7 key grammar patterns
#1L11_G1
1. Counting Objects (Counters)
Sentence Pattern
ひとつ, ふたつ...
とお are general counters for objects up to 10.
From 11 onwards, regular numbers are used.
Different suffixes are used for different items: 人 (people), 番 (order/number), 枚 (flat objects), 台 (machines/vehicles), 冊 (books), 着 (clothes), 個 (small/solid objects), 足 (pairs of shoes/socks), 軒 (houses), 階 (floors), 本 (long objects), 杯 (drinks/cups), 匹 (small animals), 回 (frequency/times).
とお are general counters for objects up to 10.
From 11 onwards, regular numbers are used.
Different suffixes are used for different items: 人 (people), 番 (order/number), 枚 (flat objects), 台 (machines/vehicles), 冊 (books), 着 (clothes), 個 (small/solid objects), 足 (pairs of shoes/socks), 軒 (houses), 階 (floors), 本 (long objects), 杯 (drinks/cups), 匹 (small animals), 回 (frequency/times).
#2L11_G2
2. How to use counters
Sentence Pattern
Trợ từ + Lượng từ + V
Lượng từ + の + N
A number with a unit suffix is called a counter.
It is usually placed after a particle and before a Verb.
It can also be treated as a Noun using 'Counter + の + Noun'.
It is usually placed after a particle and before a Verb.
It can also be treated as a Noun using 'Counter + の + Noun'.
Example Sentences (2)
りんごを 4つ 買いました。
→ Bought 4 apples.
4つの りんごを 買いました。
→ I bought 4 apples.
#3L11_G3
3. ごろ vs ぐらい
Sentence Pattern
Lượng từ + ぐらい
N (thời điểm) + ごろ (に)
Structure for ぐらい: Counter + ぐらい.
Used for a duration or length of time (About/Around).
Structure for ごろ: Noun (Time point) + ごろ (に).
Used for a specific point in time (About/Around a certain time).
Used for a duration or length of time (About/Around).
Structure for ごろ: Noun (Time point) + ごろ (に).
Used for a specific point in time (About/Around a certain time).
Example Sentences (2)
僕は 3時ごろに 寝ました。
→ I went to sleep around 3 o'clock.
僕は 3時間ぐらい 寝ました。
→ I slept for about 3 hours.
#4L11_G4
4. How to ask about quantity
Sentence Pattern
いくつ
なん + hậu tố đơn vị
[ぐらい] can be added after a counter to mean 'about/approximately'.
For objects counted with [ひとつ, ふたつ...], use the question word [いくつ] (how many).
For numbers with unit suffixes, use [なん] (how many) + 'unit suffix' to ask.
For objects counted with [ひとつ, ふたつ...], use the question word [いくつ] (how many).
For numbers with unit suffixes, use [なん] (how many) + 'unit suffix' to ask.
Example Sentences (2)
教室に 学生が 30人ぐらい います。
→ There are about 30 students in the classroom.
この 会社に 外国人が 何人 いますか。 5人 います。
→ How many foreigners are in this company? There are 5 people.
#5L11_G5
5. どのくらい
Sentence Pattern
どのくらい
どれぐらい
How long.
Used to ask about a period of time.
どれぐらい asks for an amount or quantity.
Used to ask about a period of time.
どれぐらい asks for an amount or quantity.
Example Sentences (2)
どのくらい 日本語を 勉強しましたか。
→ How long have you studied Japanese?
3年 勉強しました。
→ I have studied for 3 years.
#6L11_G6
6. Period of time + に + ~かい (times) + Verb
Sentence Pattern
Lượng từ (khoảng thời gian) + に + ～回 + V
Doing something a certain number of times within a specific period.
It expresses the frequency of an action.
It expresses the frequency of an action.
Example Sentences (1)
1か月に 3回 映画を 見ます。
→ I watch movies 3 times a month.
#7L11_G7
7. Counter / Noun + だけ
Sentence Pattern
Lượng từ / N + だけ
Only / Just.
[だけ] replaces the particles [を] and [が].
[しか] means 'only' but is strictly used with negative Verbs.
[だけ] means 'only' and can be used with both affirmative and negative sentences.
[だけ] replaces the particles [を] and [が].
[しか] means 'only' but is strictly used with negative Verbs.
[だけ] means 'only' and can be used with both affirmative and negative sentences.
Example Sentences (2)
私は 野菜だけ 食べます。
→ I only eat vegetables.
1時間だけ かかります。
→ It takes only one hour.
