Grammar
JLPT grammar patterns with formation, examples, and confusables.
[noun] という [noun]
Called / named 〜という
Introduces a name or label the listener may not know — "a ~ called ~".
〜くらい / 〜ぐらい
About / to the extent 〜くらい
An approximate amount — "about ~" — or a degree — "to the extent that ~".
[数量]＋も / [数量]＋しか〜ない
Quantity + も / しか
Colours a quantity as large (も, "as many as") or small (しか〜ない, "only").
〜のに
Although 〜のに
Contrast with feeling — "although ~", "even though ~". Carries surprise, disappointment or reproach.
〜ば〜ほど
The more … the more 〜ば〜ほど
"The more ~, the more ~" — one thing increases as another does.
〜ないと (いけない)
Have to 〜ないと
Everyday "have to ~" — literally "if I don't ~, it won't do".
〜って
Casual quotation 〜って
The spoken stand-in for と / という — reports speech, names a topic, or asks what something means.
〜たらどうですか
Why don't you 〜たらどうですか
A suggestion — "why don't you ~?", "how about ~ing?".
〜せいで / 〜せいか
Because of (blame) 〜せいで
Assigns blame for a bad outcome — "because of ~", "thanks to ~ (sarcastic)".
〜おかげで
Thanks to 〜おかげで
Credits a good outcome — "thanks to ~", "owing to ~".
〜によって / 〜により
By means of / depending on 〜によって
Four related jobs: the means, the cause, the agent of a passive, or "it varies depending on ~".
〜わけだ
That is why 〜わけだ
Draws a conclusion that follows naturally — "so that's why ~", "no wonder ~", "it works out that ~".
〜ものだから / 〜もので
Because (excuse) 〜ものだから
Offers a reason as an excuse or apology — "it's just that ~", "because ~, you see".
〜わけではない
It is not that 〜わけではない
A partial denial — "it is not that ~", "that does not mean ~". Softens rather than rejects outright.
〜わけがない
There is no way 〜わけがない
A flat denial of possibility — "there is no way ~", "it is impossible that ~".
〜に違いない
Must be 〜に違いない
A confident inference — "must be ~", "I am sure ~".
〜べきだ
Ought to 〜べきだ
A moral or social obligation — "ought to ~", "should ~". Stronger and more principled than 〜たほうがいい.
〜に決まっている
Bound to be 〜に決まっている
Says an outcome is obvious — "of course ~", "it is bound to be ~".
〜たとたん（に）
The moment 〜たとたん
"The moment ~", "just as ~" — the second event follows instantly and unexpectedly.
〜最中に
Right in the middle of 〜最中に
"Right in the middle of ~" — something interrupts an activity at its height.
〜次第
As soon as 〜次第
"As soon as ~", "the moment ~ is done". Formal, and always about the future.
〜以来
Ever since 〜以来
"Ever since ~" — a state that has held continuously from a past point until now.
〜たびに
Every time 〜たびに
"Every time ~", "whenever ~" — the second thing happens on each occasion of the first.
〜ほど / 〜ほどだ
To the extent 〜ほど
Gives a yardstick for how much — "so ~ that …", "to the extent of ~".
〜さえ / 〜でさえ
Even 〜さえ
Picks an extreme example — "even ~". If this much is true, the rest follows.
〜こそ
Precisely 〜こそ
Singles something out for emphasis — "this is the one that ~", "precisely ~".
〜てばかりいる
Do nothing but 〜てばかりいる
Criticises a repeated action — "does nothing but ~", "is always ~ing".
〜とか〜とか
Things like 〜とか〜とか
Lists a few examples out of many — "things like ~ and ~".
〜に対して
Toward / in contrast to 〜に対して
Two jobs: the target an attitude is directed at — "toward ~" — and a contrast — "whereas ~".
〜について / 〜に関して
About / concerning 〜について
Names the subject matter — "about ~", "concerning ~".