JLPT N4 Grammar Overview

Overview

This lecture covers every grammar point tested at the JLPT N4 Japanese level, using concise explanations and examples from video games to show each structure in context. The explanations include how each grammar point is used, key differences between similar forms, and practical examples to help reinforce understanding.

Expressing Time, Continuity, and Sequence

• 間 (あいだ / aida): Used to show actions or events that occur throughout a period of time. Indicates "while" or "during." Often used with verbs in dictionary form or nouns + の.
  • Example: 歩いている間、雨が降っていた。("While I was walking, it rained the whole time.")
• 間に (あいだに / aidani): Used for momentary events that happen within a time span, not continuously.
  • Example: 歩いている間に雨が降り始めた。("While I was walking, it began to rain.")
• 後で (あとで / atode): Indicates doing something after another action or event. Used with verbs in the past tense or nouns + の.
  • Example: 食事の後で散歩します。("I will take a walk after the meal.")
• までに (madeni): Specifies a deadline or time limit by which something must be done.
  • Example: 5時までに帰ってください。("Please come home by 5 o'clock.")
• 間 (aida) vs. 間に (aidani): 間 is for continuous actions during a period, while 間に is for single or momentary actions within that period.

Conditional and Hypothetical Forms

• ば (ba): Used to express "if/when" for hypothetical or general conditions. Cannot be used for intentions, commands, or speaker’s will. Conjugation varies by verb/adjective type.
  • Example: 勉強すれば、分かります。("If you study, you will understand.")
• なら (nara): Used for hypothetical situations or when the outcome is uncertain. Can be used with verbs, adjectives, and nouns (often with ならば or であれば for formality).
  • Example: ピザなら、食べます。("If it's pizza, I'll eat it.")
• たら (tara): Looser conditional, used for "if," "when," or "after." Can be used for hypothetical, real, or completed actions. Formed by putting the verb/adjective/noun in the past tense + ら.
  • Example: 雨が降ったら、行きません。("If it rains, I won't go.")
• までに (madeni): Used to set a deadline or time limit for an action.
  • Example: 仕事が終わるまでに電話してください。("Please call me by the time work ends.")

Politeness & Honorifics

• でございます (de gozaimasu): Extremely polite form of です, used in formal situations or customer service.
  • Example: こちらが商品でございます。("Here is the product.")
• いらっしゃる (irassharu): Honorific for "to go," "to come," or "to be." Used to show respect to others.
  • Example: 社長がいらっしゃいます。("The president is here.")
• なさる / いたす (nasaru / itasu): Honorific (なさる) and humble (いたす) forms of "to do." なさる is used for others, いたす for oneself.
  • Example: お手伝いなさいますか。("Will you help?") / お手伝いいたします。("I will help [humbly].")
• おります (orimasu): Humble form of "to be," used for oneself or one's in-group.
  • Example: 私はここにおります。("I am here [humbly].")

Expressing Need, Ability, & Tendency

• 必要 (hitsuyou): Expresses that something is needed or necessary. Can be used with は or が to indicate the subject.
  • Example: あなたが必要です。("You are needed.")
• ことができる (koto ga dekiru): Used to express ability or possibility ("can do"). Formed by nominalizing the verb with こと and adding できる.
  • Example: 日本語を話すことができます。("I can speak Japanese.")
• がる / がり (garu / gari): Used to describe someone else's apparent feelings, desires, or tendencies. がる is used with adjectives, がり with nouns to describe personality.
  • Example: 怖がる ("to appear scared"), 寒がり ("someone who tends to feel cold").
• やすい / にくい (yasui / nikui): Attach to verb stems to express "easy to do" (やすい) or "difficult to do" (にくい).
  • Example: 食べやすい ("easy to eat"), 見にくい ("difficult to see").

Expressing Actions for Others

• てあげる・てもらう・てくれる (te ageru / te morau / te kureru): Express giving, receiving, or doing actions for others.
  • てあげる: "do for someone else" (speaker gives)
  • てもらう: "receive action from someone" (speaker receives)
  • てくれる: "someone does for the speaker" (speaker receives)
  • Example: 手伝ってあげる ("I will help you"), 手伝ってもらう ("I get help"), 手伝ってくれる ("You help me").
• てください (te kudasai): Polite request, "please do."
  • Example: 見てください。("Please look.")

Expressing Intention & Volition

• つもり (tsumori): Indicates intention or plan to do something. Used with verbs in dictionary form.
  • Example: 日本に行くつもりです。("I plan to go to Japan.")
• ようと思う (you to omou): Expresses thinking of doing something, intention or plan.
  • Example: 勉強しようと思います。("I'm thinking of studying.")
• (よ)う (volitional form): Used to express "let's" or the speaker's will/suggestion. Conjugation depends on verb type.
  • Example: 食べよう。("Let's eat.")

Negation, Prohibition, and Obligation

• ない (nai): Negative form of verbs and adjectives, "not" or "do not."
  • Example: 行かない ("do not go")
• なければならない (nakereba naranai): Expresses obligation, "must" or "have to do." Can be shortened in casual speech.
  • Example: 勉強しなければならない。("I must study.")
• てはいけない (te wa ikenai): Prohibition, "must not" or "do not."
  • Example: ここで遊んではいけません。("You must not play here.")

Quoting, Guessing, and Uncertainty

• と言う (to iu): Used to quote, name, or refer to something. Also used for indirect speech.
  • Example: 「ありがとう」と言いました。("He said 'thank you.'")
• そうだ / らしい / ようだ (souda / rashii / youda): Expresses hearsay, appearance, or conjecture.
  • そうだ: "I heard that..." (hearsay)
  • らしい: "apparently" or "it seems" (based on information)
  • ようだ: "it seems" or "appears" (based on reasoning or observation)
  • Example: 雨が降るそうだ。("I heard it will rain.") / 雨が降るらしい。("Apparently it will rain.") / 雨が降るようだ。("It seems it will rain.")
• かもしれない (kamoshirenai): Indicates possibility or uncertainty, "might" or "perhaps."
  • Example: 行くかもしれません。("I might go.")

Listing and Giving Examples

• とか (toka): Used to list multiple examples, "among other things" or "such as."
  • Example: ピザとかパスタが好きです。("I like things like pizza and pasta.")
• や～や (ya~ya): Non-exhaustive list, "and" (among others).
  • Example: 本やノートやペン ("books, notebooks, pens, etc.")
• など (nado): "Things like," "etc.," or "and so on." Used after nouns.
  • Example: 果物など ("fruits, etc.")

Comparisons and Emphasis

• より (yori): Used for comparisons, "than" or "rather than."
  • Example: 日本語は英語より難しい。("Japanese is more difficult than English.")
• だけ / しか～ない (dake / shika~nai): Expresses "only" or "nothing but." しか is always used with a negative verb.
  • Example: 水だけ飲みます。("I only drink water.") / 水しか飲まない。("I drink nothing but water.")

Key Terms & Definitions

• 間 (あいだ / aida): During, throughout a period.
• ば: Conditional, "if/when."
• なら: Hypothetical, "if it is the case."
• て形 (te-form): Verb form used for conjunctions, requests, and various grammar points.
• こと (koto): Nominalizer; turns verbs into nouns.
• よう / つもり: Volitional/intent; expressing intention or plan.
• がる / がり: Describes someone’s apparent feelings or tendencies.
• やすい / にくい: Easy/difficult to do.
• そうだ / らしい / ようだ: Seem/appear/it is said.
• 〜ても / でも: Even if.
• しか～ない: Only; nothing but (with negative).

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review each grammar point with example sentences from the lecture and video game contexts.
• Practice conjugating verbs and adjectives into each grammatical form, paying attention to differences in usage.
• Complete assigned workbook exercises on N4 grammar to reinforce understanding.
• Prepare for a quiz on N4 grammar points in the next session, focusing on both recognition and production of each structure.
• Continue to observe these grammar points in Japanese media, especially video games, to see how they are used naturally.