6 key grammar patterns
#1L9_G1
Part 1: N が A (Adjectives of Emotion and Degree)
Sentence Pattern
N が A
Structure: ～は Nが A
Interrogative word: なに (What)
[が] (ga): Used with adjectives that express emotions, preferences, or degrees of ability (e.g., like, dislike, good at, poor at).
Interrogative word: なに (What)
[が] (ga): Used with adjectives that express emotions, preferences, or degrees of ability (e.g., like, dislike, good at, poor at).
Example Sentences (2)
わたしは かんじが へたです。
→ I am poor at Kanji.
A: あなたは なにが きらいですか。
B: わたしは たばこが きらいです。
B: わたしは たばこが きらいです。
→ A: What do you dislike? B: I dislike cigarettes.
#2L9_G2
Part 2: ～Nが あります (To have/possess)
Sentence Pattern
～Nが あります
Structure: ～は Nが あります。
Interrogative word: なに (What)
[が あります] (ga arimasu): To have / There is. Used to indicate possession.
Interrogative word: なに (What)
[が あります] (ga arimasu): To have / There is. Used to indicate possession.
Example Sentences (2)
わたしは おかねが ありません。
→ I don't have money.
やまださんは たかいくるまが あります。
→ Mr. Yamada has an expensive car.
#3L9_G3
Part 3: ～Nが 分(わ)かります (To understand/know)
Sentence Pattern
～Nが 分 かります
Structure: ～は Nが 分 かります。
Interrogative word: なに (What)
[が分 かります] (ga wakarimasu): To understand or know ~.
Interrogative word: なに (What)
[が
Example Sentences (2)
はらださんは えいごが わかります。
→ Mr. Harada understands English.
わたしは なにも わかりません。
→ I don't understand anything at all.
#4L9_G4
Part 4: Adverbs
Sentence Pattern
Structure: Adverb + V/A
Adverbs are placed before verbs (or adjectives) to modify them.
* Degree: Affirmative (よく: well/much, だいたい: roughly/mostly, すこし: a little), Negative (あまり: not very, ぜんぜん: not at all).
* Quantity: Affirmative (たくさん: many/a lot, すこし: a few/a little), Negative (あまり: not many/much, ぜんぜん: none at all).
Adverbs are placed before verbs (or adjectives) to modify them.
* Degree: Affirmative (よく: well/much, だいたい: roughly/mostly, すこし: a little), Negative (あまり: not very, ぜんぜん: not at all).
* Quantity: Affirmative (たくさん: many/a lot, すこし: a few/a little), Negative (あまり: not many/much, ぜんぜん: none at all).
Example Sentences (7)
英語が よく わかります。
→ I understand English well.
英語が 少し わかります。
→ I understand English a little.
英語が あまり わかりません。
→ I don't understand English very well.
お金が たくさん あります。
→ I have a lot of money.
お金が 全然 ありません。
→ I have no money at all.
ここは 寒いです。
→ It is cold here.
あの 映画は 全然 おもしろくないです。
→ That movie is not interesting at all.
#5L9_G5
Part 5: どうして (Why?) / ～から (Because)
Sentence Pattern
どうして～か / ～から
[どうして] (doushite): Why ~?
[から] (kara): Because ~.
[～から、～]: Because ~, ~.
[どうして] is an interrogative word used to ask for a reason. Instead of repeating someone's statement, you can simply ask “どうしてですか” (Why is that?).
[から] is used to explain a reason. It is also used to answer questions starting with “どうして”.
[から] (kara): Because ~.
[～から、～]: Because ~, ~.
[どうして] is an interrogative word used to ask for a reason. Instead of repeating someone's statement, you can simply ask “どうしてですか” (Why is that?).
[から] is used to explain a reason. It is also used to answer questions starting with “どうして”.
Example Sentences (3)
A: どうして きのう はやく かえりましたか。
B: ようじが ありましたから。
B: ようじが ありましたから。
→ A: Why did you go home early yesterday? B: Because I had an errand.
A: どうして たべませんか。
B: けさ もう あさごはんを たべましたから。
B: けさ もう あさごはんを たべましたから。
→ A: Why aren't you eating? B: Because I already ate breakfast this morning.
時間が ありませんから、新聞を 読みません。
→ Because I don't have time, I don't read the newspaper.
#6L9_G6
Part 6: どんな N (What kind/category of N?)
Sentence Pattern
どんな N
Structure: どんな N
[どんな N] (donna N): In addition to asking about the characteristics or state of a noun (as learned in Lesson 8), this structure is also used to ask about the category or type a noun belongs to.
When answering, state the specific name or category.
[どんな N] (donna N): In addition to asking about the characteristics or state of a noun (as learned in Lesson 8), this structure is also used to ask about the category or type a noun belongs to.
When answering, state the specific name or category.
Example Sentences (1)
A: どんな スポーツが すきですか。
B: サッカーが すきです。
B: サッカーが すきです。
→ A: What kind of sports do you like? B: I like soccer.
