What grammar is tested on JLPT N5?
Quick Answer
N5 tests basic grammar: ใงใ/ใพใ forms, particles (ใฏ/ใ/ใ/ใซ/ใง/ใธ), adjective conjugation, basic verb forms, and simple sentence structures.
JLPT N5 tests foundational Japanese grammar. Here's a complete breakdown:
Essential Particles
- ใฏ (wa): Topic marker - ใ (ga): Subject marker - ใ (wo): Object marker - ใซ (ni): Direction, time, location - ใง (de): Location of action, means - ใธ (e): Direction - ใจ (to): And, with - ใ (mo): Also, too - ใใ (kara): From - ใพใง (made): Until
Verb Forms
- ใพใ form (polite present/future) - ใพใใ (polite past) - ใพใใ (polite negative) - ใพใใใงใใ (polite past negative) - ใฆ form (connecting, requests) - ใฆใใ (continuous action) - ใใ (want to) - Basic potential and volitional
Adjectives
- ใ-adjectives: Basic conjugation - ใช-adjectives: With ใช before nouns - Past tense forms - Negative forms
Basic Structures
- AใฏBใงใ (A is B) - Aใใใใพใ/ใใพใ (There is A) - Aใฏใใ้ฃในใพใ (A eats ~) - ใใพใใใ (Let's ~) - ใใพใใใ (Won't you ~?) - ใใใใจใใใใพใ (Have done ~) - ใใปใใใใ (Better to ~)
Question Words
- ไฝ (what), ใฉใ (where), ใใค (when) - ใ ใ (who), ใฉใใใฆ (why) - ใใใ (how much), ใใใค (how many)
Other Key Grammar
- Counters (ๅใๆใๆฌใไบบ) - Time expressions (ๅใซใๅพใง) - Comparison basics (ใใใใฎใปใใ) - ใใ/ใฎใง (because) - ใใฉ/ใ (but)
Study Resources
- Genki I (covers all N5 grammar) - Tae Kim's Grammar Guide (online, free) - Japanese Ammo with Misa (YouTube) - Bunpro (SRS grammar practice)
Tips for N5 Grammar
1. Master particles first - they're fundamental 2. Practice verb conjugation until automatic 3. Use grammar in context, not isolation 4. Complete one textbook series (don't mix) 5. Focus on recognition, not production for test
Key Takeaways
- 1Essential particles: ใฏใใใใใใซใใงใใธ
- 2Basic verb forms: ใพใ/ใพใใ/ใพใใ
- 3ใ and ใช adjective conjugations
- 4Question words and counters
- 5Simple sentence structures
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