The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N5 is an important milestone for beginners learning Japanese. It tests the foundational knowledge necessary for basic communication, covering vocabulary, kanji, listening, and, crucially, grammar. Understanding the essential grammar points for N5 is key to passing the exam and building a strong foundation in the language. In this article, we’ll explore the core grammar structures you need to know to succeed at the N5 level.

Understanding Basic Sentence Structure (SOV)

Japanese sentences typically follow a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) structure, which is different from the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order in English. In Japanese, the verb comes at the end of the sentence, and the subject and object are marked by specific particles.

Example

ENG: "I eat sushi."
JPN: 私は寿司を食べます。(Watashi wa sushi wo tabemasu.)
Breakdown: 私(Watashi) = I, 寿司(sushi), 食べます(tabemasu) = eat

Understanding this structure is fundamental, as it will help you form sentences correctly and understand how ideas are expressed in Japanese.

The Role of Particles: は (wa), を (wo), and が (ga)

Particles are small but crucial components in Japanese sentences. They indicate the grammatical function of words and help clarify meaning. Here are three essential particles you must master for JLPT N5:

Example

は (wa): The topic marker. It introduces the main subject or topic of the sentence.
ENG: "I am a student."
JPN: 私は学生です。(Watashi wa gakusei desu.)

を (o): The object marker. It shows the direct object of the action.
ENG: "I read a book."
JPN: 本を読みます。(Hon wo yomimasu)

が (ga): The subject marker. It is often used when introducing new information or emphasizing the subject.
ENG: "There is a dog."
JPN: 犬がいます。(Inu ga imasu.)

These particles are the backbone of sentence structure in Japanese and are essential for forming coherent sentences.

Politeness in Japanese: The Copula です (desu)

The copula です (desu) is a crucial element in polite Japanese. It is equivalent to "is/am/are" in English, but it is used differently. です is placed at the end of a sentence to indicate politeness and is typically used in affirmative statements.

Example

ENG: "This is a pen."
JPN: これはペンです。(Kore wa pen desu.)

ENG: "He is a teacher."
JPN: 彼は先生です。(Kare wa sensei desu.)

Using です correctly will help you sound polite and respectful, which is important in Japanese culture.

Forming Questions with か (ka)

In Japanese, forming a question is simple: you add か (ka) at the end of a sentence. This particle turns a statement into a question without altering the word order.

Example

ENG: "Is this a pen?"
JPN: これはペンですか？(Kore wa pen desu ka?)

ENG: "Are you a student?"
JPN: あなたは学生ですか？(Anata wa gakusei desu ka?)

Understanding how to ask questions is essential for basic communication and interaction.

Expressing Existence with あります (arimasu) and います (imasu)

In Japanese, the verb "to be" changes depending on whether the subject is animate (living) or inanimate (non-living).

Example

あります (arimasu): Used for inanimate objects.
ENG: "There is a tree."
JPN: 木があります。(Ki ga arimasu.)

います (imasu): Used for animate objects.
ENG: There is a cat.
JPN: ねこがいます。(Neko ga imasu.)

These verbs are essential for describing what exists around you, an important part of basic conversation.

Negation with ません (masen)

To negate a verb in Japanese, replace the ます (masu) ending with ません (masen). This simple change allows you to say that something does not happen or is not done.

Example

ENG: "go" → "do not go"
JPN: 行きます (ikimasu) → 行きません (ikimasen)

ENG: "eat" → "do not eat"
JPN: 食べます (tabemasu) → 食べません (tabemasen)

Mastering negation is vital for expressing what you don’t do or what isn’t happening.

Expressing Likes and Dislikes with 好き (suki) and 嫌い (kirai)

好き (suki) and 嫌い (kirai) are adjectives used to express likes and dislikes, respectively. They are often paired with the particle が (ga).

Example

ENG: "I like sushi."
JPN: 私は寿司が好きです。(Watashi wa sushi ga suki desu.)

ENG: "He dislikes studying."
JPN: 彼は勉強が嫌いです。(Kare wa benkyou ga kirai desu.)

These expressions are commonly used in daily conversation, making them essential for beginners.

The Past Tense: ました (mashita)

To express the past tense in Japanese, change the ます (masu) ending of a verb to ました (mashita). This form is used in polite speech and is crucial for talking about completed actions.

Example

ENG: "eat" → "ate"
JPN: 食べます (tabemasu) → 食べました(tabemashita)

ENG: "see" → "saw"
JPN: 見ます (mimasu) → 見ました (mimashita)

Understanding how to convey past actions is important for discussing experiences and events.

Understanding Demonstratives: これ (kore), それ (sore), あれ (are)

Demonstratives are words used to point to specific objects or people. In Japanese, これ (kore), それ (sore), and あれ (are) are commonly used to refer to objects based on their location relative to the speaker and listener.

Example

これ (kore): Refers to something close to the speaker.
ENG: "This is a book."
JPN: これは本です。(Kore wa hon desu.)

それ (sore): Refers to something near the listener.
ENG: "Is that your pen?"
JPN: それはあなたのペンですか？ (Sore wa anata no pen desu ka?)

あれ (are): Refers to something far from both the speaker and listener.
ENG: "That is a mountain."
JPN: あれは山です。(Are wa yama desu.)

Using these correctly helps you clearly refer to objects in your surroundings.

Showing Possession with の (no)

The particle の (no) is used to indicate possession or association between two nouns. It is similar to the English possessive "'s" or the word "of."

Example

ENG: "My name is Tanaka."
JPN: 私の名前は田中です。(Watashi no namae wa Tanaka desu.)

ENG: "His car is new."
JPN: 彼の車は新しいです。(Kare no kuruma wa atarashii desu.)

This grammar point is essential for describing ownership and relationships between objects and people.

Making Comparisons with より (yori) and のほうが (no hou ga)

In Japanese, より (yori) is used to compare two items, while のほうが (no hou ga) indicates preference or superiority.

Example

ENG: "Japanese is more difficult than English."
JPN: 日本語は英語より難しいです。(Nihongo wa Eigo yori muzukashii desu.)

ENG: "Cats are quieter than dogs."
JPN: 猫のほうが犬より静かです。(Neko no hou ga inu yori shizuka desu.)

Understanding how to make comparisons is useful for expressing preferences and differences.

Expressing Ability with ことができる (koto ga dekiru)

To express the ability to do something, use ことができる (koto ga dekiru) after the verb's dictionary form.

Example

ENG: "I can speak Japanese."
JPN: 日本語を話すことができます。(Nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu.)

This grammar point is key to expressing what you can and cannot do.

Conclusion

Mastering these essential grammar points will significantly boost your ability to understand and communicate in basic Japanese, setting you up for success in the JLPT N5. Each grammar rule serves as a building block in your language learning journey, helping you form sentences, ask questions, and convey your thoughts clearly and politely.
By practicing these structures regularly, you’ll not only be well-prepared for the N5 exam but also gain confidence in using Japanese in everyday situations. Keep practicing, stay consistent, and がんばって！