N4 Grammar
106 grammar points across the N4 range. Each point explains the meaning, how to connect it, and how it differs from similar patterns.
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106 points.
Time and sequence
Conditions and contrast
Comparison and limits
Guessing and hearsay
- ～だろうprobably ~ (plain, informal)
- ～でしょうprobably ~; I guess ~; isn't it?
- ～はずがないthere is no way that ~; cannot possibly ~
- ～はずだshould be ~; expected to ~
- ～かもしれないmight ~; may ~; perhaps ~
- ～みたいだit seems ~; looks like ~ (casual)
- ～によるとaccording to ~
- ～らしいit seems that ~; I hear that ~; typical of ~
- ～そうだ（様態）looks like ~; seems about to ~
- ～そうだ（伝聞）I hear that ~; it is said that ~
- ～ようだit seems that ~; looks as if ~; like ~
Honorific and humble language
- ～でございますis/are (very polite)
- いらっしゃるhonorific for いる / 行く / 来る
- いたすhumble for する
- 参るhumble for 行く / 来る
- 召し上がるhonorific for 食べる / 飲む
- お～になるhonorific form of a verb (sonkeigo)
- お～するhumble form of a verb (kenjougo)
- おっしゃるhonorific for 言う
- ～ていただけませんかcould you please ~?
- ～ていただくreceive the favour of ~ (humble)
- ～てくださる(a superior) does ~ for me (honorific)
Aspect and states
- ～はじめるstart to ~
- ～終わるfinish ~ing
- ～たばかりhave just ~
- ～てあるhas been ~ed (and remains so)
- ～ていくgo on ~ing; do ~ and go; keep ~ing from now
- ～ている（進行）be ~ing (an action in progress)
- ～ている（状態・習慣）be in a state of ~; do ~ regularly
- ～てくるdo ~ and come back; start to ~; gradually ~
- ～てみるtry ~ing; do ~ and see
- ～ておくdo ~ in advance; leave ~ as it is
- ～てしまうfinish ~ing; end up ~ing (often with regret)
- ～ところだbe about to / be in the middle of / have just ~
- ～続けるkeep ~ing; continue to ~