Episode 4 – The Most Basic Japanese Grammar for Complete Beginners

2025年12月25日 2025年12月25日

MAEDA

If you are learning Japanese for the first time, grammar may feel difficult or confusing.
But don’t worry — Japanese grammar is very logical and simple once you understand the basic patterns.

In this episode, we will learn the core grammar rules that every beginner must know.
These rules are the foundation for speaking, reading, and passing JLPT N5.

Let’s start!

1. Japanese Sentence Structure: S + O + V

Unlike English, Japanese sentences usually end with the verb.

English: I eat sushi.
Japanese: 私はすしを 食べます。
(watashi wa sushi o tabemasu)

Pattern:
Subject + Object + Verb

This is the most important rule.
If you understand this, Japanese becomes much easier.

2. Particles: The Small Words With Big Meaning

Particles are small sounds that follow a noun and show the role of the word in a sentence.

Here are the most important particles for beginners:

1) は (wa) – topic marker

Shows what the sentence is about.

わたしはせんせいです。
As for me, I am a teacher.

2) を (o) – object marker

Shows the thing receiving the action.

みずをのみます。
I drink water.

3) に (ni) – time / destination

7じにおきます。 (I wake up at 7.)
がっこうにいきます。 (I go to school.)

4) で (de) – place of action

Shows where an action happens.

レストランでたべます。
I eat at a restaurant.

5) の (no) – ownership / description

わたしのかさ (my umbrella)
にほんのたべもの (Japanese food)

If you master just these particles, your Japanese will already become understandable.

3. Desu と Masu Forms (Polite Form)

Beginners should start with polite grammar because it is used in daily life.

A. です (desu) – “is / am / are”

Used for nouns and adjectives.

これはほんです。
にほんはきれいです。

B. ～ます (masu) – polite verb ending

To show present or future.

Examples:

いきます (I go / will go)
たべます (I eat / will eat)
みます (I see / watch)

C. ～ません (masen) – negative

いきません (I don’t go)
のみません (I don’t drink)

D. ～ました (mashita) – past

いきました (I went)
たべました (I ate)

These four forms are essential for JLPT N5.

4. Adjectives: Two Types

A. い-adjectives

End with い.

おおきい (big)
ちいさい (small)
あつい (hot)

You can make the negative and past like this:

おおきくない (not big)
おおきかった (was big)

B. な-adjectives

These need な before a noun.

しずかなまち (quiet town)
きれいなへや (clean room)

With です:

しずかです。 (It is quiet.)
しずかじゃありません。 (It is not quiet.)

5. “There is / There are”: あります & います

Two very important verbs:

あります – for things
(books, buildings, objects)
います – for people & animals

Examples:

テーブルが あります。 (There is a table.)
ねこが います。 (There is a cat.)

Very useful in conversation and N5 listening.

6. Asking Questions (か)

Just add か at the end of a sentence to make a question.

これはなんですか？
What is this?
どこにいきますか？
Where are you going?

No question mark is needed in Japanese, but many learners still use “?”.

7. “And / With”: と (to)

Used to join nouns.

パンとミルク (bread and milk)
かぞくといきます。
I go with my family.

8. Basic Sentence Patterns Every Beginner Should Memorize

Here are the top patterns that appear in all N5 textbooks:

A は B です。
(A is B.)
これはつくえです。
A は B があります / います。
へやにいぬがいます。
A は B で〜ます。
スーパーでかいます。
A は B にいきます / きます / かえります。
にほんにいきます。
A は B と〜ます。
ともだちとあそびます。
A は B を〜ます。
みずをのみます。

If you can use these six patterns, you can communicate at N5 level.

9. How to Practice Grammar Effectively

✔ Make short sentences every day

Even three sentences is enough.

✔ Use new grammar with vocabulary you know

Example:
“きのうスーパーでパンをかいました。”
(“Yesterday I bought bread at the supermarket.”)

✔ Listen to slow Japanese

You’ll naturally feel the grammar.

✔ Don’t try to memorize everything at once

Grammar becomes easy through repetition.

Conclusion

These grammar rules are the foundation of Japanese.
Once you understand sentence structure, particles, and です／ます forms, you will be ready for beginner conversation and JLPT N5 reading.

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