JLPT N3: 19 Japanese Grammar Rules for the JLPT. Part 1

Japanese Grammar Guide for the JLPT N3, part 1

Basically, this is a guide/check-list to make sure you know certain grammar for N3. There’ll be 7 parts in all.

Go through this list. See what you know.

This is part 1 of the grammar points that you should know for the JLPT N3 exam. Is it precise? No, we can’t predict tests like we can’t predict tomorrow. But, if you are well versed in these grammar points, then that’s a good sign.

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The source for all of these grammar points? The Nihongo So-Matome N3 Workbook.

1) Using a Passive Voice (Ukemikei) without a subject. In this case, you omit the subject, just to talk about what’s happening to the object in the passive case. You do it in English too. For example, if someone asks “did you do your homework?” – one possible answer is “it wasn’t done.”

詳しい説明は書かれていません。
Detailed explanations aren’t written.
結婚式は、ここで行われます。
The marriage ceremony will take place here.

2) Passive tense to show a difficult situation as a result of something. In general, shimau is used to express things that happen unexpectedly, spur of the moment, by mistake and so on. It’s combined with the present tense to show a bad or negative situation.

赤ちゃんをだっこしたら、なかれてしまった。
When I held the baby, it started crying (because of me).
雨に降られて、服がぬれてしまた。
It rained and my clothes got wet.

3) Causative case when asking for permission or a request. It’s a polite way. Simply change the verb to the causative te-form: Verb (sasete) + kudasai. You can also use “moraemasuka?” instead of “kudasai.”

早く帰らせてください。
Please let me go early.
会社の話を聞かせてください。
Please tell me about the company.

4) Nai-to. The casual way of saying must. Take the verb stem and add “nai-to” to express things you must do.

勉強しないと。
I must study.
これを食べないと。
I must eat this.

5) Expressing something that has happened or will happen surprisingly, without your control, spur of the moment or as a mistake. Take the -te form of the verb, remove the “te” and add “chau.” For verbs that end in “n” when you drop the “de” (like nonde, shinde) use “jau” instead.

お！そのチョコ？食べちゃった、ごめん！
Oh, I ate that chocolate, sorry! (Not knowing it was someone elses.)
今日は飲んじゃおう！
I’m drinking today! (On the spot decision after a tough day.)

6) Toku grammar. Showing preparation, or making sure that you’ll do something. Take the verb in its -te form, drop the te, and add toku.

これ選択しといて。
Make sure to wash this.
ノートに書いとこう。
I will make a note (of this).

7) Looks like. Mitai da. You can also use “ni” with this word if it’s not at the end of the sentence.

明日は雨みたいね。
It looks like it will rain tomorrow.
彼の話し方は、子供みたいだ。
He talks like a child.

8) Seems or looks like. Rashii grammar. Very similar to mitai.

今日は春らしい日でした。
Today was a spring-like day.
女性らしい洋服は着ない。
I don’t wear feminine clothing.

9) Looks like. Ppoi. Similar to mitai and rashii. The use of っぽい and it’s translations can vary from “looks like, seems like, <noun>-like” and so on. The differences are minor in meaning. It can also turn nouns into adjectives.

この子、おとなっぽい。
That kid looks like an adult.
この料理はあぶらっぽい。
This dish is greasy.

10) Try to/Make a habit of. You ni shimashou. This grammar point expresses that you’re trying to make a habit out of something, or try to do something on a daily basis. Similarly, someone can ask you of that. Unlike “toku” mentioned above, which can be one time only, this is on a regular basis.

忘れ物しないようにしましょう。
Try not to leave things behind.
歯をみがくようにしています。
I try to brush my teeth.

11) So that. You Ni Grammar. Read this so that you can understand this. Review these grammar points so that you know them all. So that. That’s how you use “you ni” here.

聞こえるように話してください。
Speak so that you’re heard/we can hear you.
忘れないように、ノートに書いとこう。
I’ll make a note of it so that i don’t forget.

12) Expression of change. You ni natta. Basically used to express that something has changed or changes. Like, if your computer was broken, your dad fixed it and now tells you “it’s useable now” with the intention to express that a change has taken place – it’s fixed.

使えるようになったよ。
It’s useable now. (Before it wasn’t.)
この電気は人が通るとつくようになっています。
This light turns on when a person passes by.

14) To indicate a request with you ni. This is a polite request. It’s not a question or a wish.

早く来るように。
Please come earlier.
ここで、タバコをすわないように。
Please don’t smoke here.

15) As (Verb). You Ni To express something already done. As I said. As it’s written here. As you know. As the book says. And so on. This is used to introduce explanations of already mentioned/done things.

言ったように、ねるよ。
As I said, I’m sleeping.
書いてあるように、そうして下さい。
As it’s written, do it that way please.

16) Express Hope with You Ni. Verb + You Ni.

ごうかくしますように。
I hope I pass the test.
お金持ちになりますように。
I hope that I become rich.

17) To show your plan. Verb You To Omou.

新しい趣味を始めようと思ってる。
I’m thinking of starting a new hobby.
結婚しようと思ってる。
I’m thinking of getting married.

18) About To. Verb+You+To+Suru. Are you about to leave your house? Are you about to eat?

電車に乗ろうとした時に、ドアがしまった。
Just as I was about board the train, the door closed.
私は出かけようとする。
I’m about to go out.

19) Express the present continuous in Japanese. Use the Verb stem with You to Shinai to express something that’s been going on and on..

彼がご飯を食べようとしない。
He hasn’t been eating at all.
彼は、自分のことは何もいおうとしない。
He doesn’t talk about himself.

That’s it for part 1. This counts as an entire week of grammar inside the Nihongo So-Matome N3 Workbook. Do you know all of these points?