Essential Grammar
Master the mechanics of Japanese. These interactive, bite-sized lessons will teach you how to build real sentences from scratch.
1. The Foundation: SOV Word Order
Learn how a Japanese sentence is constructed.
2. The Copula: Desu
Learn how to say 'It is' or 'I am'.
3. Core Particles: Wa & Ga
Master the glue that holds Japanese sentences together.
4. Action Particles: O & Ni
Learn how to mark objects and destinations.
5. Asking Questions (Ka)
Learn the easiest way to turn any sentence into a question.
6. This, That, and Over There (Kore, Sore, Are)
Learn how to point to objects.
7. Here and There (Koko, Soko, Asoko)
Learn how to point to locations.
8. The Possessive Particle: No (ใฎ)
Learn how to express possession and link nouns.
9. I-Adjectives and Na-Adjectives
Learn the two types of Japanese adjectives.
10. Verb Basics (Masen & Mashita)
Learn how to talk about the past and say 'I don't'.
11. The 'And/With' Particle: To (ใจ)
Learn how to connect nouns together.
12. The Inclusive Particle: Mo (ใ)
Learn how to say 'also' or 'too'.
13. Existence: Arimasu vs Imasu
Learn how to say 'there is' or 'I have'.
14. Time Words & Ni (ใซ)
Learn how to express when things happen.
15. Adjective Conjugation
Learn how to make adjectives negative or past tense.
16. Counting Things (Hitotsu, Futatsu)
Learn the general way to count objects in Japanese.
17. Making Requests (-te kudasai)
Learn how to ask someone to do something.
18. Ongoing Actions (-te imasu)
Learn how to say 'I am doing' something right now.
19. Permission (May I...?)
Learn how to ask if it's okay to do something.
20. Wanting Things (-tai Form)
Learn how to express what you want to do.
21. Sequential Actions (Te-Form)
Learn how to say 'I did X, then Y, then Z'.
22. Because / So (Kara)
Learn how to explain reasons for things.
23. Giving Advice (Hou ga ii desu)
Learn how to tell someone what they should do.
24. Quoting (To Iimashita)
Learn how to quote what someone else said.
25. Obligation (Must Do)
Learn how to say you have to do something.
26. Comparisons (Yori / Hou ga)
Learn how to say 'A is better than B'.
27. Becoming (Naru)
Learn how to say things 'become' or 'get' a certain way.
28. Intention (Tsumori)
Learn how to express your plans and intentions.
29. Experience (Ta koto ga arimasu)
Learn how to say you 'have done' something before.
30. Relative Clauses
Learn how to use verbs to describe nouns.
31. Giving & Receiving (Ageru & Morau)
Learn how to express giving and receiving in Japanese.
32. Receiving (Kureru)
Learn the special verb for when someone gives YOU something.
33. Conditionals (To - Inevitable)
Learn how to say 'If A happens, B inevitably happens'.
34. Conditionals (Tara)
Learn the most common way to say 'If'.
35. Volitional Form (Let's...)
Learn the casual way to say 'Let's do something'.
36. Potential Form (Can Do)
Learn how to express your ability to do something.
37. Suggestions (Tara dou desu ka)
Learn how to say 'How about doing X?'.
38. Multiple Reasons (Shi)
Learn how to list multiple reasons or states.
39. Appearance (Sou desu)
Learn how to say something 'looks like' something.
40. Trying (Te Miru)
Learn how to say you will 'try' doing something.
41. Preparation (Te oku)
Learn how to say you are doing something in advance.
42. Regret (Te shimau)
Learn how to express regret, or that something is completely finished.
43. Easy/Hard (Yasui/Nikui)
Learn how to say an action is easy or hard to do.
44. Hearsay (Sou desu)
Learn how to say 'I heard that...'
45. Passive Form (Rareru)
Learn how to say you had something done to you.
46. Causative Form (Saseru)
Learn how to say you 'make' or 'let' someone do something.
47. Causative-Passive (Saserareru)
The boss-level conjugation: 'I was made to do...'
48. Commands (Nasai / Ro)
Learn how to give direct orders (Imperative Form).
49. Without doing (Naide)
Learn how to say you did something without doing something else.
50. Only (Shika... nai)
Learn how to say you 'only' have or 'only' did something.
51. Conditionals (Ba)
The third Japanese 'If' - Focusing on conditions.
52. Too Much (Sugiru)
Learn how to say you did something too much, or something is too [adjective].
53. While Doing (Nagara)
Learn how to express doing two actions at the same time.
54. Transitive vs Intransitive Verbs
The difference between 'I opened the door' and 'The door opened'.
55. Respectful Language (Sonkeigo)
Learn how to speak extremely politely about others.
56. Humble Language (Kenjougo)
Learn how to speak humbly about your own actions.
57. Polite Language (Teineigo)
The baseline of formal Japanese (Desu / Masu).
58. Even if (Te mo)
Learn how to express 'Even if I do X, Y will happen.'
59. Decided to (Koto ni suru)
Learn how to express that you made a decision.
60. Rules (Koto ni natte iru)
Learn how to express rules, customs, or things decided by others.
61. Expectations (Hazu desu)
Learn how to express that something is supposed to happen.
62. Whether or not (Ka dou ka)
Learn how to embed Yes/No questions inside a sentence.
63. Similitude (Mitai / You desu)
Learn how to say something 'looks like' or 'seems like' a noun.
64. Certainty Adverbs (Zettai ni / Kitto)
Learn how to express your level of certainty.
65. Thinking of doing (Volitional + to omou)
Learn how to express your intentions.
66. Purpose (Tame ni)
Learn how to express doing something 'for the sake of' or 'in order to'.
67. Before (Mae ni)
Learn how to express doing action X before action Y.
68. After (Te kara / Ato de)
Learn two ways to say you do action X after action Y.
69. Because / Since (Node)
Learn a softer, more polite alternative to 'Kara'.
70. Just / Only (Dake)
Learn the positive way to say 'Only'.