© copyright 2016 jlptbootcamp...to know for the n4 level: the masu stems are colored red and...

Table of ContentsUsing やすい , にくい , and かた..........................................................................................3

Using はじめる , だす , つづける and おわる.......................................................................10

Using てもいい and てもかまわない.................................................................................17

Using てみる、ておく and てしまう.................................................................................22

Using まま and ことがある..............................................................................................28

Using ～なければならない and ～なくてはいけない..........................................................33

Using ～なくてもいい and ～なくてもかまわない.............................................................39

Using ～ずに and ～た・ないほうがいい..........................................................................44

Using んです and んですが..............................................................................................49

Using ところだ and そうだ..............................................................................................54


Using やすい, にくい, and かた

(click to view video)

The masu stem in Japanese can be combined with a variety of words to give it extra meanings. Do you remember masu stems? Here is a quick chart of the key verbs you'll needto know for the N4 level:

The masu stems are colored red and yellow. Be aware of some odd balls like いきる → い

きます (to live), this word has the same masu form as いく (to go). There are two others お

きる → おきます and きる → きます that can be a little confusing at first glance.


http://youtu.be/Lanv4A7mfmA

Talking about Something being Easy to do or Difficult to do

Form:

masu stem + やすい

masu stem + にくい

Examples:

つくりやすい (easy to make)

そのさけは　飲みやすいです。(That sake is easy to drink.)

このレシピは　ちょっと読みにくい。(This recipe is little difficult to read.)

そのかんじは　おぼえにくいです。(This kanji is difficult to memorize.)

やすい can be used to talk about something that is easy to do, or apt to happen. For example, you can talk about something being apt to break like below:

われやすい (apt to break)

にくい has the opposite meaning. You can use it to talk about something that is difficult to do, or not apt to happen. For example, you can advertise the toughness of something with the following:

われにくい (not apt to break)

Keep in mind that やすい and にくい are i-adjectives, so you can conjugate them into different tenses like the following examples:

そのさけは　飲みやすいです。(That sake is easy to drink.)

そのさけは　飲みやすくないです。 (That sake isn't easy to drink.)

そのさけは　飲みやすくなかったです。(That sake wasn't easy to drink.)

This can make listening and understanding these a little difficult at first. Be sure to practice the differences by saying them out loud. You may even want to go through a quick drill every time you come across a new verb, so that you can internalize this conjugating.

I should note that the sentences above aren't all that common in real life, but are the kind of thing you might see on the test.


Talking about How to ~ or the Way of ~

Form:

masu stem + かた

方

Examples:

じゃあ、おこのみやきの　つくりかた

作り方を　おし

教えて　ください。So, please teach me how to make okonomiyaki.

田中さんの　はなしかた

話し方は　わかりやすいです。 Ms. Tanaka's way of speaking is easy to understand.

You combine the masu stem with かた

方 to talk about 'how to X' or 'the way of X'. This is pretty simple to use, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, it behaves as a noun. So, you will need to use the の particle before it:

このゲームのあそびかた

方 (how to play this game)

このかんじの読みかた

方 (how to read this kanji)

すしの食べかた

方 (how to eat sushi)

Also, remember that you can combine the の particle with other particles:

おおさかへの行きかた

方 (the way to Osaka)

うつくしい女の人との話しかた

方 (how to talk to beautiful women)

This is something that might come up in the 'scrambled sentences', the second part of the grammar section of the exam. They love to quiz you about how to arrange particles in that section.


Example Sentences

そのはなの　うえかた

方は　むずかしいです。 It's difficult to grow this flower. (lit. The way of growing this flower is difficult.)

うえとさんの　うた

歌いかた

方は　とても　きれい

ですね。

Mr. Ueto sings really beautifully. (lit. Mr. Ueto's way of singing is really pretty.)

さかなの　やきかた

方は　わかりません。 I don't know how to cook fish. (lit. The way of cooking fish is not understood.)

このビールの　あじ

味が　つよ

強くないので、飲み

やすいです。

This beer doesn't have a strong taste so it is easy to drink. (lit. This beer's taste isn't strong, so it is easy to drink.)

こうべは　す

住みやすいところです。 Kobe is an easy to place to live.

ふじさんは　あまり　のぼりやすい山ではな

いですよ。

Mt. Fuji is not a very easy mountain to climb.

私は　めがねが　ないので、そのポスターは

読みにくいです。

I don't have my glasses, so it's difficult to read that poster.

このかぐは　もえにくいので、とてもあんぜ

んです。

This furniture is difficult to burn, so it is reallysafe.


Grammar Exercises

Sentential Questions I

1 –　A: 「このパソコンはこわれました。」

　　 B: 「だいじょうぶですよ。そのば

場しょ

所は（　　　　）です。

1) なおしやすくない　２）なおしにくい

３) なおしやすくなかった　　　４）なおしやすい。

2 – A: 「田中さんのこえ

声は大きいですね。」

　　B: 「はい、（　　　　　　）ですね。」

　１）聞きにくい　２）聞こえやすくない

３）聞きやすい　４）聞こえにくい

3 – 日本のなつ

夏は（　　　　　）です。

　１）なれにくなかった２）なれにくい

３）なれりにくかった４）なれりにくい

Sentential Questions II

4 – 駅　＿＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿＿　＿＿＿　ちょっと　むずかしいです。

1) 行きかた

方　2) へ　3) は　4) の

5 – わたし

私のむすめに　＿＿＿　＿＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿＿　おし

教えたいです。

1) の

乗りかた

方　2) を　3)　の　4)　じてんしゃ


Answers

1) 4 – なおす means 'to repair' and the masu-stem of なおす is なおし. From there we

just need to add やすい to get the meaning of 'easy to repair'. The full sentence would mean 'It is easy to repair that part/place'.

2) 3 – actually both 聞きやすい (easy to hear) and 聞こえやすい (easy to be able to hear) are both acceptable here.

3) 2 – なれる means 'to get used to' as in to get comfortable with something. And if you

have been to Japan, you know that the summers are pretty rough, so なれにくい (difficult to get used to) is the most appropriate. The other answers are actually grammatically incorrect.

4) 4 (2413) – So we need to connect 駅 (train station) with 行き方 (the way to go). Of

course, we can do this with the の particle, but we still have that へ particle to work with. Wecan use that to indicate the direction in which we are moving and we can combine that with

the の particle. So we add へ to 駅 to mark it as the direction we are traveling, then we

place the の particle after へ to link it to 行き方 to describe the 'the way to go'. We just have

the は particle that has only one place to go – at the end. All together, we have the followingsentence:

駅への行きかた

方はむずかしいです。The way to the station is difficult.

5) 1(4312) – You have the の particle which is used to link two nouns. We just so

happen to have two nouns to link up – じてんしゃ and 乗り方. It only makes sense if we

put じてんしゃ in front, so if do that we have じてんしゃの乗り方 (the way of riding a bike).

After that we just have to find a place for the を particle, which goes at the end.

わたし

私のむすめにじてんしゃのの

乗りかた

方をおし

教えたいです。I want to teach my daughter how to ride a bike.


Using はじめる, だす, つづける and おわる


We are going to go over a few more helper verbs that we can use with the masu stem to talk about starting, continuing, and finishing something.

Talk about something starting

Form:

masu stem + はじ

始める

Examples:

さいきん、うんどう　し始めたんだ。 Recently, I started exercising, yeah.

あした

明日の　しゅくだいを　やっと　しはじ

始めます。I finally started doing tomorrow's homework.

はじ

始める is more a vocabulary word than a grammar point. It is pretty simple to form, just

take the masu form of a verb, which we went over before, and add 始める to the end. There

are a few key things to remember about using 始める though.

First, you use 始める for an action that is gradual, and that you, in general, have control over.It can be your own action or someone else's or something else's, but it is not a sudden

action. For those kinds of actions, you need to use だす which we will go over next.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwrj1zOkPL4

Second, a real quick note on spelling. 始める is usually spelled using the kanji unlike some of the other words in this chapter. However, in less formal documents and other circumstances it

can be written without the kanji - はじめる. Just be aware that both exist and are the same word.

Third, 始める is generally not used for verbs that talk about a momentary activity, like くる

(to come) or つく (to arrive) unless the subject is plural:

X　田中さんは　つ

着き始めます。(Mr. Tanaka is starting to arrive.)

O　ひとびと

人々が　つ

着き始めます。(People are starting to arrive.)

Talk about something starting suddenly

Form:

masu stem + だす

Examples:はし

走っていると、きゅう

急に　雨が　ふりだした。

When I was running, it suddenly started to rain.

マンガを　見て　わらい出しました。I looked at the manga, and burst out laughing.

だす has a very similar meaning to 始める and is formed the same way (masu stem + だす).

The key difference is that だす describes something more spontaneous. It is usually an actionthat you do not have control over. For instance, the following sentence sounds a little odd:

この新しい本を　読みだしました。(All of a sudden, I started reading this new book.)

Unless you want to talk about yourself objectively. Overall, 始める is used a lot more than だ


す, which is used in those situations where something suddenly happens. So, by default use

始める but if you want to emphasize the suddenness and uncontrollability of an activity you

can use だす.

It is also used for emotional outbursts, displays of feelings that you can't control. For example, here are a few common expressions that you can use it with:

わらいだす　(to burst out laughing)

なきだす　(to suddenly start crying)

Another thing to note is that だす seems to often be written in kana. Although it can be

written in kanji - 出す.

Talk about something continuing

Form:

masu stem + 続ける

Examples:

うん、雨が　ふりつづけていたから。Yes, because it continued to rain.

一日中　ずっと　となりのいぬ

犬がなきつづけました。The neighbor's dog continued to bark all day long.

つづける means to continue doing something. You can use it for yourself or something else that you might not necessarily have control of.

It can be written in both kana and kanji, but the kanji for つづける - 続 is probably not N4 kanji, so you will see it in kana only for the test.


Talking about something ending

Form:

masu stem + 終わる

Examples:はし

走りおわったら、雨がやんだよ。When I finished running, it stopped raining.

じぶん

自分の　しょうせつ

小説を　やっと　書きお

終わりました。I finally finished writing my novel.

And finally 終わる, which means to finish doing something. It is typically written using the kanji.

One small note is that in written Japanese 終わる can be replaced with 終える. I'm 99% certain that won't be on the test, but just something to keep in mind if you do a lot of reading.


Example Sentences

一時間　待ったあと

後で　やっと　

ばんごはんを　食べはじ

始めました。

After waiting an hour, we finally ate dinner.

さいきん、お金のこと　しんぱい　しはじ

始め

ました。

Recently, I started worrying about money.

むすめは　おもちゃが　こわれて　　

なきだした。

My daughter broke her toy and burst into tears.

電車で　きゅうに　男の人が　おどりだして、

びっくりしました。

I man on the train suddenly started dancing, and I was surprised

じしんでも　かれは　ねむりつづけます。 Even in an earthquake, he can keep sleeping.

このすしは　おいしいから、

食べつづ

続けたいです。

This sushi is delicious, so I want to keep eating it.

私のへやを　みどりいろに　

ぬりお

終わりました。

I finished painting my place (where I live) green.

この本は　読みお

終わったあと

後で、その本を　

読みはじ

始めます。

After I finish reading this book, I'm starting toread that book.


Grammar Exercises


1 –　うえと

上戸さんは　つかれたから　もう　（　　　　）。

１）ねむり始めます　　　２）ねむりおわります

３）ねむりだします　　　　４）ねむりました

2 – A：「このパンは　なぜ　こんなに　くろいですか。」

B:「あの、パンを　やいているとちゅう、パンが　（　　　　　）。」

１）もえはじめます　　　　２）もえつづけていました

３）もえおわります　　　　４）もえだしました。

3 – A:「そのひとの　名前は　なにですか。」

B:「ええと、あっ（　　　　　　　　）。　りなこです。」

１）思い始めました　　　　　２）思い出しました

３）思い終わりました　　　　４）思いつづけています


4 – ＿＿　＿*＿＿＿　＿＿　分かりはじ

始めて　います。

１）が　２）は３）にほんご　４）わたし

私

5 – ジャケットを　＿＿　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　出します。

１）なき　２）きはじ

始める３）いつも犬は　４）と


Answers

1) 1 – We want to talk about the fact that Mr. Ueto is so sleepy that he has already started sleeping. We can say 2 because that would mean he finished sleeping, which doesn't fit here. Answer 3 is not correct because going to sleep is gradual process, which you can't do suddenly. Answer 4 would mean that he completed sleeping.

2) 4 – Using だす makes the most sense, because burning the bread was something unplanned, and happened suddenly (something usually doesn't gradually burn, it is either burnt or not burnt).3) 2 – In this sentence, the speaker suddenly thinks of the name of the person so we use

だす.4) 2 (4231) – This is one of the more common scrambled sentence questions. It basically

involves where you should put the は and が particles. In this situation the topic is you (私),

and subject that is beginning to be understood is Japanese (にほんご). 分かる takes a subject that is being understood. This is one of those verbs that behaves differently than its English counterpart. The final sentence is the following:

私は　日本語が　分かり始めて　います。(I'm beginning to understand Japanese.)(lit. As for me, Japanese is beginning to be understood.)

5) 3 (2431) – This might look a little complex at first, but you just need to work out what

parts of the sentence match up. First what goes with ジャケットを? なき or と doesn't. い

つも犬は might but, let's use き始める (to begin to put on [きる])because that seems to

match the best. なき is a masu-stem and 出します can take a masu-stem in front of it, so

we can put it there. And what can do the action of なき? How about a dog 犬, so we can put

いつも犬は in front of that. In the end, we get the following sentence:

ジャケットを　きはじ

始める　といつも犬は　なき　出します。 When I start to put on my jacket, (my) dog starts barking.


Using てもいい and てもかまわない


てもいい and てもかまわない are two ways to ask for and give permission that you need to know for the N4 level.

Asking/Giving Permission

Form:

て-form + もいい

Examples:

水を　飲んでもいい。Is it okay to drink (the) water?

すわっても　いいですよ。It's okay to sit.

高くても　いいですよ。It's okay if it is expensive.

ふくざつでも　いいですよ。It's okay if it is complicated.

ローマじでも　いいですか。Are roman letters okay?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwrj1zOkPL4

To ask permission to do something you simply have to add もいい to the て-form of just about anything. This is the most commonly used expression to ask if it is okay to do something. It is something I use every day. It is a bit casual, so it is not to be used with customers or people higher in status than you. However, all you have to do to make it more

polite is switch out いい with よろしい. So the following request can be made to a superior ifyou'd like to take a seat:

すわっても　よろしいですか。(Is it all right if I sit down?)

Keep in mind that you can also use it with adjectives and nouns, usually when clarifying or asking for clarification about the specifics of something. The verb is usually implied:

クレジットカードでもいいですか(Is it all right if [I use my] credit card?)

Telling someone an action doesn't bother you

Form:

て-form + もかまわない

Examples:

しゃしんを　とってもかまわないよ。It doesn't matter if you take a picture.

ここで　食べてもかまいません。It doesn't matter if you eat here.

かまいません is often translated as 'it doesn't matter' in grammar textbooks, but an easier way of thinking about it is 'I don't mind...' since that usually (but not always) fits the meaning

a little better. In general, it is a little more polite than もいい, but it doesn't see that much use to be honest. I often hear it in announcements during shows or events. For instance, you might here the following right before a minor stage show (for kids at the mall or something):

しゃしんを　とっても　かまいません。(It doesn't bother us if you take pictures.)

This can be a little misleading because of the negative ending. It is quite easy to


misunderstand and think that you can't take pictures, which I often did, so be careful. This could easily come up on the listening section of the exam since it is so easy to misunderstand.

てもいい vs. てもかまいません

てもいい more common, especially for requests

てもかまいません　more polite, more common for announcements about rules

Both of these phrases will appear on the test, but will probably not be featured too prominently in the grammar section. They are most likely going to show up in reading or

listening. Be sure to practice these a few times with your own ideas, especially てもかまいま

せん, since it is so easy to misunderstand.

Example Sentences

そのビールを　飲んでも　いいですよ。 It's okay if you drink that beer.

きょうには　いらないので　おそくても　い

いですよ。

Today, I don't need it, so late is okay.

わたし

私の　す

好きな　女の人が　

へんでもいいです。

The women I like can be weird.

はや

早くない　車でも　いいですよ。 A not fast car is okay.

来なくても　かまいません。 It doesn't bother me if you don't come.

タバコを　すっても　かまいません。 It doesn't bother me if you smoke.

にもつは　大きくても　かまいません。 It doesn't matter if the luggage is big.

それが　ともだちでも　かまいません。 It doesn't matter if it is a friend.


Grammar Exercises


1 –　 A: 「どうやって　これを　食べますか。」 B: ( )

1)「手を　食べても　いいですよ。」　　　

2)「手でも　いいですよ。」

3)「使いても　いいですよ。」　　　　　　　

4)「食べないでも　いいですよ。」

2 – 2-毎日　れんしゅう　しな (　　　　 ) いいですよ。

１）でも　２）では　３）くても　４）くては

3 – 食べ物が　たくさん　あるので　さかなを　持って　

（　　　　）　かまいません。

１）来たくなくても２）来ても　　

３）来ないでも　　４）来なくても　


4 – A:「今日　8 時まで　しごとですよ。」

B:「＿＿　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　もいいですよ。」

１）きて　２）　しんぱいしないで

３）パーティーに　　４）　おくれて

5 – A: 「私は　この　やすいジャケットしか　持っていません。」

B: 「だいじょうぶです。＿＿　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　も　かまいません。」

１）じゃない　　２）じょうぶ　　３）で　　４）　ジャケット


Answers

1) 2 – This answer makes the most sense. Answer 1 means 'It's okay to eat your hand' ifyou want to say 'It's okay to eat with your hand' you need to put the で particle after 手. Answer 3 means 'It's okay to use.', but use what? Answer 4 means 'It's okay not to eat it.'2) 3 – It is a little tricky to form the negative. We need to change a verb into the

present-negative form, than conjugate it like it was an い-adjective – する→しない→しなくて.

We can't use the negative-imperative form (sometimes called command form) – しないで.

3) 4 – Again, we need to form the negative by changing 来る to simple negative, 来ない

and then conjugate like an i-adjective into the て-form, 来なくて.4) 4 (2341) – You might be tempted to put しんぱいしないで in front of もいい, but as we say before, you can't put the negative-command form in front of もいい. So, that needs to go in front. That leaves us with おくれて or 来て to put in front of もいい. おくれてusually goes before the main verb, in this case 来て. So we can put those in order before も

いい and that leaves us where we are going → ーティーにパティに. That gives us the following sentence:

B:「しんぱいしないで　ーティーに　　パティに　　おくれて　きて　もいいですよ。」

(Don't worry, you can come to the party late.)

5) 4 (2143) – で is the only thing that can go in the last slot, but what can go before

that? A noun or a na-adjective. We only have a noun – ジャケット. Then, we just need to

put the remaining words in front of that じょうぶじゃない (not sturdy). And that gives you the following sentence:

だいじょうぶです。じょうぶ　じゃない　ジャケットでも　かまいません。(That's okay. It doesn't matter if the jacket isn't sturdy.)


Using てみる、ておく and てしまう


To try to do something

Form:

て-form + みる

Examples:

ふじさんを　のぼって　みたいんだ。I want to try to climb Mt. Fuji.

マックが　来たら、話して　みます。 When Mac comes, I try to talk to him.

The use of てみる is pretty straightforward, simply add the て-form of a verb in front of it to mean to attempt doing something or trying to do something.

There is one small nuance to keep in mind though. In English, we can use "to try" two different ways:

1) I tried making sushi.

2) I tried to make sushi.

Can you feel the difference? In the first sentence, there is a feeling that you were somewhat successful. But in the second sentence, it has a feeling that you were not successful. When

using てみる in Japanese, it is closest to sentence 1 in meaning. For example, take a look at the following sentence:


https://youtu.be/gNFu2PTjB7I

私はすしをつくって　みました。おいしかったです。

(I tried making sushi. It was good.)

In the above sentence, you were successful in making the sushi.

To talk about doing something in preparation, or leaving something as is

Form:

て-form + おく

Examples:

ふじさんを　のぼる前に　いいブーツを　買っておいた　ほうが　いいよ。It's better if you buy some good boots before you climb Mt. Fuji.

ドアを　開いておいてください。Please leave the door open.

The verb おく, by itself, means "to put" or "to place", but when it is used with the て-form of verb, it means to do something in preparation for something, or to leave it as is. I like to think of it like when I'm preparing for a trip, I put things out in preparation for packing and getting ready to go.

Another thing to keep in mind is that in casual speech, there is a shortening that takes place.

If a verb that ends with te come before おく, it is often shortened to とく. For verbs that

have a て-form that ends in で, the shortening becomes どく. Take a look at the following sentences:

田中さんに　話して　おく。(standard)

田中さんに　はなしとく。 (more casual)

I'm going to talk to Mr. Tanaka (in preparation for something).


この本を　読んで　おく。(standard)

この本を　読んどく。(more casual)

I'm going to read this book (in preparation for something).

This shortening is fairly standard, but will probably not show up on the N4. However, it is good to start getting used to it now because it may very well appear on the N3 (or N2/N1).

To talk about the state of completion or the regret of doing something.

Form:

て-form + しまう

Examples:

ああ、わすれてしまった。Oh, I totally forgot (to do something).

ばんごはんを　食べてしまいましたか。Please leave the door open.

If you look しまう up in your typical English to Japanese dictionary, you'll get a whole host ofdefinitions from 'to put away' to 'to do ... completely'. And when it is used with a verb in the

て-form it can mean to finish something completely. But, it most often means that you did something reluctantly or accidentally and your are embarrassed about it.

I always remember that when I first started working in Japan, my Japanese co-worker would

often say 'し。。。' whenever she made a mistake. My first guess was that she was about todrop an s-bomb, but of course i realized from her relative low level of English that that wasn't

what she was about to say. She actually was shopping herself from saying しまった, which I've done to learn is what you say when you mess up. Give it try next time you screw up.


Example Sentences

トムに　でんわして　みます。 I'm going to try to call Tom.

おとうさんのバイクに　の

乗って　みます。I'm going to try to ride my dad's motorcycle.

そのクッキーを　食べてみて　ください。 Please eat those cookies. (help yourself)

りょこうのために　お金を　取っておきます。I'm saving money to go on a trip.

さかなを　ここに　入れておいてください。 Put the fish in here please.

車に　かぎを　かけて　おいたほうが

いいです。

It's better to keep (your) car locked.

しゅくだいを　してしまいました。 I finished my homework.

ちかてつの　出口を　

まちがえてしまいました。

I made a mistake with the subway's exit. (I went out the wrong exit.)


Grammar Exercises


1 –　 A: 「ばんごはんを　つく

作りはじ

始めますよ。」

B: 「そうか。フライパンを　(　　　　)。」

1)　おいて　きますね。　　 2)　おいておきますね。

3)　おいて　しまいました。　 4)　おいてみますね。

2 – A:「わたし

私のケーキは　どこですか。」

B:「ああ、すみません。ぜんぶ　(　　　　)。」

1)　食べて　おきました。　　 2)　食べないでも　いいですよ。

3)　食べて　みたかったです。 4)　食べて　しまいました。

3 – 田中さんが　来る前に　オフィスを　そうじ　(　　　　)　よかったです。

1)　して　おいて　　2)　しても　よくて

3)　して　みて　　4)　して　しまいまして


4 – 電車に　乗ったのですが、＿＿　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　しまいました。

１）に　２）　おくれて

３）ついて　　４）　パーティー

5 –　＿*＿＿＿　＿＿　＿＿　おきます。

１）およいで　　２）みずぎをよういして　　３）みたい　　４）　ので


Answers

1) 2 – おく means “to put” normally, so おいて means 'to put' and おきます means to do it inpreparation or to keep it as is. Since speaker A is going to be cooking dinner soon, it's probably best to not put the pan away, but to leave it where it is.

2) 4 – Speaker B feels ashamed that they ate all of the cake, so it is most natural to use しま

いました here. Answer 3 might seem like a viable answer, albeit a little awkward one. However, it isn't an appropriate response to what Speaker A said.

3) 4 – Here we should use しまう because we want to emphasize the completion of the cleaning before Mr. Tanaka showed up.

4) 2 (4123) – First, we need to find a place for that に particle, the only place is right after ーティーパティ . Then we have two verbs in te-form – おくれて and ついて. Which one goes first?

Well, おくれて usually goes first, because ついて (つく, to arrive) is the main verb, it conveysthe main idea of the sentence. Rearranging all the parts we get the following sentence:

電車に　乗ったのですが、パーティーに　おくれて　ついて　しまいました。

(I caught the train, but I was late for the party.)

5) 1 (1342) – This question is a simply a matter of what do you need to do in

preparation for something? Swim – およいで or prepare your swimsuit – みずぎをよ

ういして? The answer is pretty obvious. So 2 goes at the end, and you want to try

to swim not try to prepare your swimsuit, so you put みたい after swim, and ので

can only go after that. In the end you have the following sentence:

およいで　みたいので　みずぎをよういして　おきます。

(I want to try to swim so I prepared my swimsuit.)


Using まま and ことがある


Talking About Experiences

Form:

Past tense + ことがある

Examples:

おこのみやきを　食べたことが　ないから、食べに行こうよ。I haven't eaten okonomiyaki before, so let's go eat some.

フランスへ　行ったことが　ありません。I've never been to France.

フランスへ　3 年前に　行ったことが　あります。

Lit. I've been to France 3 years ago.

To talk about experiences, we use the past tense plus ことがある. You can think of it as an

extension of the がある structure to talk about possessions:

車が　あります。

(I have a car.)

We are just extended it to talk about actions by placing こと after the past tense of a verb. The best translation of this structure, is the present perfect tense in English:

フランスへ　行ったことが　ありません。

(I haven't been to France.)


https://youtu.be/jK6yBrck4Jo

The one thing to keep in mind is that you can use specific times with this structure:

フランスへ　3 年前に行ったことが　あります。

(I have been to France, 3 years ago.)

In English, it is grammatically incorrect to use specific times with present perfect, but that's not the case in Japanese.

This structure can be used with the present tense to talk about something that happens from time to time, but this is less common, and probably won't appear on the N4.

Talking about a state left unchanged

Form:

Past tense + まま

Neg present tense + まま

い-adjective + まま

な-adjective + なまま

noun + のまま

Examples:

電車の　中に　かばんを　おいたまま　わすれました。I left (my) bag on the train where I put it, and forgot (about it).

今の　ままに　して　おいて　ください。Please leave it like it is now.

しゅくだいを　しないまま　クラスに　行きました。I left my homework undone and went to class.

Previously we talked about the structure ~ておく used to mean to place something in a

preparatory state. With まま, you are simply leaving something as is, not necessarily in preparation for something. This is used a lot for accidentally leaving something in a state that is not so good. For instance, leaving something on or forgetting something.

With a positive state, you use the past tense, but if you want to use a negative verb to talk about the state, you need to use the present tense.


しゅくだいを　しないまま　クラスに　行きました。I left my homework undone and went to class.

Although this form is technically correct, it isn't commonly used this way. It is most often used with a positive verb form only.

You can also use まま with i-adjectives, na-adjectives, and nouns. However, you probably won't see it used this way on the N4 test. Just keep in mind that it can be used that way.

When using i-adjectives, na-adjectives and nouns, you usually don't use the past tense:

X わかかったまま (to stay young-ed)

O わかいまま (to stay young)

Example Sentences

このまちは　小さかったことが　あります。 There was a time this town was small.

私は　いしゃだったことが　あります。 There was a time I was a doctor.

私は　まんがが　す

好きだったことが　ありま

す。

There was a time I liked manga.

私は　よく食べていたことが　あります。 There was a time I ate a lot.

このたてもの

建物は　むかしのままです。This building hasn't changed. (lit. This building is staying old.)

へやの　中で　すわったまま　

ねてしまいました。

I fell asleep sitting in the middle of the room. (lit. In the middle of the room, I stayed seated and fell asleep.)

買った食べもの

物を　

食べないまま　にしていた。

The food I bought was left uneaten. (lit. Thebought food stayed not eaten.)

ともだちは　いつも　れいぞうこの　ドアを

開けたままでした。

My friend always left the refrigerator door open.


Grammar Exercises


1 –　 A: 「どうして　これは　あつくないのですか。」

B: 「この食べもの

物は　（　　　　）まま　食べます。」

1)　あつい　　 2)　あつかった

3)　つめたい　 4)　つめたかった

2 – ふじさん　(　　)　のぼったことが　あります。

1)　は　 2)　を　 3)　が　 4)　へ

3 – ここは　きけん ( ) ことが　あります。

１）の　２）な　３）だ　４）だった


4 – A:「にしかわ

西川さんは　だれですか。」

B:「＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　＿＿　人です。」

１）まま　　　　２）食べている

３）そこで　　　４）たった

5 –　私は　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　＿＿　行ったことが　ありません。

１）まだ　　２）川　　３）つりに　　４）　へ


Answers

1)３ – Speaker A first asks why this is not hot, and Speaker B responds by telling

them that it is okay to eat it cold, to not change the state of the item from being

cold to being hot. Adjectives are usually left in the present tense form, not the past.

2) 2 – A lot of grammar questions on the N4 and N5 will deal with particles, and

how they collocate (what words they are used with). For のぼる you need to use を

when talking about a mountain. In other words, you 'did' the climbing to the

mountain(object, marked by を).

3) 4 – Keep in mind that for this structure, talking about your experiences, we use

the simple past tense of a verb, so だった is the only word that would fit.

4) 4 (3412) – You can put both たった (stood) and 食べている (eating) in front of 人

(person), but it only makes sense to put たった in front of まま. そこで (at that place

there) is talking about both eating and standing so it should go at the front. That

leaves us with this sentence:

　　　そこで　たったまま　食べている人です。

　　　([He] is the person over there still standing and eating.)

5) 2 (1243) – This basically a question of where to put まだ, which is usually goes

after the topic (私) and before the main part of the sentence. つりに means fishing

which collocates with 行く (to go). And the particle へ marks where we went fishing

川 (the river). Which gives us the following sentence:

私は　まだ　川へ　つりに　行ったことが　ありません。

　　　(I haven't been fishing at the river yet.)


Using ～なければならない and ～なくてはいけない


Talking about having to ~, must ~, needing to ~

Form:

Neg present tense – い + ければならない

Examples:まいあさ

毎朝、かいぎに　行けなければならない。Every morning, I have to go to a meeting.

しんかんせんを　乗るので、きっぷを　買わなければなりません。I'm taking the shinkansen, so I need to buy a ticket.

At first, this structure can be quite confusing. There is a double negative here. First we need

to start with the negative tense, then cut the い off from the end. Finally we add なくてはい

けない。

なければ is actually the negative conditional. Look at the following sentence:

かいぎに　行けなければ

(if I don't go to the meeting...)

The second part of this phrase is ならない, which in this context means 'not good'. So literally it means 'It is not good if you don't go to the meeting.' In other words, you have to go to the meeting.


https://youtu.be/jK6yBrck4Jo

have to ~, must ~, need~

Form:

Neg present tense – い + くてはいけない

Examples:

スーツを　着なくてはいけない。 I have to wear a suit.

クラスは　明日ですが、今日は　この本を　読まなくてはいけません。Class is tomorrow, today I have to read this book.

This is very similar to the previous structure except we are using いけない here instead of な

らない. You can think of the なくては ending as a conditional. It is usually used only in this structure though.

Multiple forms of have to ~, must ~, need to ~

なければならない and なくてはいけない tend to be the two most common structures for expressing 'have to~, must ~, need to~' but there are some variations that mean about the same thing.

You can switch out いけない for ならない for both of these structures.

スーツを　きなくては [いけない/ならない]

まいあさ

毎朝、かいぎに　行けなければ [ならない/いけない]。

The difference is that ならない tends to sound a little stronger and is used for rules and restrictions that apply to a group of people like a law. However, they are mostly interchangeable.


You can also use the と conditional to form this structure as well:

スーツを　きないと　[いけない/ならない]。

まいあさ

毎朝、かいぎに　行けないと [ならない/いけない]。

Casually, in normal conversation, speakers often shorten it to just the と conditional:

スーツを　きないと。

まいあさ

毎朝、かいぎに　行けないと。

Even more casually, some speakers will shorten this even more by changing なければ to な

きゃ and なくては to なくちゃ. For example,

スーツを　きなくちゃ。

まいあさ

毎朝、かいぎに　行かなきゃ。

These more casual structures will most likely appear on the N3 test in the listening section. N4 usually keeps to more polite structures. However, try these out when you are talking to natives in Japanese.


Example Sentences

電気だいを　29 日までに　はらわなければな

りません。

I have to pay my electric bill by the 29th.

そのかいぎに　行かなければなりません。 I have to go to that meeting.

ぶちょうが　来るので　つくえを　かたづけ

なければなりません。

The boss (lit. head of section) is coming, so I need to organize my desk.

新しいしごとの　ために　かよわなければな

りません。

I have to commute for my new job.

ひっこししたので　きんじょに　あいさつ　

しなくてはいけません。

I moved so I have to great all my neighbors.

もうすぐ　冬に　なるので　この木を　うえ

なくては　いけません。

Winter is coming soon, so I have to plant thistree.

まいあさ

毎朝、ごみを　すてなくては　いけません。

I have to take the trash out every morning.

電車は　もうないので　ホテルで　とまらな

くては　いけません。

The trains have already stopped, so I have tostay at a hotel.


Grammar Exercises


1 –　おねえさんを　（　　　　）　ならないです。

1)　てつだなくて 2)　てつだなければ

3)　てつだなくては　 4)　てつだわなければ

2 – 田中さんを　あんない　（　　）なければならないです。

1)　して　 2)　し　 3)　せ　 4)　してい

3 – 新しいともだちを　（　　　）なりません

１）作ってなければ２）作なければ

３）作らなければ４）作りなければ


4 – その　もんだい

問題　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　＿＿　いけません。

１）よく　　２）かんが

考えなくて

３）を　　　４）は

5 –　わたし

私は　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　＿＿　ま

待たなければならない。

１）かれ　　２）まで　　３）来る　４）が


Answers

1)4 – The negative form of てつだう (to help) is てつだわない. From there we just

cut off the い and add ければ and we have the first part.

2) 2 - あんない (to show around) is a する verb. The negative of する is しない.

3) 3 – To form the negative for 作る, we change the last mora from る to ら and add

ない.

4) 1 (3124) – You could use は after 問題, but you need it for the なくてはいけない

structure, so we should use を instead. Then, よく, an adverb, goes in front of the

verb. That leaves us with this sentence:

その　問題を　よく考えなくては　いけません。

([I] have to think about this problem a lot)

5) 4 (1432) – This is pretty simple. First, let's find a place for the particles. The が

particle can pretty much only go after かれ. And 来る can only go before まで.

Usually the agent of a clause, かれ in this sentence, takes the が particle. In

general, 私, which is marked with は in this sentence can not do the action in the

clause. So we get the following sentence:

私は　彼が　来るまで　待たなければならない。

(I have to wait until he comes.)


Using ～なくてもいい and ～なくてもかまわない


Talking about not having to ~

Form:

Neg present tense – い + なくてもいいExamples:えいが

映画のチケットを買わなくてもいいよ。(We) don't have to buy a movie ticket.

なつ

夏に　クールビズだったら　しごと

仕事で　ネクタイを　き

着なくても　いいです。In the summer it is cool biz, so (you) don't have to wear a tie at work.

This is pretty much the exact same structure that we went over earlier (てもいい). It's just that here we are using it with a negative present tense verb to give it the meaning of 'not having to~'. This has the most basic meaning, and is the most commonly used.

Talking about not having to bother to~,

Form:

Neg present tense – い + なくてもかまわない

Examples:

食べ物を持って来たから買わなくてもかまわない (I) brought food, so we don't need to bother buying (some).


https://youtu.be/iSIMLWT4oIc

さとうさんを　もう電話しましたので、かれを電話しなくても　かまいませんI already called Mr. Sato, so you don't have to bother calling him.

This is sometimes listed as having the same meaning as なくてもいい – don't have to ~. But it is a little different from that. This basically means you don't have to bother doing something or it's okay if you don't do X. The correct structure to be used depends on the context and what the speaker wants to convey.

~なくてもいい vs ～なくてもかまわない

There is only a small difference between these two. なくてもいい is generally used more,

and has the meaning of 'don't have to~' whereas なくてもかまわない less common, and has the basic meaning of 'it doesn't bother me if you don't do something.'


Example Sentences

今日はいい天気ですので、かさを持ってこな

くてもいいです。

It's nice weather today, so you don't have to bring an umbrella.

ジョンさんはテントを持っているので、それ

を買わなくてもいいです。

John has a tent, so (we) don't have to buy one.

れいぞうこに食べ物があるので、何も作らな

くてもいいですよ。

We have food in the fridge, so we don't have to make anything.

そのふくをあら

洗わなくてもいいですよ。 (you) don't have to wash those clothes.

いつ来てもかまいませんよ。 It doesn't bother me when you come.

あなたが何をしてもかまいませんよ。 I don't care what you do.

わたしは毎日それを食べてもかまいません。 It doesn't bother me to eat that every day.

それがいくらしてもかまいません。 I don't care how much it is.


Grammar Exercises


1 –　フォーマルな　パーティーではありませんので　

スーツを　着なくて（　　　　）。

1)　もいけません 2)　はいけません

3)　もかまいません　 4)　はかまいません

2 – その映画　もう見たから、( 　　)

1)　かりてもかまいます　 2)　かりてもいいです　

3)　かりなくてもいいです 4)　かりなくてもかまいません

3 – げつようびは　ちょっと　いそがしいので　（　　　）

１）いいよ。いかなくてもいけません

２）いいよ。いかなくてはいけません

３）いいよ。いかなくてもかまいません

４）だめよ。いかなくてもいいです


4 – ＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　＿＿　ふ降ってもかまわない。

１）が　　２）は　３）ゆき

雪　　　４）私

5 –　A「電車で　行かなくては　いけませんか？」

B「いいえ。ちゅうしゃじょ　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　＿＿　こなくても　

かまいませんよ。」

１）ので、　　２）がある　　３）で　　４）　電車


Answers

1) 3 - This is the only answer that makes sense. 1 means that you have to wear a suit. And2 and 4 are usually not used. Usually, the particle *mo* is used with these phrases.

2) 2 - Answer 2 means it is okay if you borrow the movie. Answers 3 and 4 mean that it’s

okay if you don’t borrow it, which doesn’t make sense here. Answer 1 means that it bothers

me if you borrow it.

3) 1 - This answer means that it doesn’t bother me if you don’t come, which makes the most

sense. You might think that answer 4 is also correct, but the first part of the response だめよ

makes this an incorrect answer. Be on the lookout for little details like this on the test.

4) 2 (4231) - The thing doing the action in a sentence is usually marked with が. And

typically the topic of the sentence goes towards the first part of sentence. So we can mark

the topic 私 with the は particle and then the thing doing the action 雪 is marked with が. In

the end, we get the following sentence:

私は　雪が　ふ

降ってもかまわない。

(I don't mind the snow.)

5) 1 (2143) – A good hint here is ので、which means that this sentence has two clauses. So

we need to finish the first one that starts with ちゅうしゃじょ (parking lot). The sentence

fragment that makes the most sense is がある, so we can put that in the first position. The

only thing that fits after that is ので、and we can follow that with 電車で, to get the

following sentence:

ちゅうしゃじょ　があるので、電車で　こなくても　かまいませんよ。

(There is a parking lot so you don't have to bother taking the train.)


Using ～ずに and ～た・ないほうがいい


Talking doing Something Without or Instead of ~ing

Form:

V ない – ない + ずに

*しない　→　せずに

Examples:

でも、きのうは　いえ

家を　出ずに　ずっとテレビを　見ていた。But, yesterday instead of leaving the house, (I) watched TV all day.

だれにも　そうだんせずに　しました。(He) did it without consulting anyone.

At the N5 level you learned a grammar point, ～ないで (without). This grammar point has a very similar meaning, but is used more often in formal situations. Note that this is a lot moredifficult to listen for. With a little speaking practice, this will get easier and easier for you to use.

Keep in mind, too that this can also be used to talk about doing one thing instead of something else. Like in the following sentence from the dialog:

きのうは　家を　出ずに　ずっとテレビを　見ていた。Yesterday, instead of leaving the house, I watched TV all day.



Giving a Strong Suggestion

Form:

V た・V ない+ほうがいい

Examples:

早く　ねたほうが　いいですよ。You'd better go to sleep early.

ガスの近くで　タバコを　すわないほうが　いいですよ。You'd better not smoke close to gas.

So, you learned てもいい before to make suggestions. This structure is a little bit stronger. It can be translated as 'you had better …'

Note two peculiar things about this structure. First, for positive sentences, the verb is always in simple past tense. But for negative, it uses simple present form. This is the kind of weird quirk that might come up on the test.


Example Sentences

すごくつかれたので、ばんごはんを　食べず

に　ねました。

(I) was really tired, so (I) went to bed without eating dinner.

かれは　あやまらずに　出ていきました。 He left without apologizing.

田中さんは　あいさつを　せずに　はたらき

はじめました。

Mr. Tanaka started working without a greeting.

おと

音が　せずに　とが　あ

開きました。The door opened without a sound.

赤ちゃんが　ねているから　大きなこえ

声で　

話さないほうが　いいですよ。

The baby is sleeping so you'd better not speak in a loud voice.

まだ気分が　わる

悪いから　たいいんしないほ

うが　いいですよ。

(You) still aren't feeling well, so you had better not leave the hospital.

かちょうに　そのことを　つたえたほうが　

いいですよ。

It's better to to tell the boss about this matter.

いいホテルで　とまったほうが　いいですよ。

(You) had better stay at a nice hotel.


Grammar Exercises


1 –　あなた方（　　）待たずに　行きますか？

1)　が　　2)　を　　3)　は　　4)　に

2 – そのことばは　ちょっとわるいです。大人( 　　) 使わないほうが　いいですよ。

1)　は　 2)　を　 3)　が 4)　に

3 – かれは　何も（　　　）

１）せずに　います

２）しないで　います

３）せずに　いません

４）しずに　います


4 – それを　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　＿＿　ください。

１）食べ　　２）ずに　３）ないで　　　４）やか

5 –　とうきょうへ　行く　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　＿＿　行ったほうが　いいですよ。

１）で　　２）の　　３）電車　　４）　は


Answers1) 2 – This is a classic case of a question that might pop up on the test. The question is

really testing you on your knowledge of particles and not on the use of ずに specifically.

2) 3 – what comes before ほうがいい is a clause. Clauses in Japanese usually use the が

particle.

3) 1 – しないで is usually only used in command form and does not have いる or います

following it. せずに　いません is a double negative that doesn't make sense here, and しず

に is an incorrect form.

4) 2 (4213) – As I said earlier, ないで is a command form of the verb. It makes sense to put

it in front of ください. Now, we just need to decide whether to put 食べ (to eat) or やか (to

cook) before it. It makes more sense to say without cooking it, don't eat it, instead of the

other way around though. So we get this sentence:

それを　やかずに　食べないで　ください。

(Please don't eat it without cooking it.)

5) 4 (2431) – We can nominalize 行く by putting の after it. Nothing else fits. We need to

put は after the の to mark the topic. Then we can easily add で to the end of 電車 and we

have our sentence:

とうきょうへ　行くのは　電車で　行ったほうが　いいですよ。

(You'd better take the train if you are going to Tokyo.)


Using んです and んですが


The reason is that ~

Form:

V・い-adj +んです

な-adj・N +なんです

Examples:

ええ、うつくしい女の人と　デートしたんです。Yeah, I went on a date with a beautiful woman.

こんなビールは　きらいなんです。I don't like this kind of beer.

This grammar point is not as clear cut as some of the others. It is basically used to show a reason for something. So, you will most often see this in response to something and not on its own. Unless you are asking for a reason like the following sentence from the video:

どうして　飲んでいない　んですか。

Why are you not drinking?

Watch out for the na-adj, and nouns. They need the な particle before んです. It is really easy to forget about this if you are not used to seeing it.



Introducing a topic followed by a request or asking for permission

Form:

V・い-adj + んですが

な-adj・N + なんですが

Examples:

お金は　ないけど　また　かのじょに　会いたいんですが　お金を　

かして　くれる？I don't have money, but I want to see her again, so could you lend me some money?

このてがみを　アメリカへ　おくりたいんですが　どう　したらいいですかI want to send this letter to America, so what is the best way to do that?

This is a slight variation of the above sentence pattern, that is used to make requests. I use it a lot when canceling or changing appointments:

アポを　へんこうしたい　んですがI'd like to change my appointment.

アポ is the abbreviation of appointment in Japanese. へんこう is to change. You can use this same pattern to make an appointment of course:

アポを　とりたい　んですがI'd like to make an appointment.


Example Sentences

し

知らないんです。 I wish I knew.

ねむいんですか. Are you sleepy?

ねつが　あるんです。 (The reason for sth is that) I have a fever

あさ

朝に　よわ

弱いんです. (The reason for sth is that) I'm not a morningperson.

あのう、おねがいが　あるんですが。 Um, I have a request.

すみません、ここは　わたし

私の　　　　　　　

せきなんですが.

Excuse me, but I think that's my seat.

ぎんこう

銀行を　さがしてるんですが、ちか

近くに　　

ありますか。

I'm looking for a bank, is there one around here?

すみませんが、これから　いえ

家へ　　　かえ

帰ら

なければならないんです。

I'm sorry, but I'll have to go home now.


Grammar Exercises


1 –　 A:「どうして　このシャツを　き

着ないんですか。」

B:「わたし

私、青いシャツが　（　　）　んです。」

1)　好きだ　　 2)　好きじゃない　　

3)　好きだった　　 4)　好きじゃなかった

2 – A:「えいが

映画を　見ない　んですか。」

B:「そう、お金が　（）んです。」

1)　なかった　 2)　ない　 3)　ある 4)　あった

3 – 新しい車を　買いたいんですが、　(　　　　　　)

１）車の店に　行きました

２）お金を　止まっています

３）この車の　せつめいして　ください

４）この車を　売りたいんです


4 – ボタンを　おしても　＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　＿＿。

１）が　　２）なにも　３）音　　　４）しないんです

5 –　A:「どうして　ジャケットを　き

着たのですか。」

　　 B:「 22 時ですよ。（＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿　＿＿）　かえ

帰るんです。　

　

１）家　　２）から　　３）へ　　４）　今


Answers1) 2 – You may notice that the answers include a mix of past and present. You'll need to read into the question in order to choose the right tense. You can get that from the question which is in present tense. If the question were in past tense, answer 4 would be correct. Pay attention to the small details like that.

2) 2 – Again, pay attention to tense so that you can choose the right answer, and read the

first part of the question carefully in order to choose the best answer.

3) 3 – Usually, the only thing that can follow んですが is a request for something, or asking

for permission. Answer 3 is the only answer that is a request. Starting at the N4 level, the

test will cover usage more and more. They aren't testing your understanding of the grammar

point, they are testing you how to use it appropriately.

4) 3 (2314) – In general, です usually goes at the end of the sentence. However, as we

learned in this chapter you can put が after んです in order to make a request or ask

permission. There is a が here we can use for that, but that is needed for 音, it really can't be

followed by anything else. We put 何も in front of that to describe the sound – (lit.

something sound). The means しないんです goes at the end, and we get the following:

ボタンを　おしても　何も　音が　しないんです。

(Even though I push (the) button, (it) didn't make any sound.)

5) 2 (4213) – We can use the から particle with both 家 and 今, but we can't use へ with 今.

So, we have to put it after 家. That leaves から after 今. Usually time expressions come first

in sentences. That leaves us with the following:

「 22 時ですよ。今から　いえ

家へ　かえ

帰るんです。

It's 10:00pm! I'm going home now.


Using ところだ and そうだ


Just about to / in middle of / just ~ed

Form:

Plain form + ところだ

Present progressive +ところだ

Past tense +ところだExamples:

ビーチに　行くところです。いっしょに来ましょうか。I was just going to go to the beach. Do you want to go with me?

ねるところだ。(I)'m about to go to sleep.

新しい家を　さがしているところだ。(I)'m in the middle of looking for a new house.

今着いたところです。(I) just arrived now.

The word ところ in Japanese literally means 'place' or 'spot'. So, you can think of this piece of grammar as talking about the point something was going to happen, happening or happened. It takes the plain form of the verb in front.


https://youtu.be/E_bUrB4ol6E

ばかり vs. ところだ

You might have heard of another grammar point that has a similar meaning – ばかり. Both

of these have very similar meanings, but ばかり can be used more figuratively to mean something that the speaker feels just happened (even though it might have literally happened

a month ago). On the other hand, ところだ puts more emphasis on the moment.

I heard ~, it is said ~

Form:

Plain form + そうです

Examples:

天気のよほう　によると　雨が　ふるそうですAccording to the weather forecast, (I) heard it is going to rain.

このケーキが　おいしいそうです。I heard this cake is delicious.

We can use plain form plus そうです to report something that was said. Often times,　によ

ると (according to) or 話で (by way of talking) comes before it. Be on the look out for these key expressions on the test.

This grammar point is very similar to another one, take a look at the sentence below:

このケーキが　おいしそうです。This cake looks delicious.

Notice anything different? With the structure above the final い of the い-adjective is missing. And this small change, changes the whole meaning of the sentence. Be careful about how you use this structure.


Example Sentences

しごとが　おわったところです。 I just finished work.

かいぎは、はじまったところです。 The meeting just started.

かれに　話すところでした。 I was just about to talk to him.

ひるごはんを　食べるところです。 I am just about to eat lunch.

ごみを　すてているところでした。 I was just throwing away the garbage.

ルールを　せつめいしているところです。 I am just explaining the rules.

さとうさんは　えいごを　べんきょうしてい

る　そうです。

I heard Mr. Sato is studying English.

トムは　かぜを　ひいた　そうです。 I heard Tom has a cold.


Grammar Exercises


1 –　たなかさんの　せつめいによると　長く　（　　　　　）。

1)　はたらかなそうです 2)　はたらきそうです　　

3)　はたらかないそうです　　 4)　はたらきますそうです

2 – A:「食べに　いっしょに　行きましょうか。」

B:「ああ、ざんねん。（　　　　　）」

1)　食べるところです　 2)　食べたところです　

3)　食べているところです 4)　食べていたところです

3 – A:「さとうさんは　どこですか。」

B:「かれは　でんわで　（　　　　　　）」

１）話しているところです

２）話していましたところです

３）話しましたところです

４）話していたところです


4 – 友だちの　話し　（＿*＿＿＿＿＿　＿＿）けっこんする　そうです。

１）かれ　　２）は　３）は　　　４）で

5 –　もう　（＿＿＿*＿＿＿　＿＿）　おくれるところでした。　　

１）に　　２）で　　３）しごと

仕事　　４）　少し


Answers1) 3 – Answers 1 and 2 mean 'looks like' or 'sounds like'. Since we have a source of

information marked with 'によると' it sounds strange to use these. Answer 4 uses the polite form of the verb, but we usually use the casual form.

2) 2 – All of these answers are grammatically correct, but speaker B says ああ, ざんねん

gives us the impression that something bad happened. The answer that makes the most

sense is 2. Pay close attention to these context clues on the test. If the question is 2 lines

long, chances are there is some context you should look out for.

3) 1 – Remember that we need to use casual form in front of ところ, so answers 2 and 3 are

invalid. Answer 4 doesn't make a lot of sense in this context.

4) 4 (4213) – So you have two は s, one needs to be used with かれ, that leaves you the

other は or で to put in the first slot. The で particle, which here means 'by way of', can only

go first, so all together we get the following sentence:

友だちの　話しでは　かれは　けっこんする　そうです。

I heard he is getting married by way of (talking to) my friend.

5) 2 (4231) – This is really a question about where to use で. Do we use it with 仕事 or 少し?

もう少しで　is a set phrase meaning a 'almost; nearly'. So, we know to put で with 少し,

and that just leaves に for 仕事. All together we have the following sentence:

もう少しで　仕事に　おくれるところでした。

(I) was nearly late for work.　


Using か and かどうか


Burying questions inside a sentence

Form:

Q-word Plain form + か、～

Examples:

いつ　バスが　しゅっぱつするか　わかる。Do you know when the bus leaves?

しゅくだいは　何をするか　先生に　聞きました。I asked the teacher what the homework was.

You can use the か particle to 'bury' a question in a sentence. We use a similar structure to bury questions in sentences in English. If we want to say something like 'I don't know where …' or 'I forgot who …' in Japanese, you would use this structure. It is very simple to use, just

form a question with a question word (like 何, 誰, etc...) and place it in front of the か particle.


https://youtu.be/tOkAtOMROzM

whether/if ~ or not

Form:

Plain form + かどうか、～

Examples:

来るかどうか　電話して　聞いて　みる。I'm going to call and ask if (he) is coming or not.

さとうさんが　まだ　その会社で　はたらいている　かどうか　おぼえていません。I can't remember if Mr. Sato is still working for that company or not.

This structure, かどうか, is used to bury yes/no questions in sentences. It is formed in pretty

much the same way as the か particle up above, but without a question word.

か collocations

These structures tend to collocate with 3 groups of verbs:

Communication – 聞く (to ask), 教える (to teach, tell, show), etc...

Understanding – わかる (to understand), 知る (to know), etc...

Confirmation – しらべる (to find out), けんさする (to check/inspect), etc...

Look for these types of words in test questions to give you hints on what structures to use onthe test.


Example Sentences

食べても　よいか　どうかを　母に　たずね

ます。

(I) am going to ask mom if we can eat or not.

日本に　ひっこしするか　どうか　考えてい

ます。

(I) am considering whether or not to move toJapan.

サイズが　合うか　どうか　このぼうしを　

かぶって　みます。

(I) am going to try on this hat to see if the size fits.

プールが　あるか　どうか　フロントで　聞

きます。

(I) am going to ask the front desk if there is apool.

かのじょに　いちばんいい　すしやは　どこ

か、教えて　もらいました。

She told me where the best sushi restaurant is.

しゅっちょうのために　何を　じゅんびする

か、ぶちょうに　聞きました。

(I) asked the boss what we should prepare for the business trip.

今　何時か、知っていますか。 Do you know what time it is now?

その人の　なまえは　何というか、おぼえて

いません。

I can't remember what that person's name.


Grammar Exercises


1 –　かれは　どんな食べ物が（）か　知って　いますか。

1)　好きで　2)　好き　　3)　好きな 4)　好きだ

2 – そのケーキは　（　　　）か　どうか　食べて　みて　ください。

1)　おいしくない　 2)　おいしそう　

3)　おいしかった 4)　おいしい

3 – りょこう（　　）　どこ（　　）　いいか、ともだちに　聞きました。

１）は、が

２）が、で

３）は、で

４）が、に


4 – 田中さんの　（＿＿＿*＿＿＿　＿＿）か　どうか、わかりません。

１）いつも　　２）話３）は　４）本当

5 –　どちら　（＿＿＿＿　＿*＿　＿＿）　わかりません。

１）は　　２）に　　３）よいか　わたしたち４）が


Answers

1) 2 – な adjectives do not take an ending before か, so 好き is the only one that will fit.

2) 4 – negative verbs are usually not used with かどうか. おいしかった doesn't make sense

because you haven't eaten the food yet. おいしそう (seems tasty) doesn't sound very

natural here.

3) 1 – は is marking the topic, りょこう, a trip. で does not make sense for どこ because we

are not doing an action there. に has the same problem, we can't use it with どこ because

there is not a verb of movement (like 行く or 来る) in the first part of the sentence.

4) 3 (2314) – This is really a question of where to put the time adverb – いつも. From the

start we have the particle の that most likely has a noun after it. We can use 話 there. Then,

it makes sense to put は after the noun. And we can put いつも last so we put it before 本

当. So, finally, we get the following sentence:

田中さんの　話は　いつも　本当か　どうか、わかりません。

I can never know/tell if what Mr. Tanaka says is true or not.

5) 2 (4321) – We start off with a question word – どちら. Very often, question words are

followed by が. Then, the only thing that really fits after that is よいか　わたしたち. Finally,

we have to decide how to order に and は. は usually goes last when we put particles

together. So we get the following sentence:

どちらが　よいか　わたしたちには　わかりません。

We don't know which one is good.


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