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The constructions the particle, grammar and verb lessons teach, on one page: the pattern, what it means, and an example from its lesson. Tap a word for its meaning, or follow the link to the lesson for the full story.
In speech, every sentence ends polite (です/ます) or casual (the plain form), depending on who you're talking to.
PoliteI drink coffee every morning.
CasualI drink coffee every morning.
In a normal sentence the verb, adjective or です/だ comes last; only small endings like か, よ and ね follow it.
I eat bread.
The topic sets the scene, and the comment has its own が-subject: “as for today, the weather is nice”.
The weather's nice today.
Particles label each word's job, so the pieces before the verb can move.
Yesterday I hung out with a friend in the park.
Yesterday I hung out in the park with a friend.
Leave out whatever the listener already knows, especially “I” and “you”.
Are (you) coming tomorrow?
Adjectives, の phrases and whole clauses go before the noun they describe.
a red car
the car I bought yesterday
は sets the topic: “as for A, B”.
I'm a student.
が marks who or what does the verb or is the adjective; the subject is there even when unsaid (the zero が).
It's raining.
I have a headache.
A question word as the subject takes が, never は; so does the answer.
Who came?
Tanaka came. (It was Tanaka.)
The topic is the one who likes; が marks what they like.
I like cats.
は can contrast: two は in one sentence almost always do, and は in place of を hints “unlike other things”.
I drink coffee, but I don't drink tea.
を marks what the action is done to, and also the place you move through or leave.
I read books.
I walk through the park.
に points at a target: where you go, and when something happens.
I'm going to school.
I get up at seven.
に marks the person who receives: “to” someone.
I gave my friend a present.
Go somewhere to do something.
I'm going to the park to play.
Become something.
The water turned into ice.
で marks the place where an action happens.
I play in the park.
で marks what you use: a tool, a vehicle or a language.
I go to Tokyo by train.
I eat with chopsticks.
The most … in a group or place.
(I'm) the tallest in the class.
The verb decides: に for being or arriving somewhere, で for doing something there.
I've arrived at the station.
I'm waiting at the station.
へ (pronounced e) points in a direction, toward somewhere; with verbs of motion it is nearly the same as に, which is more common.
I head north.
a letter to my mother
Joins nouns: A and B, a complete list.
I ate an apple and a banana.
Do something with someone.
I watched a movie with a friend.
Joins nouns: A, B and so on, a few examples rather than the whole list.
I read books, magazines and so on.
A too; both A and B.
I'll eat bread too.
I like both cats and dogs.
Nothing, not anything.
I didn't eat anything.
A's B, B of A: A describes B.
my book
my friend's mother
The … one; after a noun, “…'s” on its own (mine, Tanaka's).
Do you have a small one?
That's Tanaka's.
From A until (or as far as) B, in time or space.
I work from nine to five.
I walked from home to the station.
Gives a reason: “…, so …” (because).
It's hot, so open the window.
か at the end makes a question; nothing else moves.
Do you drink coffee?
Are you a teacher?
Casual questions usually drop か and let the pitch rise.
Do you drink coffee?
A or B.
tea or coffee
Tells the listener something new: “you know”.
This road's dangerous, you know.
Checks something you share: “isn't it?”, “right?”.
It really keeps raining, doesn't it?
You're coming tomorrow, right?
A is B, polite and casual.
PoliteMs Tanaka is a teacher.
CasualMs Tanaka is a teacher.
Isn't, was and wasn't for nouns, casual (polite).
Tomorrow isn't a day off.
It rained yesterday.
い-adjectives change their own ending: isn't, was, wasn't.
It isn't cold today.
Yesterday's film was really good.
いい builds its other forms from よい.
It's not good.
The weather was good.
な-adjectives behave like nouns, and take な before a noun.
This town is quiet.
a quiet town
There is: いる for people and animals, ある for everything else.
There are children in the park.
There's a bench in the park.
To have: ある for things, いる for people.
I don't have any money.
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Near me, near you, over there, which: これ/それ/あれ/どれ, この…, ここ….
What's this?
Where's the toilet?
The question word goes where the answer would go; add か, or drop it in casual speech.
When did you come to Japan?
What did you eat yesterday?
Count things with a counter after the number; number + counter usually sits right before the verb, with no particle.
Five stamps, please.
Three apples, please.
A verb's group decides how every form is built.
(I) go home
(I) change (it)
Polite verbs: do, don't, did, didn't.
I'll go to Tokyo tomorrow.
I didn't study yesterday.
Won't you …? A polite invitation.
Would you like to have dinner together?
Casual “don't”.
I don't drink alcohol.
The て form links actions: “… and then …”.
I went home and went straight to bed.
The て form alone is a casual request.
Open the window.
Links an adjective or noun to what follows: “… and …”.
This place is cheap and tasty.
Casual past: did, didn't.
I read three books.
I didn't eat breakfast.
Is doing; or a lasting state.
I'm reading a book right now.
My sister lives in Kyoto.
Please do ….
Please wait a moment.
Want to do; don't want to.
I want to go to Japan.
I don't want to do anything today.
Someone else wants to do something.
My little brother wants to buy a game.
Let's …; shall we …?; shall I …?
Shall we get going?
Shall I help you?
Casual “let's …”, or “I think I'll …”.
Let's go home together.
I think I'll go to bed now.
Can do: the potential form.
I can speak Japanese.
I can't eat natto.
If …, or when ….
If it rains, I won't go.
Call me when you get to the station.
61 constructions from 37 lessons.