Grammar

〜すぎる / 〜すぎです

Too much 〜すぎる

"Too ~ / excessively ~". Attach すぎる to the adjective stem (drop い or な). Conjugates as a 上一段 (ichidan) verb: 〜すぎます, 〜すぎました.

〜し、〜し

And what's more 〜し

Lists reasons or characteristics — "and besides ~, also ~". Often used to justify a conclusion. Each clause ends in し.

〜ので

Reason 〜ので (formal because)

A more formal / softer "because" than から. Used in polite speech, business, and writing. Sounds more objective.

〜ながら

While doing 〜ながら

"While doing ~ / doing ~ at the same time". Two actions happen simultaneously. Attach the ます-stem (drop ます) of the verb.

〜でしょう

Probably / right? 〜でしょう / だろう

Two uses: (1) conjecture — "probably ~ / I think ~"; (2) seeking confirmation — " ..., right?". Polite form of だろう.

〜の / 〜んです

Nominalizer の / explanatory ん

Two related uses: (1) nominalizes a verb phrase ("the one that ~"); (2) explanatory の/ん — explains a situation or seeks an explanation ("the thing is... / what about...?").

〜つもりです

Intention 〜つもり

"I intend to ~ / I plan to ~". States a firm plan or intention about one's own actions.

〜たほうがいいです

Had better / should 〜ほうがいい

Gives advice or a recommendation — "you'd better do ~ / you should ~". Usually attaches to the ta-form, but the dictionary form is also possible.

〜てある / 〜てあります

Resulting state 〜てある

Describes a STATE resulting from someone's intentional action — "it has been ~ed (and is now in that state)". Always used with TRANSITIVE verbs.

〜ずに

Without doing 〜ずに

"Without doing ~" — the written and formal equivalent of 〜ないで.

〜と、〜

Conditional と (whenever / when)

Two uses: (1) natural/habitual consequence — "whenever A happens, B happens"; (2) discovery — "when I did A, (I found that) B". The result B cannot be a volitional, request, or intention.

〜ば

Conditional 〜ば (if / whenever)

A general conditional — "if A, then B". Formed from the hypothetical form (仮定形) of the verb/adjective. Used for general truths, hypotheticals, and proverb-like statements.

〜たら

Conditional 〜たら (if / when / after)

The most versatile conditional. "If/when A happens, B". Formed from the ta-form stem + ら. Used for one-time events, requests, intentions, and discoveries.

〜なら

Conditional 〜なら (if / given that)

A conditional based on the listener's stated or known information — "if it's the case that ~" / "given that ~". Often used to give advice or recommendations based on what someone just said.

〜ても / 〜でも

Even if 〜ても

"Even if A, B" / "no matter if A". Indicates that B happens regardless of A. The result is often unexpected.

〜場合は

In case 〜場合は

"In the event that ~ / in the case that ~". Used to discuss what to do in a particular (often undesirable) situation.

〜られる / 〜える

Potential form 可能形 (can do)

The potential form of a verb — "can do / be able to do". The spontaneous/conversational alternative to 〜ことができる.

〜られる / 〜れる (受身)

Passive form 受身形

The passive voice — "to be ~ed". The subject receives the action. Also used for the "suffering passive" (adversative) where something unfortunate happens to the subject.

〜させる / 〜せる

Causative form 使役

The causative — "to make/let someone do ~". You cause or permit another person to perform the action.

〜させられる / 〜せられる

Causative-passive 使役受身

"To be made to do ~". Combines causative + passive — you are forced/caused to do something, often against your will. Carries a nuance of suffering or inconvenience.

〜させてください

Please let me do 〜させてください

A polite request to be ALLOWED to do something — "please let me ~". Built from the causative form.

〜よう / 〜う

Volitional form 意向形

The volitional form — expresses "let's ~" or intention ("I intend to ~"). Polite form is 〜ましょう (already covered in N5); the plain form 〜よう/〜う is N4.

他動詞 / 自動詞

Transitive & intransitive 他動詞・自動詞

Transitive verbs (他動詞) take a direct object (を) — someone actively DOES the action. Intransitive verbs (自動詞) do NOT take an object — something happens on its own. Many Japanese verbs come in pairs.

〜てあげる / 〜てやる

Do a favor 〜てあげる / 〜てやる

I (or someone on my side) do a favor FOR someone else. The direction of action is OUTWARD from me. てやる is the casual/blunt form (toward equals/inferiors, or for plants/animals).

〜てくれる / 〜てくださる

Receive a favor 〜てくれる / 〜てくださる

Someone ELSE does a favor FOR ME (or my in-group). The direction of action is INWARD to me. Polite form: 〜てくださる (used for superiors).

〜てもらう / 〜ていただく

Get someone to do 〜てもらう / 〜ていただく

I GET/RECEIVE someone else to do something (for me). Focuses on the receiver (me) actively obtaining the favor. The doer is marked by に.

〜てほしい / 〜てほしいです

I want you to 〜てほしい

Expresses the speaker's desire for SOMEONE ELSE to do something — "I want you to ~". The doer is marked by に.

〜ていただけませんか / 〜てもらえませんか

Could you please 〜ていただけませんか

A very polite request — "could you please ~ for me?". Built from humble いただく / もらう potential negative. The most natural polite request form.

〜てみる

Try doing 〜てみる

To do something as a trial / to see what it's like — "try doing ~". Implies attempting something to experience or learn the result.

〜ておく

Do in advance 〜ておく

To do something in ADVANCE, in preparation for later, or to leave something in a certain state for the future. "Do ~ (so it's ready / taken care of)".