Japanese Grammar

    Grammar Hubs

    These hubs connect grammar concepts to give you a deeper understanding of how Japanese works. Learn the ins and outs of Japanese word types, conjugations and forms, and how culture affects communication.

    Grammar Points

    These help you grasp how to use a particular grammar point, word, particle, or form.

    1. Adjective さ (Objective Nouns)

      Adding 〜さ to an adjective turns it into a noun, and gives it the nuance that the noun is objective and measurable.

      Adjective Form
    2. Adjective そう

      〜そう can be added to adjectives to mark them as speculative, such as おいしそう = "looks delicious".

      Adjective Form
    3. Adjective み (Subjective Nouns)

      Adding 〜み to an adjective turns it into a noun with a subjective quality, like the "warmth" of a person or the "weight" of a decision.

      Adjective Form
    4. Building Sentences and Clauses

      Understanding clauses will help you to break down and understand complicated sentences in Japanese.

      Clause
    5. Command Form

      Verbs in the command form express strong orders or demands. The form changes depending on the verb type, so learn more, 読め (read it)!

      Verb Form
    6. Conjunctive Particle ので

      Just like the English conjunction "so," ので is a conjunctive particle that explains a reason or cause. It also contains a polite feel, a…

      Particle
    7. Conjunctive Particle のに

      のに is a conjunctive particle that expresses a sense of surprise or frustration when something goes against the set expectation.

      Particle
    8. Conjunctive Particles が・けど

      Conjunctive particles が and けど are often used in a similar way to the English word "but." Additionally, they can be used to link contex…

      Particle
    9. Date and Time

      To give the date, you use 〜年 (year), 〜月 (month), 〜日 (day), and 〜曜日 (day of the week). To tell time, you use 〜時 (hour), 〜分 (minute), and…

      Suffix
    10. First-Person Pronouns

      First-person pronouns are words that a speaker or a writer uses when they refer to themselves, like "I" or "we" in English.

      Pronoun
    11. Honorific Prefix: 御〜 (お〜・ご〜)

      御 (read as お, ご or おん) is an "honorific prefix" that is generally placed before nouns. It adds politeness and shows respect to the pers…

      Honorific
      Prefix
    12. Nouns

      Nouns are words that label the world around us and are used to identify things.

      Noun
    13. Numbers and Counters

      Japanese has two ways to count. Numbers are followed by different counters, or 助数詞(じょすうし), depending on the thing being counted.

      Suffix
    14. Particle か

      か indicates that something is unknown. It's used to form questions, indefinite pronouns, and lists of alternatives.

      Particle
    15. Particle から

      から is a particle that marks the "source," such as a starting point, an origin, or a reason.

      Particle
    16. Particle が (Subject)

      が marks the subject of a sentence. In other words, whatever comes before が is the person or thing that's doing whatever comes next.

      Particle
    17. Particle で

      で specifies where or how an activity or event takes place.

      Particle
    18. Particle と

      と is used to connect two or more words together as companions

      Particle
    19. Particle と (Conditional)

      と can be used to show a "strong causal relationship." In other words, it shows a condition and a result that always follows.

      Conditional
      Particle
    20. Particle に

      に is like a pin on a map. It shows where you are, where you are headed, or where you were before.

      Particle
    21. Particle ね

      ね is a sentence ending particle that marks information as shared by the speaker and listener.

      Particle
    22. Particle の (Nominalizer)

      の is a nominalizer. It turns non-nouns — things like verbs, adjectives, or clauses — into nouns.

      Particle
    23. Particle の (Noun Modifier)

      の is like a label maker. It turns a noun into a label that modifies another noun.

      Particle
    24. Particle は

      は marks the topic of a clause, sentence, or paragraph. It creates focus as well as a nuance of contrast with other potential topics.

      Particle
    25. Particle へ

      へ is like an arrow that points the way to a destination or a direction.

      Particle
    26. Particle まで

      まで is a particle that indicates the end point in space, time, and numbers.

      Particle
    27. Particle も

      The particle も is similar to the English words "too" and "also." It is placed after a word to show that the word is part of a set.

      Particle
    28. Particle や

      や is used to list multiple items (usually two or three) as examples. It implies that there are more items on the list that you haven't …

      Particle
    29. Particle よ

      よ is a sentence-ending particle that gives an informative feel.

      Particle
    30. Particle よね

      よね is a sentence-ending particle that is commonly used for confirmation.

      Particle
    31. Particle より For "Than…" In Comparison

      In a comparative sentence, より is equivalent to the English word "than..."

      Particle
    32. Particle より: A Formal Version of 〜から (From)

      より is a formal version of the particle から (from).

      Particle
    33. Particle わ

      わ is a sentence-ending particle that reflects your perception or sentiment based on personal observation and/or experience.

      Particle
    34. Particle を

      を tells us what the direct object of a sentence is. In other words, it marks the thing that gets affected by the verb.

      Particle
    35. Personal Pronouns

      Personal pronouns are used to refer to people from various perspectives: the first person (I, we), the second person (you), and the thi…

      Pronoun
    36. Plural Suffixes

      Plural suffixes attach to the end of nouns to indicate that they are plural.

      Plurality
    37. Plural and Quantity

      The ways we express plurality and quantity are different in Japanese and English. In Japanese, we use quantifiers, plural suffixes, and…

      Plurality
    38. Question Words

      Questions words are words like 何 (what), いつ (when), and なぜ (why). They are used for asking questions.

      Noun
    39. Second-Person Pronouns

      Second-person pronouns are words like "you" that a speaker uses to refer to their audience.

      Pronoun
    40. Stem Form

      The stem form is a type of Japanese verb form also known as V-stem form, and 〜ます form—this last name comes from the fact that it can be…

      Verb Form
    41. Third-Person Pronouns

      Third-person pronouns are words like "he" and "she." They are used for people who are neither "I" nor "you."

      Pronoun
    42. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

      Transitive verbs describe actions that happen to something else. Intransitive verbs describe actions that happen by themselves.

      Transitivity
    43. Verb Conjugation

      Japanese verbs have different conjugation patterns depending on what type they are — godan, ichidan, or irregular. Learn all about verb…

      Verb Form
    44. Verb Plain Present る Form

      The plain form of a Japanese verb (aka the dictionary form or the る form) is used to talk about both the present and future.

      Verb Form
    45. Verb そう

      Adding 〜そう to a verb is the equivalent of "looks like (someone or something) is going to do something" in English.

      Verb Form
    46. 〜かもしれない

      〜かもしれない follows a sentence and expresses "uncertainty."

      Phrase
      Uncertainty
    47. 〜ことがある

      By adding 〜ことがある to a word in the plain, non-past form, you can talk about what you do on occasion.

      Phrase
    48. 〜させる (Causative)

      When a verb ends in 〜させる, it tells us that someone is forced to do the action, or allowed to do the action, depending on context. For t…

      Verb Form
    49. 〜し

      し is often used to add emphasis to a list of parallel or sequential fields, much as "and what's more" or "not only...but also..." in En…

      Particle
    50. 〜じゃない・〜ではない

      Adding 〜じゃない or 〜ではない to the end of a noun or a な-adjective makes it negative, similar to the way "not" functions in English. Between t…

      だ/です
    51. 〜た (Past, Plain)

      The suffix 〜た puts a plain form verb into the past tense. It tells us that the verb is completed or happened before the present moment.…

      Verb Form
    52. 〜たい (Desire)

      〜たい is a verb suffix that adds a meaning of desire. Use it to say "I want to do [this verb]."

      Verb Form
    53. 〜たがる

      〜たがる is used to say that someone is "showing signs of wanting to do" something. Use it to say what other people want to do.

      Verb Form
    54. 〜たことがある

      When 〜たことがある follows the past tense, it expresses what you've experienced in the past.

      Phrase
    55. 〜たら

      〜たら is a conditional form. Depending on the context, it can express time sequence like "when/after" and conditions like "if."

      Clause Link
      Conditional
      Verb Form
    56. 〜たりする

      〜たりする is used to list actions and states. It indicates the list is incomplete, meaning that there are more things speakers could list.

      Verb Form
    57. 〜てある

      Used with a verb that expresses intentions, 〜てある describes a current state that's the result of a past action done by somebody, usually…

      Verb Form
    58. 〜ていく・〜てくる

      〜ていく and 〜てくる can express a gradual process that takes place over time. While 〜ていく focuses on the starting point of the process, 〜てくる f…

      Verb Form
    59. 〜ていた

      〜ていた is the past tense version of 〜ている. This form puts emphasis on the duration of a past action.

      Verb Form
    60. 〜ている

      Depending on the verb that 〜ている is used with, it can describe an ongoing action, or a current state that's the result of a past action.…

      Verb Form
    61. 〜ておく

      〜ておく follows a verb and generally adds the nuance that you do the action in advance for future convenience.

      Verb Form
    62. 〜てほしい

      〜てほしい expresses that you want someone to do something or something to happen.

      Verb Form
    63. 〜てみる

      〜てみる follows the stem form of a verb and expresses an exploratory nuance, as in "to try doing something" to find out more about it.

      Phrase
    64. 〜てもいい

      〜てもいい is a phrase that expresses permission, concession, or approval.

      Phrase
    65. 〜という

      〜という is a phrase with a wide array of functions, but it always denotes that what it's marking is based on hearsay or something that's s…

      Phrase
    66. 〜とき (When)

      The Japanese word とき means "time," and can function like "when" in English to create a time clause, such as "when I was a child."

      Noun
    67. 〜な For ''Don't...!''

      When な is added to the plain form of a verb, it marks a strong negative imperative. It's like very strongly saying "Don't…!" in English…

      Particle
    68. 〜ない (Negative, Plain)

      When 〜ない appears on the end of a verb, it means it is in the negative plain form. In other words, it has a similar function to "not".

      Verb Form
    69. 〜なかった (Negative, Past)

      〜なかった is the past tense negative plain form of verbs. It adds the meaning of "did not do [verb]" to a sentence.

      Verb Form
    70. 〜ながら (Contrast)

      ながら for contrasting clauses is used to describe two contradictory situations, and is often translated as "although."

      Clause Link
    71. 〜ながら (Simultaneous Actions)

      ながら is used to indicate that two actions take place simultaneously. It is similar to "while" in English.

      Verb Form
    72. 〜なさい (Polite, Command)

      〜なさい is a suffix that is used to make polite commands or directions. While polite, it still implies a sense of authority.

      Verb Form
    73. 〜にくい

      〜にくい is a verb suffix that means "difficult to do (the verb)."

      Verb Form
    74. 〜ば (Conditional)

      The suffix 〜ば puts verbs into the conditional form. In other words, it adds an "if" meaning to a sentence.

      Conditional
      Verb Form
    75. 〜ます

      When a verb ends in 〜ます, it shows that you are speaking politely.

      Verb Form
    76. 〜やすい

      〜やすい is a verb suffix that means "easy to do (the verb)."

      Verb Form
    77. 〜よう (Volitional)

      〜よう is a verb suffix that expresses volition, proposition, or invitation, akin to "let's" or "shall we?" in English.

      Verb Form
    78. 〜られる (Passive)

      The passive suffix 〜られる tells us that a verb is done to someone. It takes the emphasis off of who does the action, and places it on who…

      Verb Form
    79. 〜れる (Potential)

      〜れる appears on the end of a verb show ability or possibility, similarly to "can" or "be able to" in English.

      Verb Form
    80. 〜中(じゅう)

      中(じゅう) follows a location or time-specific word to mean "everything within the area" or "all throughout the period of time," respective…

      Suffix
    81. 〜中(ちゅう)

      中(ちゅう)follows another word to mean "in the middle of," as in 食事中 (in the middle of eating) or to mean "during," as in 会議中 (during the m…

      Suffix
    82. あまり〜ない

      あまり〜ない indicates that the degree or extent of something is not high or great, as in "not very" or "not much."

      Phrase
    83. い-Adjective かった (Past Tense Form)

      〜かった allows you to make い-adjectives past tense, in a similar way to "was" in English.

      Adjective Form
    84. い-Adjective がる

      い-adjectives can take the suffix 〜がる to describe how other people seem to feel, based on how they look or behave. This lets you state w…

      Adjective Form
    85. い-Adjective く Form

      This page teaches you how to put an adjective into the くform and provides basics of its three usages.

      Adjective Form
    86. い-Adjective くない (Negative Form)

      Adding 〜くない to the end of an い-adjective makes it negative, kind of like how "not" functions in English.

      Adjective Form
    87. い-Adjective ければ

      Adding 〜ければ to the end of an い-adjective makes it conditional, similar to using "if" or "when" in English.

      Adjective Form
      Clause Link
      Conditional
    88. い-Adjectives

      い-adjectives are one type of adjective in Japanese. Their main function is to describe nouns, and they can take different ending to cha…

      Adjective Form
    89. い-Adjectiveく (Adverb Form)

      The く form can be used to turn い-adjectives into adverbs, in a similar way to "-ly" in English.

      Adjective Form
    90. い-Adjectiveく (Linking)

      The く form of い-adjectives allows you to combine words and clauses together.

      Adjective Form
      Clause Link
    91. い-Adjectiveく (Noun)

      A few い-adjectives that relate to time or location can be used like nouns in their く form.

      Adjective Form
    92. いる・ある

      The Japanese verbs いる and ある mean things like “to be” or “to exist” and can often be used in a similar way to “there is” and “there are…

      Verb
      Vocabulary
    93. うち

      うち is a word that means “inside,” as opposed to “outside.” When it’s used with other grammar elements, like 〜のうち or 〜のうちに, it indicates…

      Vocabulary
    94. ください

      ください indicates a direct request while paying respect to the speaker. By adding it to a verb in its て form, you can request that someone…

      Phrase
    95. くらい

      くらい (or ぐらい) signifies approximation. It follows another word or phrase and indicates that something is around a certain amount or leve…

      Particle
    96. くれる・あげる・もらう

      あげる and くれる are Japanese words for "to give," and もらう means "to receive/get." When speaking from the giver's perspective, you use あげる. …

      Verb
      Vocabulary
    97. こいつ・そいつ・あいつ・どいつ

      こいつ, そいつ, あいつ, and どいつ are a set of こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do words). These words are used to refer to people, but they're very informal, and …

      Demonstrative
    98. こう・そう・ああ・どう

      こう, そう, ああ, and どう are a set of こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do words). They come before an adjective or a verb to specify the way the adjective or …

      Demonstrative
    99. ここ・そこ・あそこ・どこ

      ここ, そこ, あそこ, and どこ are a set of こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do words). They are equivalent to "here," "there," and "over there" in English. どこ is …

      Demonstrative
    100. こそあど言葉 (Ko-So-A-Do Words)

      こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do words) are a series of Japanese words that can be used to refer to things, people and locations. The word you choose…

      Demonstrative
    101. こちら・そちら・あちら・どちら

      こちら, そちら, あちら, and どちら, along with their contractions こっち, そっち, あっち, and どっち, are a set of こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do words). They refer primar…

      Demonstrative
    102. こと (事)

      こと basically means "thing." It's a versatile word for intangible, abstract things — ideas, events, experiences, and many others. こと can…

      Noun
    103. こなた・そなた・あなた・どなた

      こなた, そなた, あなた and どなた are a set of こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do words). The first three all mean "you," though only あなた is still in use today, an…

      Demonstrative
    104. この・その・あの・どの

      この, その, あの, and どの are a set of こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do words). They are placed before nouns to give information about their location in rel…

      Demonstrative
    105. これ・それ・あれ・どれ

      これ, それ, あれ, and どれ are a set of こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do words). They are equivalent to "this one," "that one," and "that one over there" in …

      Demonstrative
    106. こんな・そんな・あんな・どんな

      こんな, そんな, あんな, and どんな are a set of こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do words). They all get placed before a noun to indicate what that noun is like.

      Demonstrative
    107. さすが

      Used for both compliments and contradictions, さすが always adds the nuance that something is inevitable.

      Vocabulary
    108. すぎる

      すぎる follows other verbs and adjectives and signifies that there's too much of something.

      Verb
    109. する

      する basically means "to do," but it is incredibly versatile and goes beyond its English equivalent.

      Verb
    110. だ marks nouns and な-adjectives as present tense and positive, but it can also add an emphatic nuance in some contexts.

      だ/です
    111. だけ

      だけ means "only" and indicates the limitation or extent of something.

      Particle
    112. だった

      だった is a plain form past tense marker, typically used with nouns and な-adjectives.

      だ/です
    113. だろう

      Often translated as "probably," "I assume," or "I believe," だろう is used to speculate based on your interpretation of something.

      Uncertainty
      だ/です
    114. つもり

      つもり expresses the speaker's predetermined intention.

      Noun
    115. て Form

      The て form links actions, events, and states. The relationship between linked words can be different depending on the context.

      Adjective Form
      Clause Link
      Verb Form
    116. でした

      でした is a polite past tense marker, typically used with nouns and な-adjectives.

      だ/です
    117. でしょう

      でしょう is used to speculate based on your interpretation of something, though you lack proof. It's often translated as "perhaps," "I assu…

      Uncertainty
      だ/です
    118. です

      です is used to mark words as polite if they cannot conjugate to show politeness themselves.

      だ/です
    119. な-Adjectives

      な-adjectives are one type of adjective in Japanese. Their main function is to describe nouns, but many can function as nouns themselves…

      Adjective Form
    120. なら

      なら is a conditional particle. It means something like "if" in English.

      Clause Link
      Conditional
      Particle
    121. なる

      なる is equivalent to the English verb "to become."

      Vocabulary
    122. まだ

      まだ means "still" and まだ〜ない means "not…yet."

      Adverb
    123. もう (A Little More...)

      もう suggests "a little more" than the current quantity or condition.

      Adverb
    124. もう (Already / Not Anymore)

      もう is the equivalent of "already" or "(not) any more" in English.

      Adverb
    125. んだ・んです

      んだ and its variants such as んです add an explanatory feel to a sentence. It’s often used to provide information in order to fill the gap …

      だ/です
    126. 中(なか)

      中(なか)is a word for "inside." It can also mark items for comparison, as in "among" these things, or indicate the circumstances "in which…

      Noun
    127. 前・後

      前 and 後 mean "in front" and "behind" respectively when referring to space, and "before" and "after" when talking about time.

      Noun
    128. 自分

      自分 is a Japanese pronoun that means "self."

      Pronoun
    129. 行く・来る

      行く and 来る are Japanese words for "to go" and "to come." 行く indicates that the speaker's on the departure side of the movement, while 来る…

      Verb
      Vocabulary