JLPT N5 Grammar Guide with Examples
N5 is the most basic level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. It covers hiragana, katakana, a small set of simple kanji and the everyday words and sentence patterns needed to handle short, simple situations. This grammar guide is made for complete beginners and anyone who has just started learning Japanese.
Below are 93 JLPT N5 grammar study entries, including です (desu), これ / それ / あれ, は (wa), が (ga). 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 N5 grammar — full list
| Pattern / example | Meaning, reading and notes |
|---|---|
| Basic sentence order | [Subject] は [Object] を [Verb] Verb ALWAYS comes last |
| です (desu) | Polite "to be" — links subject to description わたしはがくせいです (I am a student) Add か → question |
| これ / それ / あれ | This (near me) / that (near you) / that over there この/その/あの + noun = this~/that~/that~ over there |
| ～の (possession) | わたしのほん = my book [owner] の [thing] Can drop the noun: わたしのです (it's mine) |
| は (wa) | Topic marker — "as for ~" わたしはがくせいです Also signals contrast |
| が (ga) | Subject marker — new info, answers who/what With emotion words: にほんごがすき With existence: えきがあります |
| も (mo) | "Also/too" — replaces は or が わたしもいきます (I also go) AもBも = both A and B AもBも～ない = neither A nor B |
| を (wo) | Object marker — the thing receiving the action すしをたべます (eat sushi) Used with action verbs only |
| に (ni) | 3 uses: ① destination: がっこうにいく ② time: さんじに ③ existence location: へやにいる |
| で (de) | 2 uses: ① action location: としょかんでよむ ② means/method: バスでいく、にほんごではなす |
| に vs で (location) | に = where something EXISTS (います、あります) で = where an ACTION happens ねこはへやにいる vs へやでねる |
| から / まで | から = from / because まで = until / as far as くじからじゅういちじまで (from 9 to 11) |
| ます form endings | Present: ～ます Negative: ～ません Past: ～ました Past neg: ～ませんでした |
| Group 2 → ます | Drop る, add ます たべる → たべます みる → みます おきる → おきます |
| する (irregular) | To do → します Noun + します = verb: べんきょうします、りょこうします でんわします |
| て-form uses | ① Sequence: おきて、たべて、いく ② ～てください: まってください ③ ～ています: eating/living now |
| ～ています | Ongoing action: たべています (eating now) Current state: けっこんしています (married) すんでいます (living in ~) |
| ～たいです | Want to ~ たべたいです (want to eat) いきたいです (want to go) Replace ます with たい |
| い-adj conjugation | たかい (expensive): +present: たかいです +negative: たかくないです +past: たかかったです +past neg: たかくなかったです |
| な-adj conjugation | しずか (quiet): +present: しずかです +negative: しずかじゃないです +past: しずかでした +past neg: しずかじゃなかったです |
| い-adj vs な-adj before noun | い: おおきいいえ (no change) な: しずかなへや (add な) Exception: きれい is な-adj even though it ends in い |
| あまり / ぜんぜん | あまり～ない = not very ~ ぜんぜん～ない = not at all ~ BOTH require negative form! |
| Question words | なに/なん = what だれ = who どこ = where いつ = when どう = how なぜ/どうして = why いくら = how much |
| どんな / どの | どんな + noun = what kind of ~ どんなたべものがすきですか どの + noun = which ~ どのほんがすきですか |
| でも vs が (but) | でも = starts new sentence, stronger contrast むずかしい。でも、おもしろい。 が = within one sentence, softer むずかしいですが、おもしろいです。 |
| から (because) | [Reason] から、[Result] あめがふっているから、うちにいます = Because it's raining, I'm at home Order: reason BEFORE result |
| て-form of い-adjective | Drop い, add くて おいしくて、やすいレストラン (delicious AND cheap restaurant) Used to list adjective qualities |
| Expressing preferences | ～がすきです = I like ~ ～がきらいです = I dislike ~ だいすき = love あまりすきじゃない = don't like much どんな～がすきですか = what ~ do you like? |
| 〜てもいいですか | May I 〜? / Is it OK to 〜? はいってもいいですか (may I come in?) とってもいいですか (may I take it?) Asking permission politely |
| 〜てはいけません | Must not / Not allowed to 〜 はいってはいけません (no entry) Used for rules and prohibitions |
| 〜ましょう / 〜ましょうか | Let's do 〜 / Shall we 〜? いきましょう (let's go) たべましょうか (shall we eat?) Replace ます with ましょう |
| います vs あります | います = living things (people, animals) あります = non-living things & events ねこがいます ✓ ほんがあります ✓ ねこがあります ✗ |
| Location words | うえ = above した = below まえ = in front うしろ = behind となり = next to なか = inside そと = outside |
| いちばん (superlative) | Most / number one いちばんおおきい = biggest いちばんすき = favourite Works with any adjective — no special form needed |
| AよりBのほうが〜 | B is more 〜 than A りんごよりバナナのほうがすき = I like bananas more than apples ⚠️ Less-preferred item comes FIRST (より) |
| 〜たら (when / if) | When/if 〜 happens にほんにいったら、おんせんにはいりたい = When I go to Japan, I want an onsen Formed from past tense + ら |
| とても / ぜんぜん | とても = very (use with positive) とてもおいしい = very delicious ぜんぜん = not at all (⚠️ needs negative) ぜんぜんわからない = I have no idea |
| Survival phrases | わかりません = I don't understand もう一度いってください = Please say again ゆっくりはなしてください = Speak slowly please にほんごがすこしわかります = I understand a little |
| どんな | What kind of 〜? どんなたべものがすきですか = What kind of food do you like? Great for open-ended conversations |
| て-form sequence | Links actions in order おきて、かおをあらって、たべます = Wake up, wash face, then eat Tense set by the final verb only |
| と (and / with) | A と B = A and B ともだちとはなす = talk WITH a friend りんごとバナナ = apples AND bananas |
| まだ / もう | まだ = still / not yet まだたべていません (have not eaten yet) もう = already もうたべました (have already eaten) |
| 〜ないでください | Please don't 〜 はいらないでください (please don't enter) わすれないでください (please don't forget) |
| Counter words | ひとり / ふたり = 1 / 2 people いっぽん / にほん = 1 / 2 long things いちまい / にまい = 1 / 2 flat things いっこ / にこ = 1 / 2 small objects |
| Time expressions | きょう=today, きのう=yesterday, あした=tomorrow いま=now, さっき=a moment ago あとで=later, また=again |
| Direction words | まっすぐ = straight ahead みぎ = right, ひだり = left つぎのかど = next corner わたる = to cross |
| Shopping phrases | いくらですか = how much? これをください = I'll take this カードでもいいですか = can I pay by card? レシートをください = receipt please |
| Restaurant phrases | なんめいさまですか = how many people? おすすめはなんですか = what do you recommend? おかいけいをおねがいします = bill please |
| Expressing ability | 〜ができます = can do 〜 にほんごができます = I can speak Japanese Verb dict form + ことができる |
| Talking about experience | 〜たことがあります = have done before にほんにいったことがあります = I have been to Japan |
| 〜てもいいですか | May I 〜? (permission) しゃしんをとってもいいですか = May I take a photo? |
| 〜ています (progressive) | Currently doing 〜 / ongoing state たべています = eating (right now) すんでいます = living (ongoing) |
| 〜すぎる | Too much 〜 たかすぎる = too expensive たべすぎる = eat too much 〜すぎて = because it's too 〜 |
| 〜なくてもいい | Don't have to 〜 / it's OK not to 〜 いかなくてもいいです = You don't have to go |
| まだ + 〜ていません | Haven't 〜 yet まだたべていません = I haven't eaten yet |
| もう + past tense | Already (done) もうたべました = already ate もういきました = already went |
| 〜しか〜ない | Only 〜 これしかない = only this すこししかない = only a little |
| 〜とおもいます | I think 〜 たかいとおもいます = I think it's expensive いくとおもいます = I think I'll go |
| 〜つもりです | I intend to 〜 / planning to 〜 あしたいくつもりです = I plan to go tomorrow |
| 〜といいます | 〜 is called / means これはにほんごでなんといいますか = What is this called in Japanese? |
| 〜のほうがいい | It's better to 〜 いかないほうがいい = better not go いったほうがいい = better to go |
| 〜ばいいのに | It would be nice if 〜 / I wish 〜 やすければいいのに = I wish it were cheaper |
| Sentence + し | And what's more (listing reasons) おいしいし、やすいし = It's delicious AND cheap |
| 〜そうです | Looks like 〜 / seems 〜 おいしそうです = looks delicious あめがふりそうです = looks like rain |
| 〜かもしれません | Maybe / might 〜 あしたあめかもしれません = It might rain tomorrow |
| 〜らしい | Apparently / I heard that 〜 あのレストランはおいしいらしい = I heard that restaurant is good |
| 〜のために | For the purpose of 〜 / in order to 〜 にほんごをべんきょうするために = in order to study Japanese |
| 〜とき | When 〜 にほんにいったとき = when I went to Japan こどものとき = when I was a child |
| 〜たら | If 〜 (conditional) あめがふったら = if it rains やすかったら = if it's cheap |
| 〜てくれますか | Would you 〜 for me? (polite request) おしえてくれますか = Would you teach me? |
| 〜てから | After doing 〜 たべてから = after eating べんきょうしてから = after studying |
| 〜まえに | Before doing 〜 たべるまえに = before eating ねるまえに = before sleeping |
| 〜ながら | While doing 〜 おんがくをききながらべんきょうする = study while listening to music |
| Giving: あげる/くれる/もらう | あげる = I give (to someone) くれる = someone gives (to me) もらう = I receive (from someone) |
| Passive: 〜られる | Was done to / got 〜 あめにふられた = got rained on せんせいにほめられた = was praised by teacher |
| すみません | excuse me / sorry — most-used word in Japan |
| てもいいですか | may I ~? / is it OK to ~? |
| どうぞ | please go ahead / here you are / feel free |
| ごめんなさい | I'm sorry (sincere) |
| もうしわけありません | I'm very sorry (formal / business) |
| わかりません | I don't understand |
| ゆっくりはなしてください | please speak slowly |
| もういちどおねがいします | please say it one more time |
| かいてもらえますか | could you write it down? |
| にほんごがすこしはなせます | I can speak a little Japanese |
| 〜をください | Please give me ~ (ordering / requesting) |
| いくらですか | How much is it? |
| 〜てもいいですか | May I ~? / Is it OK to ~? |
| すみません | Excuse me / Sorry / Thank you (all-purpose) |
| もう一度お願いします | Once more, please |
| ゆっくり話してください | Please speak slowly |
| 〜はどこですか | Where is ~? |
| だいじょうぶです | I'm fine / It's OK / No thanks |
Every JLPT N5 grammar point explained
Each of the 48 JLPT N5 grammar patterns has its own page with the meaning, how to build it, examples and practice questions.
Browse all JLPT N5 grammar points →Practice questions
Test yourself with 6 sample questions from the JLPT N5 grammar quiz in the app. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. A friend says: にほんごがむずかしくて、まいにちべんきょうしています。(nihongo ga muzukashikute, mainichi benkyō shite imasu) What does this mean?
- Japanese is easy so I don't study every day
- Japanese is difficult so I study every day
- I study Japanese every day and it is difficult
- Because Japanese is difficult, I stopped studying
Show answer
Answer: Japanese is difficult so I study every day
むずかしくて uses the て-form of an い-adjective to give a reason: "difficult + therefore." まいにちべんきょうしています = studying every day (ongoing state). The whole sentence: "Japanese is difficult, so I study every day." The て-form of adjectives often implies a causal connection.
2. Which particle correctly completes: バス___いきます (basu ___ ikimasu — I go by bus)?
- で (de)
- を (o)
- に (ni)
- が (ga)
Show answer
Answer: で (de)
バスで (by bus) — で marks the means or method of doing something. The same で: にほんごではなします (speak in Japanese), はしでたべます (eat with chopsticks), ひとりでやります (do alone). で for means is one of the most useful particle uses.
3. Transform to past tense: きょうはがっこうにいきます (kyō wa gakkō ni ikimasu) → yesterday
- きのうはがっこうにいきます
- きのうはがっこうにいきません
- きのうはがっこうにいきました
- きのうはがっこうにいくでした
Show answer
Answer: きのうはがっこうにいきました
Replace ます with ました for past tense: いきます → いきました. きのう (yesterday) confirms we need past tense. The sentence: "Yesterday I went to school." This ます→ました pattern works for all verbs without exception.
4. てもいいですか (temo ii desu ka) is used to?
- Give a command
- Express ability
- Make a request
- Ask permission
Show answer
Answer: Ask permission
てもいいですか = "May I ~?" Pattern for asking permission. て-form + もいいですか. はいってもいいですか = May I come in?
5. "Please speak slowly" is?
- はやくはなして (hayaku hanashite)
- やさしくはなして (yasashiku hanashite)
- もういちどください (mō ichido kudasai)
- ゆっくりはなしてください (yukkuri hanashite kudasai)
Show answer
Answer: ゆっくりはなしてください (yukkuri hanashite kudasai)
ゆっくり = slowly. ゆっくりはなしてください is the most important survival phrase for Japanese beginners!
6. "A coffee, please" =
- コーヒーを のみます (koohii wo nomimasu)
- コーヒーが すきです (koohii ga suki desu)
- コーヒーは どこですか (koohii wa doko desu ka)
- コーヒーを ください (koohii wo kudasai)
Show answer
Answer: コーヒーを ください (koohii wo kudasai)
～をください is the standard polite request for ordering.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this the official JLPT N5 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 N5 lessons. It focuses on what learners at this level are most likely to meet.
How should I study the JLPT N5 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 N5 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.