JLPT N4 Grammar Guide with Examples
N4 builds on the basics. It covers everyday vocabulary, more kanji and the core grammar needed to follow slow, simple conversations and read short texts about familiar topics. This grammar guide is made for learners who have finished the basics and want to hold simple everyday conversations.
Below are 86 JLPT N4 grammar study entries, including ～られる, ～させる, ～させられる, めいわくのうけみ. Grammar patterns with short meanings and example sentences.
How to use this list
- Read the example sentences first, then work out the pattern from them.
- Write your own sentence for each pattern — one that is about your life is easiest to remember.
- Pay attention to what comes before the pattern (verb form, noun, adjective) — that is where most mistakes happen.
JLPT N4 grammar — full list
| Pattern / example | Meaning, reading and notes |
|---|---|
| ～られる | Passive form — "was done to" ほめられた = was praised ふまれた = was stepped on |
| ～させる | Causative — "make/let someone do" たべさせる = make/let eat いかせる = make/let go |
| ～させられる | Causative-passive — "was made to do" ざんぎょうさせられた = was made to work overtime |
| めいわくのうけみ | Suffering passive — something happens TO you あめにふられた = got rained on (annoying!) |
| Potential: Group 1 | Change う-row to え-row + る のむ → のめる (can drink) かく → かける (can write) |
| Potential: Group 2 | Drop る, add られる たべる → たべられる (can eat) みる → みられる (can see) |
| ら抜き言葉 | Dropping ら from Group 2 potential たべられる → たべれる Common in casual speech |
| Volitional form | Group 1: お-row + う (いこう) Group 2: よう (たべよう) "Let's ~" / "I'll ~" |
| ～ようになる | "Became able to ~" はなせるようになった = became able to speak |
| Volitional + とおもう | "I'm thinking of ~ing" いこうとおもう = I'm thinking of going |
| ～ので | Because ~ (polite, softer than から) あめなので = because of rain Preferred in formal contexts |
| ～のに | "Even though ~" / "Despite ~" Carries frustration or surprise べんきょうしたのに = despite studying |
| ～ために (purpose) | "In order to ~" Dict form + ために べんきょうするために = in order to study |
| ～ために (cause) | "Because of ~" Noun + のために たいふうのために = because of typhoon |
| ～し | Lists multiple reasons おいしいし、やすいし = it's delicious AND cheap |
| する → passive | する → される Irregular — must memorise |
| する → causative | する → させる Irregular — must memorise |
| する → potential | する → できる Completely different word! |
| する → volitional | する → しよう Irregular — must memorise |
| くる → passive | くる → こられる Irregular |
| くる → causative | くる → こさせる Irregular |
| くる → potential | くる → こられる Same as passive! Context decides. |
| くる → volitional | くる → こよう Irregular |
| ～ようにする | "Make effort to ~" / "Try to ~" まいにちはなすようにしている = I try to speak every day |
| ～そうです (hearsay) | Plain form + そうです = "I heard ~" あめがふるそうです = I heard it will rain |
| ～そうです (appearance) | Stem + そうです = "Looks like ~" おいしそう = looks delicious Different from hearsay! |
| ～らしい | "Apparently ~" / "It seems ~" やすいらしい = apparently cheap Less certain than そうです |
| ～ほうがいい | "Should ~" / "Better to ~" Positive: past + ほうがいい Negative: ない + ほうがいい |
| ～とおもう | "I think ~" おもしろいとおもう = I think it's interesting |
| ～かもしれない | "Maybe ~" / "Might ~" あめかもしれない = It might rain |
| ～たら | If ~ (most versatile conditional) あめがふったら = if it rains やすかったら = if it's cheap |
| ～と (conditional) | If/when ~ (automatic results) はるになると = when spring comes Natural consequences only |
| ～てあげる | I do a favour for someone おしえてあげた = I taught them |
| ～てくれる | Someone does a favour for me てつだってくれた = helped me Carries gratitude |
| ～てもらう | I get someone to do something みてもらった = had them look at it |
| あげる / くれる / もらう | Giving & receiving trio: あげる = I give (away) くれる = someone gives (to me) もらう = I receive |
| ～なければならない | "Must do ~" / "Have to ~" べんきょうしなければならない = must study Casual: ～なきゃ |
| ～てはいけない | "Must not ~" / "Not allowed to ~" ここでたばこをすってはいけません = You must not smoke here |
| ～ことがある | "Sometimes ~" / "There are times when ~" おくれることがある = It sometimes runs late |
| ～ことにする / なる | する = decide to ~ (active) なる = it's been decided ~ (passive) にほんにいくことにした = I decided to go to Japan |
| ～と (conditional) | automatic result — whenever A, B always follows 春になると桜が咲く = when spring comes, sakura bloom |
| ～ば (conditional) | hypothetical "if" Group1: え-row + ば (のめば) い-adj: ければ (安ければ) |
| ～たら | the all-purpose "if / when (after)" た-form + ら 雨が降ったら = if it rains |
| ～なら | "if that's the case" — picks up context 日本に行くなら、京都がおすすめ |
| あげる | I/we give (away from me) 友達にプレゼントをあげた = I gave my friend a present |
| くれる | someone gives TO me 友達がくれた = my friend gave (it to) me Never わたしが…くれる |
| もらう | I receive 友達にプレゼントをもらった = I received a present from my friend |
| ～てくれる | someone does a favour for me (gratitude) 手伝ってくれた = (kindly) helped me |
| ～てもらう | I get/have someone do something for me 手伝ってもらった = I got (them) to help me |
| いただく / くださる | humble もらう / honorific くれる (with superiors) |
| ～なければならない | must / have to 出さなければならない = must submit Casual: なきゃ / なくちゃ |
| ～なくてもいい | don't have to 来なくてもいい = don't have to come |
| ～てもいい | may / it's OK to (permission) 座ってもいいですか = may I sit? |
| ～てはいけない | must not (prohibition) 吸ってはいけません = must not smoke Casual: 〜ちゃだめ |
| 〜ている (state) | current state from past action: 結婚している, 知っている, 住んでいる |
| 〜てしまう | ended up doing / regret: 食べてしまった = oops, I ate it |
| 〜ちゃう/ちゃった | casual てしまう: 食べちゃった = I ate it all (oops) |
| 〜ばよかった | "I should have ~" — regret. もっと勉強すればよかった |
| 〜みたい | "seems like" (casual). 怒っているみたい = seems angry |
| 〜ようだ | "seems like" (formal). Same as みたい but more formal/written |
| 知っています | "I know" — state of knowing, NOT 知ります |
| どこに住んでいますか | Where do you live? (standard greeting question) |
| 自動詞 vs 他動詞 | intransitive takes が (ドアが開く) / transitive takes を (ドアを開ける) |
| 開く / 開ける | あく (it opens) / あける (I open it) |
| 消える / 消す | きえる (goes out) / けす (turn off) |
| 始まる / 始める | はじまる (it begins) / はじめる (I begin it) |
| 〜てある | deliberately done and left that way — takes が: 窓が開けてある |
| 〜ておく / 〜とく | do in advance: 予約しておく. Casual: やっとく |
| 〜かもしれない | might / maybe (30–50%). Casual: かも |
| 〜でしょう / だろう | probably (60–80%). Also seeks agreement: おいしいでしょう？ |
| 〜はずだ | should be, based on evidence. Noun + の, な-adj + な |
| 〜はずがない | there is no way: 彼が嘘をつくはずがない |
| 〜にちがいない | must be, no doubt (~95%). Slightly formal |
| 〜たほうがいい | had better / you should (advice) — NOT はず |
| 〜るところだ | about to do: 出かけるところです = just about to head out |
| 〜ているところだ | in the middle of doing: 食べているところです |
| 〜たところだ | just finished (literally moments ago): 着いたところです |
| 〜たところ vs 〜たばかり | ところ = objectively just now / ばかり = feels recent (先月来たばかり) |
| 〜間 (no に) | the whole time: 寝ている間、本を読んでいた |
| 〜間に (with に) | at one point during: 寝ている間に買い物に行った |
| 〜うちに | while it lasts (act before it changes): 温かいうちに食べて |
| 〜ないうちに | before it happens: 雨が降らないうちに帰ろう |
| 〜やすい / 〜にくい | easy / hard to do: 読みやすい, 読みにくい. やすい also = prone to |
| 〜すぎる | too much (a complaint): 高すぎる, 食べすぎる. いい → よすぎる |
| 〜ながら | two actions, SAME subject; the second is the main one |
| 〜すぎて | too ~ so that: 高すぎて買えなかった |
Every JLPT N4 grammar point explained
Each of the 72 JLPT N4 grammar patterns has its own page with the meaning, how to build it, examples and practice questions.
Browse all JLPT N4 grammar points →Practice questions
Test yourself with 6 sample questions from the JLPT N4 grammar quiz in the app. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. "ざんぎょうさせられた" uses which form?
- Passive
- Causative
- Potential
- Causative-passive
Show answer
Answer: Causative-passive
させられる = causative-passive = "was made to do." Common for expressing frustration.
2. How do you say "I became able to read kanji"?
- かんじをよみたい
- かんじがよめるようになった
- かんじをよもう
- かんじがよまれた
Show answer
Answer: かんじがよめるようになった
Potential + ようになった = became able to. よめる (can read) + ようになった (came to be).
3. のに always carries what nuance?
- Emotion (frustration/surprise)
- Politeness
- Formality
- Certainty
Show answer
Answer: Emotion (frustration/surprise)
のに = even though/despite. Always carries emotional nuance — never neutral.
4. Which conditional describes an automatic, always-happens result?
- と (to)
- ば (ba)
- たら (tara)
- なら (nara)
Show answer
Answer: と (to)
と = automatic/natural result. 春になると桜が咲く. It cannot be followed by a command or intention.
5. 友達が手伝ってくれた。 means?
- I helped my friend
- My friend wants to help
- I had my friend help
- My friend helped me (gratefully)
Show answer
Answer: My friend helped me (gratefully)
〜てくれる = someone does a favour for me. くれる always points at the speaker.
6. "You must not smoke here" uses?
- 吸ってもいい (suttemo ii)
- 吸ってはいけない (suttewa ikenai)
- 吸わなくてもいい (suwanakutemo ii)
- 吸わなければならない (suwanakereba naranai)
Show answer
Answer: 吸ってはいけない (suttewa ikenai)
〜てはいけない = must not (prohibition). 吸ってはいけません.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this the official JLPT N4 grammar list?
There is no single official grammar list for the JLPT, so this is a study list built from the A Star Japanese JLPT N4 lessons. It focuses on what learners at this level are most likely to meet.
How should I study the JLPT N4 grammar?
Read the example sentences first, then work out the pattern from them. Write your own sentence for each pattern — one that is about your life is easiest to remember. Pay attention to what comes before the pattern (verb form, noun, adjective) — that is where most mistakes happen.
How can I practise JLPT N4 grammar for free?
Download A Star Japanese for free on iPhone or Android. It has lessons, flashcards with spaced repetition, quizzes, listening practice with real Japanese voices and timed JLPT mock exams — with no ads.