Core Grammar
Japanese grammar explained for English speakers — verb conjugation, particles, and the patterns that shape a sentence.
Japanese Sentence Structure: Why the Verb Comes Last
Japanese is SOV, not SVO, and modifiers come before the words they describe. How to find the clause boundary when you read, and why subjects vanish.
Japanese Particles: The Complete Guide
Every Japanese particle you need in one place: wa, ga, wo, ni, de, e, no, to and mo, with romaji and English glosses for each rule and example.
Japanese Verb Conjugation: Godan, Ichidan, Irregular
Japanese verbs split into three groups, and every conjugation depends on which group you are in. How to tell them apart, with a full table for each.
Japanese Te-Form: Conjugation Rules and Sound Changes
The te-form is the connector that makes Japanese sentences flow. The sound-change rules for every verb group, the exceptions, and what the form unlocks.
Japanese Ta-Form: Past Tense Rules and Common Patterns
The ta-form is the plain past tense, and it is the te-form with one kana swapped. Here are the conversion rules, the exception, and what it builds.
Japanese Nai-Form: Negative Verb Conjugation Rules
The nai-form is the plain negative. How to build it in every verb group, why kau turns into kawanai, and the everyday patterns it powers.
Japanese Te-Iru: Progressive, State, Habit, and Result
Te-iru is not just 'is doing'. It also marks states, habits and completed results, and kekkon shite iru never means 'is getting married'. How to tell which.
Japanese Adjectives: i-Adjectives vs na-Adjectives
Japanese adjectives carry their own tense and negation, and split into two classes. How to tell i-adjectives from na-adjectives apart, and conjugate both.
Japanese Polite Form: desu, masu, mashou, masen ka
The polite register in one page: desu and masu, past and negative forms, mashou for suggestions, masen ka for invitations, and when plain form is right.
Arimasu vs Imasu: How Japanese Says There Is
Arimasu and imasu both translate as there is, but they split the world in two. The animate rule, the ni and ga pattern, and the mistakes English makes.
Japanese Transitive and Intransitive Verb Pairs
Japanese uses two different verbs where English uses one. The transitive and intransitive pairs, the patterns behind them, and the test that tells them apart.
Japanese Question Words: Nani, Dare, Doko, Itsu
Japanese question words stay where the answer would go. The six core words, the particles they take, and how ka, mo and demo build someone, no one and anyone.
Japanese Sentence Enders: Yo, Ne, Yone and Friends
Yo, ne, yone, na, kana, zo and ze change how a Japanese sentence lands. What each one signals about the speaker, and how to avoid sounding rude.
Wa vs Ga: Japanese Topic and Subject Particles
Wa and ga are the most confusing pair of Japanese particles. What each one marks, the four situations that decide between them, and why ga answers who.
Ni vs De: Japanese Location and Direction Particles
Ni marks where things exist and where you are going; de marks where an action happens and what you use. Every use of both particles, with examples.
The Japanese Particle Wo: Object, Path, Departure
Wo is not only the direct object marker. It also marks the path you move through and the place you leave, with full romaji and English examples.
E vs Ni: Japanese Direction and Destination Particles
The particle e and the particle ni both mark where you are going. When they are interchangeable, when only ni works, and how the nuance differs.
Dake, Shika and Bakari: Saying Only in Japanese
Dake takes an affirmative verb, shika demands a negative one, and bakari means nothing but. How to say only in Japanese without sounding wrong.
Kara vs Node: Japanese Cause, Reason and Range
Kara and node both give reasons, but node is softer. Also kara to made for from-to, and made against made ni for deadlines. Both senses of kara.
Japanese Te-Form Auxiliaries: Oku, Shimau, Miru, Kuru
Te-oku, te-shimau, te-miru, te-kuru, te-iru, te-mo ii and nagara all hang off the te-form. What each one adds to a verb, in tables.
Te-Mo in Japanese: Even If, No Matter What, and Te-Mo Ii
Te-mo means even if. Here is what it attaches to, how it differs from te-mo ii and no-ni, and why a question word plus te-mo means no matter what.
Japanese Conditionals: Tara, Ba, To, Nara Compared
Japanese has four ways to say if. How to build tara, ba, to and nara, when each one is right, and the specific cases where each one is wrong.
No Ni vs Kedo: Japanese Contrast and Concession
No ni and kedo both translate as although, but no ni carries surprise or blame and kedo does not. How to choose, plus keredomo and the formal ga.
Japanese Time Order: Mae Ni, Ato De, Te Kara, Toki
Mae ni, ato de and te kara order two actions. Plus toki, uchi ni and aida ni for when, while, and getting something done before it changes.
Japanese Bakari: Just Did, Only, and Always Doing
Bakari has three shapes: ta-bakari for just did, noun plus bakari for nothing but, and te-bakari for always doing. Plus tokoro and the just family.
Japanese Potential Form: How to Say Can and Cannot
How to say can and cannot in Japanese: the potential form for every verb group, why the object takes ga, and the mireru / mirareru split explained.
Japanese Passive and Causative Forms: Formation and Use
Japanese passive and causative in one guide: how to build each form, the adversity passive English has no equivalent for, and the causative-passive.
Japanese Keigo: Honorific, Humble and Polite Speech
Keigo for learners: sonkeigo, kenjougo and teineigo, the irregular verbs you actually need, and when using honorifics wrongly is worse than not using them.
Ageru, Kureru, Morau: Japanese Giving and Receiving
Why ageru, kureru and morau confuse English speakers, with a direction table, the te-forms (te ageru, te kureru, te morau), and the honorific versions.
Tai, Hoshii, te Hoshii: Saying What You Want in Japanese
How to say I want to do, I want a thing, and I want someone to do something: tai, hoshii and te hoshii, plus the third-person rule learners break.
Tame ni vs You ni: Purpose, and You ni Naru
Tame ni and you ni mean 'so that'. The volitional-verb rule that decides between them, plus you ni naru (come to be able to) and you ni suru (make a point of).
Tsumori vs Yotei: Plans, Intentions and Yotei in Japanese
Tsumori is what you intend, yotei is what is scheduled. How to use both, plus you to omou, koto ni suru and koto ni naru for deciding and being scheduled.
Japanese Conjecture: sou desu, you desu, rashii, mitai
How Japanese marks where your information came from: hearsay sou desu against appearance sou desu, plus you desu, rashii, mitai and kamo shiremasen.
Deshou, Hazu and Beki: Probability and Obligation
Deshou and darou for probability, kamoshirenai for doubt, hazu for expectation, beki for obligation — and the hazu vs beki split that English 'should' hides.
Koto vs No: Nominalizing Japanese Clauses
Japanese turns a whole clause into a noun with koto or no. When the two are interchangeable, when only one works, and the patterns built on them.
Japanese Degree Words: yasui, nikui, sugiru, yori
How Japanese handles ease, excess, comparison and extent: yasui, nikui, sugiru, yori, hodo, kurai and ichiban, plus the errors learners make most.
Japanese Counters: ko, nin, mai, hon, hiki, dai, satsu
Japanese cannot count with a bare number, and the counter depends on what you are counting. The ten to learn, the sound changes, and how to ask how many.