Soumatome 20 Lessons JLPT N4 Grammar Lesson 6: Patterns with Plain form (普通形)

In indirect speech, the quoted content normally changes to the plain form and is followed by と言う／と思う. Adjust pronouns, subjects, and time expressions to fit the reporting context. Direct quotations keep the original wording inside quotation marks.

Pattern: plain-form clause + noun. The modifying clause is subordinate; its subject is normally marked by が, and の may replace が in many noun-modifying clauses.

～のです／んです presents background or an explanation. It is used to confirm an inference, explain circumstances or reasons, or ask for an explanation; んです is the conversational form.

Used to explain a reason and end the sentence when the result has already been mentioned.

Used to list multiple factors, states, or circumstances.

Plain form + でしょう expresses a reasonably supported prediction or probability. Omit だ after nouns and な-adjectives.

Use question word + か for an embedded question, and plain form + かどうか for “whether or not”. Omit だ after nouns and な-adjectives.

Plain form + かもしれない expresses a possibility with lower confidence than でしょう: “might / may”. Omit だ after nouns and な-adjectives.

Plain form + らしい expresses an inference based on information or evidence. It can also mean “typical of / characteristically like”. With nouns and な-adjectives, omit だ before らしい.

（名詞めいし／ナ形容詞けいようし　だ　→　な）
Used to indicate a cause or explain a situation.

（名詞めいし／ナ形容詞けいようし　だ　→　な）
Expresses regret or disappointment that something turned out contrary to expectation.

Plain form + ようだ expresses an inference based on what the speaker sees, hears, smells, or otherwise perceives. Use Nのようだ and な-adjective + なようだ.

（名詞めいし　だ　→　の）/（ナ形容詞けいようし　だ　→　な）
It has two main meanings: indicating a cause and indicating a purpose.

Plain form + はずだ expresses a conclusion or strong expectation based on reason or known facts, not mere certainty. Use Nのはずだ and な-adjective + なはずだ.