JLPT N5 grammar
SOV word order — Meaning & Examples
Japanese is Subject-Object-Verb. The verb always comes last. わたしはすしをたべます = I [topic] sushi [object] eat. Other elements can move but the verb stays at the end.
Practise SOV word order in the free app
This point is part of the “Sentence Structure and です” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N5 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N5 grammar points
From the same lesson: Sentence Structure and です
Frequently asked questions
What does SOV word order mean?
Japanese is Subject-Object-Verb. The verb always comes last. わたしはすしをたべます = I [topic] sushi [object] eat. Other elements can move but the verb stays at the end.
Is SOV word order on the JLPT N5 test?
SOV word order is taught in the JLPT N5 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Sentence Structure and です”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise SOV word order?
Open the “Sentence Structure and です” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N5 mock exams, with no ads.