JLPT N3 Shinkanzen Grammar Lesson 13: Quotation and Sentence Structure

Quotation and Sentence Structure

JLPT N3
Shinkanzen N3 • 8 key grammar patterns
Point 1L13_G1

1. ～こそ (Emphasis: For sure / The very...)

Sentence Pattern
N / Vて / Vから + こそ

Used to clearly distinguish something from others and emphasize it. Translated as "Precisely...", "It is exactly...".

Example Sentences (8)
今日きょうこそ、長年ながねんの夢ゆめを叶かなえる日ひだ。
Today is the very day my long-held dream comes true.
あなたがいたからこそ、この困難こんなんを乗のり越こえられた。
Precisely because you were here, I was able to overcome this difficulty.
感謝かんしゃの気持きもちを伝つたえるのに、手紙てがみこそ最適さいてきな方法ほうほうだ。
To convey gratitude, a letter is the most suitable method.
今度こんどこそ優勝ゆうしょうしたい。
I want to win this time for sure. (I have lost before, so I am determined this time)
これこそ私わたしがずっと探さがしていたものだ。
This is exactly what I've been looking for all along.
この資料しりょうこそ長ながい間あいだ探さがしていたものだ。
This document is precisely what I have been searching for for a long time.
イギリスに10年ねんも住すんでいたからこそ、英語えいごがうまく話はなせるようになった。
Precisely because I lived in the UK for 10 years, I became able to speak English fluently.
親おやだからこそ自分じぶんの子こをきびしくしかるのだ。
Precisely because they are parents, they scold their own children strictly.
Point 2L13_G2

2. ～でも (Even... / How about...)

Sentence Pattern
N / Interrogative word + でも
Note: The "でも" discussed here is primarily used after a noun in a sentence.
(When "でも" is placed at the beginning of a sentence, it usually acts as a conjunction meaning "But, however").
⭐ Meaning 1: Even... / Even if...
⭐ Meaning 2: Request, suggestion, invitation

Used to suggest something temporarily or as an example. Translated as "Something like...", "How about...".

Example Sentences (12)
そんなことは子供こどもでも知しっている。
Even a child knows that kind of thing.
この問題もんだいは易やさしくて、小学生しょうがくせいでも解とけられる。
This problem is so easy that even an elementary school student can solve it.
小ちいさなミスでも見落みおとしてはいけない。
You must not overlook even a small mistake.
この辺へんは冬ふゆでも暖あたたかい。
This area is warm even in winter.
弟おとうとは初はじめて会あった人ひとでもすぐ仲なかよくなる。
My younger brother quickly becomes friends even with people he meets for the first time.
子供こどもでも理解りかいできる簡単かんたんなルールだ。
It's a simple rule that even a child can understand.
風邪かぜを引ひいたときでも、宿題しゅくだいはやらなければならない。
Even when I catch a cold, I still have to do my homework.
お見舞みまいに花はなでも買かっていきましょう。
Let's buy something like flowers to take when we visit the sick person. (Meaning 2)
お茶ちゃでも飲のみませんか。
Would you like to drink some tea or something?
今日きょうは暑あついから、ざるそうめんでも食たべたらいいですか。
It's hot today, so how about we eat something like chilled somen noodles?
映画えいがでも見みようかな。
I guess I'll watch a movie or something.
荷物にもつは机つくえの上うえにでも置おいてください。
Please put your luggage on the desk or somewhere.
Point 3L13_G3

3. ～も (Also / Too / As much as / Not even...)

Sentence Pattern
N + も

Expresses 'also', 'as much as' (emphasizing a large amount), or 'complete negation' (when combined with '1' + negative form).

Example Sentences (8)
今日きょうも曇くもりだ。
It is cloudy today too.
財布さいふは空からっぽだ。1円えんも残のこっていない。
My wallet is empty. There isn't even one yen left.
一日いちにちも休やすまないで学校がっこうに通かよった。
I went to school without missing a single day.
東京とうきょうへ行いくので、帰かえりに静岡しずおかの友達ともだちの家いえにも寄よる。
Since I'm going to Tokyo, I'll also stop by my friend's house in Shizuoka on the way back.
この写真しゃしん、だれにも見みせないでくださいよ。
Please don't show this photo to anyone.
足あしが痛いたくてたつこともできない。
My leg hurts so much that I can't even stand up.
この子こはもう難むずかしい漢字かんじも書かける。
This child can already write even difficult Kanji.
こんなに高たかい山やまの上うえにも店みせがある。
There is a shop even on top of such a high mountain.
Point 4L13_G4

4. ～さえ (Even... / So much as...)

Sentence Pattern
N + さえ

Gives an extreme example to imply that other things are naturally included. Replaces particles が, を.

Example Sentences (8)
健康けんこうでさえあれば、ほかには何なにも望のぞまない。
As long as I have my health, I desire nothing else.
冷蔵庫れいぞうこには卵たまごさえ入はいっていない。
There isn't even an egg left in the refrigerator.
私わたしの故郷ふるさとは地図ちずにさえ書かいてない小ちいさな村むらです。
My hometown is a village so small that it isn't even on the map.
旅好たびずきな彼かれは北極ほっきょくにさえ行いったことがある。
A travel lover like him has even been to the North Pole.
学者がくしゃでさえ解とけない問題もんだいが試験しけんに出でた。
A question that even scholars couldn't solve appeared on the exam.
自分じぶんさえよければ、それでいいのですか。
As long as you're okay, is that all that matters?
雨あめさえ降ふらなければ、花火はなびができる。
As long as it doesn't rain, we can have the fireworks.
人ひとに道みちを聞ききさえすれば、迷子まいごにならないよ。
If you just ask someone for directions, you won't get lost.
Point 5L13_G5

5. ～まで (Even / To the extent of...)

Sentence Pattern
N + まで

Indicates a spreading scope, "even...", "to the extent of...".

Example Sentences (5)
あなたまで私わたしを疑うたがうのですか。
Are even you doubting me ?
赤あかん坊ぼうが泣なくと、わたしまで泣なきたくなる。
When the baby cries, it makes even me want to cry.
生活せいかつに困こまって乞食こじきまでするようになった。
Life became so hard that I ended up even begging.
借金しゃっきんまでして高たかい車くるまを買かわなくてもいい。
You don't have to go as far as getting into debt to buy an expensive car.
会あったことがない人ひとにまで年賀状ねんがじょうを出だした。
I sent New Year's cards even to people I've never met.
Point 6L13_G6

6. ～ぐらい / くらい (About... / At least... / Just...)

Sentence Pattern
N / V (普通形) + ぐらい / くらい

Expresses an approximate degree, or downplays something as "just about...".

Example Sentences (7)
あなたは一ヶ月いっかげつに何回なんかいぐらい映画えいがを見みに行いきますか。
About how many times a month do you go to see a movie?
簡単かんたんなあいさつぐらいなら日本語にほんごで言いえる。
I can say at least simple greetings in Japanese.
今日きょうは少すこしぐらいお酒さけを飲のんでもいいね。
It's fine to drink a little bit of alcohol today.
退院たいいんするまでには、なお1週間しゅうかんぐらい必要ひつようだ。
It will take about one more week before I can be discharged from the hospital.
卵たまごぐらいの大おおきさのパンを作つくった。
I made bread about the size of an egg.
うちの娘むすめぐらいの女おんなの子こが泣ないていた。
A girl about the same age as my daughter was crying.
この車くるまはわたしにも買かえるくらいの値段ねだんだ。
This car is priced at a level that even I can afford.
Point 7L13_G7

7. ～など / なんか (Things like... / Someone like...)

Sentence Pattern
N + など / なんか

Used to give a typical example. Often carries a nuance of humility or belittling. Translated as "things like...", "someone like...".

Example Sentences (7)
髪かみを切きるなどして、もっと見みかけに気きを付つけてほしい。
I want you to pay more attention to your appearance, by doing things like cutting your hair.
この服ふくなどいかがですか。似合にあいますよ。
How about clothes like this? It looks good on you.
食事しょくじには果物くだものなど召めし上あがりませんか。
Would you like some fruit or something after your meal?
今朝話けさはなし合あって説得せっとくするなどしたのですが、あまり効果こうかはなかったようです。
I tried discussing it with him and persuading him this morning, but it didn't seem to have much effect.
連休れんきゅうにどこかに行いこうよ。ハワイなんかどう。
Let's go somewhere during the long weekend. How about somewhere like Hawaii?
お礼れいなど要いりませんよ。
There is no need for thanks or anything.
わたしなんかまだまだ勉強べんきょうがたりません。
Someone like me still hasn't studied enough.
Point 8L13_G8

8. ～だけ (Only / As much as...)

Sentence Pattern
N / V (普通形) + だけ
⭐ Meaning 1: Only...
⭐ Meaning 2: As much as... (Limit of scope)
📌 Note on compound particles:
These particles can also come after words that function as other particles.

・わたしは自分じぶんの国くにの歴史れきしについてさえよく知しらない。
(I don't even know much about the history of my own country.)

・久美くみさんは親したしい友ともだちに対たいしてまで敬語けいごを使つかう。
(Kumi uses honorifics even towards her close friends.)
Example Sentences (7)
私わたしは動物どうぶつが好すきだが、鰐わにだけは嫌いやだ。
I like animals, but I hate crocodiles only.
私わたしは動物どうぶつが大好だいすきだが、へびだけはいやだ。
I love animals, but I just hate snakes.
母ははだけは本当ほんとうのことを話はなそうと思おもう。
I think I will tell the truth only to my mother.
彼かれは黙だまって聞きくだけで何なにも言いわなかった。
He just listened in silence and didn't say anything.
好すきなだけ食たべてもいいよ。
You can eat as much as you like.
彼かれは言いいたいだけ言いって帰かえってしまった。
He said all he wanted to say and then just left.
やれるだけのことはもうみんなやった。
We've already done everything that we can possibly do.
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