซ), location of existence (ใธใใซใใพใ/ใใใพใ).
- ใง (de)Where an action takes place (ใจใใใใใงในใใใใ) or how it is done (ใในใงใใใพใใใฏใใงใในใพใ).
- ใซ vs ใง for locationใซ = where something exists (ใใพใใใใใพใ).
Verb Groups and the ใพใ Form
- Group 1 verbs (u-verbs / godan)Verbs ending in a u-sound (ใใใใใใใคใใใใถใใฌใใ with consonant before).
- Group 2 verbs (ru-verbs / ichidan)Verbs ending in ใ with e or i before it.
- Group 3 (irregular)Only two irregular verbs: ใใ (to do) โ ใใพใ, and ใใ (to come) โ ใใพใ.
- ใใ + noun patternAttaching ใใพใ to a noun creates a verb phrase.
Negative, Past and ใฆ-Form
- ๏ฝใพใใPolite negative present/future: I don't ~ / I won't ~.
- ๏ฝใพใใPolite past tense: did ~.
- ใฆ-formA verb form used to connect actions sequentially and as the base for many grammar patterns: ๏ฝใฆใใ ใใโฆ
- ๏ฝใฆใใพใOngoing action (I am eating) or current state (I am married, I live in ~).
Adjective Conjugation
- ใ-adjective conjugationใ-adjectives change their ending directly.
- ใช-adjective conjugationใช-adjectives conjugate through ใงใ: +ใใใชใใงใ (neg), +ใงใใ (past), +ใใใชใใฃใใงใ (past neg).
- ใช before nounsใช-adjectives need ใช when placed before a noun: ใใใใชใธใ (quiet room).
- ใใพใ๏ฝใชใNot very ~.
Questions and Question Words
Connecting Sentences
- ใฆ-form for sequenceConnect multiple actions in order: ใใใฆใใในใฆใใใใพใ (wake up, eat, and go).
- ใงใ vs ใ (but)ใงใ starts a new sentence with strong contrast (more conversational).
- ใใ (because)After a reason clause, ใใ means "because": ใใใใใใใใกใซใใพใ (because it's cold, I'm at home).
- ใจใ (when)Used to express "when": ใซใปใใซใใใจใ (when I go to Japan).
Giving and Receiving
Conditionals and Opinions
๐ Survival Japanese โ Phrases for Day 1
Daily Conversation Patterns
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Frequently asked questions
How many grammar points are in JLPT N5?
The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list. The A Star Japanese JLPT N5 course teaches 48 grammar patterns across 12 lessons, and each one has its own page here.
How should I study JLPT N5 grammar?
Learn one pattern at a time, read the example sentences aloud, then test yourself with practice questions. Comparing patterns that look alike (such as ones that both mean โbecauseโ) helps most.