Basic word order

Basic Japanese SOV order with the verb at the end and particles showing roles.

X is Y

Polite identity pattern for stating who or what X is in simple sentences.

X is not Y

Polite negative of XはYです for denying identity or description politely.

this/that/that over there

Demonstratives for things: this (near me), that (near you), that over there.

Sentence-ending particles

Sentence-ending particles ね/よ/か to soften, emphasize, or ask questions.

Topic marker

Topic marker は for setting the topic and showing contrast in sentences.

Subject marker

Subject marker が to highlight new information or answer who/what questions.

Object marker

Object marker を for direct objects in action-verb sentences and patterns.

question marker

Question marker か to make polite questions at the end of a sentence.

also/too

Particle も meaning also/too and replacing は/が/を in context.

に (location/time)

Particle に for specific time points, destinations, and existence locations.

に (indirect object)

Particle に for indirect objects: the person receiving or targeted.

で (location of action)

Particle で to mark the place where an action happens in a sentence.

で (means/method)

Particle で to show means or method, like tools, transport, or language.

Direction marker

Particle へ to mark direction or destination with movement verbs.

of/possessive

Possessive の linking nouns to show ownership or other relationships.

nominalizer の

Nominalizer の turning verb phrases into noun-like expressions.

and (nouns)

Particle と to connect nouns in a complete list (A and B).

with (together)

Particle と meaning with someone, showing you do an action together.

and (non-exhaustive)

Particle や for non-exhaustive lists: A, B, and so on.

Verb groups

Verb groups overview: う-verbs, る-verbs, and irregular verbs.

Polite present/future

Polite ます form for present or future actions in standard speech.

Polite negative

Polite negative ません for present or future actions you do not do.

Polite past

Polite past ました for actions completed in the past.

Polite past negative

Polite past negative ませんでした for actions not done in the past.

te-form basics

Te-form basics for connecting actions and building many core patterns.

Progressive

Progressive 〜ている for ongoing actions and continuing states in polite speech.

Please do

Polite request form using the て-form plus ください for asking help.

May / OK to

Permission pattern 〜てもいい for saying it is okay to do something.

Must not

Prohibition pattern 〜てはいけない for rules and things not allowed.

Want to

Expresses desire with verb stem + たい for what you want to do.

Let’s

Polite suggestion form 〜ましょう meaning “let’s do it together.”

Invitation

Polite invitation using ませんか to suggest doing something together.

Must

Obligation pattern 〜なくてはいけない for things you must do.

Can do

Ability pattern 〜ことができる using dictionary form + こと to say can do.

Plain form (present)

Plain present (dictionary) form for casual present/future statements.

Plain form (past)

Plain past form for casual speech, ending with た/だ.

Plain form (negative)

Plain negative ない-form used in casual speech and many patterns.

ない form

The ない-form base negative used to build many grammar patterns.

Dictionary form

Dictionary form is the base verb form used for study and grammar.

i-adjectives (present)

Present form of い-adjectives for describing nouns or sentences.

i-adjectives (past)

Past form of い-adjectives using かった for polite descriptions.

i-adjectives (negative)

Negative い-adjectives with くない to say something is not true.

i-adjectives (past negative)

Past negative い-adjectives with くなかった for “was not”.

na-adjectives (present)

Present form of な-adjectives with な before nouns and です.

na-adjectives (past)

Past な-adjectives with でした for polite past descriptions.

na-adjectives (negative)

Negative な-adjectives using ではありません to say something is not true.

na-adjectives (past negative)

Past negative な-adjectives using ではありませんでした for “was not”.

Adjective + noun

Adjective + noun order: い-adjectives and な-adjectives with な.

i-adjective → adverb

Change い-adjectives to adverbs with く to modify verbs.

Time particle に

Use に with exact times and dates to say when something happens.

Duration particle 間 (kan)

Use 間 to express how long an action lasts, like two hours.

まで (until)

Use まで to mark an end time or limit, often with から.

から (from)

Use から to mark a starting time, often paired with まで.

前に (before)

前に for “before” with noun+の or verb dictionary form.

後で (after / later)

後で for “after/later” with noun+の or verb past form.

Frequency adverbs

Frequency adverbs like いつも, よく, ときどき, あまり〜ない for habits.

時 (when)

時 (とき) to say “when” using verbs, adjectives, or nouns.

Existence (animate)

Existence verb いる/います for people and animals in polite speech.

Existence (inanimate)

Existence verb ある/あります for objects and inanimate things.

います／あります (polite existence)

Polite います/あります to say something exists or you have it.

Location に いる／ある

Use に with いる/ある to show where people or things are.

〜がある (possession)

Use がある for non-living possession; います for people.

〜つ (general counter)

General counter 〜つ for counting items 1–10 with special readings.

〜人 (people counter)

Counter 〜人 for people; irregular ひとり and ふたり forms.

〜本 (long objects counter)

Counter 〜本 for long objects like pens and bottles with sound changes.

〜枚 (flat objects counter)

Counter 〜枚 for flat objects like paper, tickets, and shirts.

〜歳 (age)

Counter 〜歳 for age, with special reading はたち for 20.

何 (what)

Use 何 to ask “what” with particles like を, が, で in questions.

誰 (who)

Use 誰 to ask “who” with particles like が, と, に in questions.

どこ (where)

Use どこ to ask “where” with に, で, or へ for location.

いつ (when)

Use いつ to ask “when” without に for general time questions.

なぜ／どうして (why)

Use なぜ/どうして to ask “why”, often answered with から/だから.

どう (how)

Use どう to ask “how” or ask for opinions and methods.

より (than)

Use より to compare two things and say “A is more than B”.

〜の方が〜 (more than)

Use のほうが with より to emphasize which option is more.

一番 (the most)

Use 一番 to say the most or favorite within a group.

同じ (same)

Use 同じ with と to say two things are the same thing.

〜から (because)

Use から to give a reason: reason + から + result in sentences.

〜ので (so / because)

Use ので for a softer reason; often more polite than から.

Although / But (past)

Connect past actions with contrasting results using た-form + けど.