N3 grammar path
One stamp per pattern, unit by unit.
UNIT 1 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 2 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 3 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 4 · TIME EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 5 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 6 · TIME EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 7 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 8 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 9 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 10 · VERB FORMS
UNIT 11 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 12 · HEARSAY & CONJECTURE
UNIT 13 · TIME EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 14 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 15 · HEARSAY & CONJECTURE
UNIT 16 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 17 · HEARSAY & CONJECTURE
UNIT 18 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 19 · VERB FORMS
UNIT 20 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 21 · COMPARISON
UNIT 22 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 23 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 24 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 25 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 26 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 27 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 28 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 29 · TIME EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 30 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 31 · CONDITIONALS
UNIT 32 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 33 · TIME EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 34 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 35 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 36 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 37 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 38 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 39 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 40 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 41 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 42 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 43 · TIME EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 44 · CONDITIONALS
UNIT 45 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 46 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 47 · HEARSAY & CONJECTURE
UNIT 48 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 49 · COMPARISON
UNIT 50 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 51 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 52 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 53 · TIME EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 54 · CONDITIONALS
UNIT 55 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 56 · CONDITIONALS
UNIT 57 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 58 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 59 · CONDITIONALS
UNIT 60 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 61 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 62 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 63 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 64 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 65 · COMPARISON
UNIT 66 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 67 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 68 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 69 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 70 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 71 · HEARSAY & CONJECTURE
UNIT 72 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 73 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 74 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 75 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 76 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 77 · HEARSAY & CONJECTURE
UNIT 78 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 79 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 80 · VERB FORMS
UNIT 81 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 82 · COMPARISON
UNIT 83 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 84 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 85 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 86 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 87 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 88 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 89 · COMPARISON
UNIT 90 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 91 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 92 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 93 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 94 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 95 · CONDITIONALS
UNIT 96 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 97 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 98 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 99 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 100 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 101 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 102 · COMPARISON
UNIT 103 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 104 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 105 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 106 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 107 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 108 · TIME EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 109 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 110 · CAUSE & EFFECT
UNIT 111 · CONNECTIVES
UNIT 112 · TIME EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 113 · EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 114 · TIME EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 115 · EMPHASIS
UNIT 116 · PARTICLES
UNIT 117 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS
UNIT 118 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS
JLPT N3 grammar list
All 146 N3 grammar points with structure, examples and the patterns each one is confused with. Every point’s own page is free to read; a free account opens all 146 here.
30 of 146 N3 points · tap for the full guide
Cause & Effect· 6
- ～あまり(に) — So Much That It Overwhelms[Noun] + の + あまり(に) / [Verb plain (dict/past)] + あまり(に) / [な-adj] + な + あまり(に)Expresses that an excessive degree of some emotion or state causes an (often unintended or extreme) result. It literally means 'as a result of too…
- ～おかげで — Thanks To[Verb・い-adj plain] + おかげで / [な-adj] + な + おかげで / [Noun] + の + おかげでAttributes a positive result to a cause — 'thanks to; owing to'. It expresses gratitude or a favorable outcome brought about by someone or…
- ～せいで — Because Of (And I Blame It)[Verb・い-adj plain] + せいで / [な-adj] + な + せいで / [Noun] + の + せいでAttributes a negative result to a cause — 'because of; due to', with a nuance of blame or complaint. The speaker holds the stated cause responsible…
- ～せいか — Perhaps Because Of[Verb・い-adj plain] + せいか / [な-adj] + な + せいか / [Noun] + の + せいかMeans 'perhaps because of; maybe due to'. The speaker tentatively suggests a cause for some result without being certain it is the true reason. The…
- ～からといって — Just Because[Plain form] + からといって … (negative conclusion)Concedes a reason but denies that it justifies the expected conclusion — 'just because X, it doesn't mean Y.' It warns against jumping to an…
- ～ことから — Judging From The Fact[Verb/い-adj plain] / [な-adj な・である] / [Noun である] + ことからIntroduces the basis, evidence, or reason from which a conclusion, judgment, or name is derived: 'from the fact that ~, ...' or 'because ~, that is…
Expressions· 6
- ～一方だ — Heading Ever Further In One Direction[Verb dictionary form] + 一方だDescribes a situation that keeps changing steadily in a single direction, with no sign of stopping — things 'keep on' increasing, decreasing…
- ～がちだ — Prone To It[Verb ます-stem] / [Noun] + がち(だ)Expresses that something tends to happen often, usually in an undesirable or negative direction. It describes a habitual leaning or a recurring…
- ～からいうと／からいえば — Speaking In Terms Of[Noun] + からいうと／からいえば／からいってIntroduces the standard, standpoint, or aspect from which a judgment is made. It answers 'considering X, then...' and is used to evaluate something…
- ～からして — Even Just From[Noun] + からしてTakes one representative example and uses it as grounds for a broader judgment, with the sense of 'even starting from just this one thing.' It…
- ～かわりに — Instead Of / In Exchange[Plain form] / [Noun + の] + かわりにExpresses substitution ('instead of X, Y') or compensation/trade-off ('in exchange for X, Y'). In the substitution sense one thing takes the place…
- ～きり — Only / And Never Since[Noun] + きり ／ [Verb た-form] + きりHas two core meanings: (1) 'only / just' limiting to a single amount, similar to だけ, and (2) after a past-tense verb, 'since X, nothing changed / it…
Connectives· 3
- ～一方(で) — On One Hand, On the Other[Verb・い-adj plain] + 一方(で) / [な-adj] + な + 一方(で) / [Noun] + である + 一方(で)Presents two contrasting or parallel facts about the same topic — 'on one hand ~, on the other hand ~'. It highlights two different sides, aspects…
- ～上(に) — On Top of That[Verb・い-adj plain] + 上(に) / [な-adj] + な + 上(に) / [Noun] + の + 上(に)Adds a second, similar-in-kind item to the first — 'not only ~ but also ~; in addition to; on top of that'. Both clauses must point in the same…
- ～くせに — And Yet You Dare[Verb/い-adj plain] / [な-adj + な] / [Noun + の] + くせにConnects two clauses to mean 'even though / despite', but unlike simple ～のに it carries a strong tone of blame, criticism, contempt, or complaint…
Time Expressions· 3
- ～ないうちに — Before It Happens[Verb ない-form] + うちに / [い-adj negative くない] + うちに / [Noun] + でない + うちにMeans 'before ~ happens' or 'while ~ has not yet happened'. It signals doing something during the window before an (often undesirable) change…
- ～上(で) — After Doing / In the Process Of[Verb past-plain] + 上で (after) / [Verb dictionary form・Noun + の] + 上で (in doing)Has two related uses. With a past verb or noun+の, it means 'after ~; upon ~' — doing one thing first and then acting on that basis. With a…
- ～から～にかけて — Spanning From To[Noun (start)] から [Noun (end)] にかけてExpresses a continuous range or span across time or space, from one point through to another. Unlike a precise from/until, it marks an approximate…
Formal Expressions· 1
Modal Expressions· 2
- ～おそれがある — There Is a Risk That[Verb dictionary form] + おそれがある / [Noun] + の + おそれがあるMeans 'there is a risk/fear/danger that ~'. It warns that some undesirable event may occur. Used for objective, somewhat serious possibilities, so…
- ～ことだ — You Really Should[Verb dictionary form] / [Verb ない-form] + ことだUsed to give strong advice or a recommendation: 'the best thing (to do) is ~' or 'you should ~'. It presents the action as the clearly sensible…
Verb Forms· 3
- ～かけだ／～かける — Left Half-Done[Verb ます-stem] + かける / かけだ / かけの + [Noun]Attached to a verb stem, ～かける means an action has been started but not finished ('to begin to ~; to half-do ~'), and ～かけだ / ～かけの describes something…
- ～きる／きれる — Do It Completely[Verb ます-stem] + きる／きれる／きれないAttached to a verb stem, きる means to do something thoroughly to the very end or completely. It can also express reaching an extreme state ('utterly…
- ～きれない — Too Much To Finish[Verb ます-stem] + きれないAttaches to a verb stem to say an action cannot be completed or exhausted — there is simply too much of it, or it is beyond one's capacity. It is…
Hearsay & Conjecture· 3
- ～かのようだ — As If It Were[Plain form] + かのようだ／かのように／かのようなUsed to make a figurative comparison, describing something as if it were something else that it actually is not. It signals that the speaker knows…
- ～からすると／からすれば — Judging From[Noun] + からすると／からすればExpresses the basis or perspective from which a judgment or inference is made — 'judging from X' or 'from X's point of view.' It commonly follows…
- ～から見ると／から見て — Seen From[Noun] + から見ると／から見れば／から見てIndicates the viewpoint or evidence from which one observes and judges — 'seen from X' or 'from X's viewpoint.' It can express whose perspective is…
Comparison· 1
Emphasis· 2
- ～こそ — This Is The One[Noun] + こそ / [Verb て-form] + こそ (only through ~)An emphasis particle that singles out the preceding word as 'precisely / exactly this one and no other'. It highlights the noun or clause it…
- ～ことか — How Very ...![どんなに / どれほど / なんと] + [Verb/adj plain] + ことかAn exclamatory ending that expresses a strong, heartfelt emotion — how much, how deeply, or how very something is/was. It usually follows a question…
- ～ことなく — Without Ever
- ～ことに(は) — To My Surprise
- ～ことになっている — It's The Rule
- ～ことはない — No Need To
- ～際(に) — On The Occasion Of
- 最中に — Right in the Thick of It
- さえ — Even That Much
- さえ〜ば — If Only This One Thing
- ざるを得ない — No Choice But To
- 次第 — The Moment It's Done
- 次第だ／次第で — It All Depends
- だけあって — Living Up to It
- だけでなく — Not Only That
- だらけ — Covered All Over
- ついでに — While You're At It
- っけ — What Was It Again?
- っこない — No Way That'll Happen
- ～つつある — In the Process of Changing
- ～つつ(も) — While Yet Doing Otherwise
- ～っぱなし — Left As It Is
- ～っぽい — Has a Tendency Toward
- ～て以来 — Ever Since Then
- ～てからでないと／～てからでなければ — Not Until You First
- ～てしょうがない／～てしかたがない — Unbearably So
- ～てたまらない — More Than One Can Bear
- ～てならない — Can't Help Feeling
- ～てばかりいる — Doing Nothing But
- ～てみせる — I'll Show You I Can
- ～ということだ — Which Means / I Hear That
- ～というと／～といえば — Speaking Of That
- ～というより — Rather Than, More Like
- ～といっても — Even Though I Say
- ～とおり(に)／～どおり — Just As, According To
- ～どころか — Far From, Let Alone
- ～ところに／～ところへ — Right At That Moment
- ～ところを — Caught In The Act
- ～ところだった — Almost Happened
- ～としたら／～とすれば／～とすると — Assuming That
- ～として — In The Capacity Of
- ～としても — Even Supposing
- ～とともに — Along With, As
- ～とは限らない — Not Necessarily So
- ～ないことには — Unless You First Do This
- ～において／～における — In; At; Regarding (Formal)
- ～に応じて — Depending On; In Accordance With
- ～に限らず — Not Only; Not Limited To
- ～にかけては — When It Comes To
- ～に関して／～に関する — Regarding; Concerning
- ～に加えて — In Addition To
- ～にしたがって — As Things Progress
- ～にしては — Contrary to Expectation
- ～にしても — Even Granting That
- ～にしろ／～にせよ — Whether One Way or Another
- ～にすぎない — Nothing More Than
- ～に沿って — Following the Line
- ～に対して — Directed Toward / In Contrast
- ～に違いない — There's No Doubt
- ～につき — Per / Owing To (Formal Notice)
- ～につれて — As One Thing Changes, So Does Another
- ～にとって — From the Standpoint Of
- ～にほかならない — Nothing Other Than
- ～によって／～による — By; Depending On; Due To
- ～によると／～によれば — According to a Source
- ～に決まっている — I'm Sure It Must Be
- ～ぬきで／～ぬきに — Leaving Out; Without
- ～ぬく — Do It All the Way Through
- ～のもとで／～のもとに — Under the Wing Of
- ～ば～ほど — The More, The More
- ～ばかりか — Not Only, But Even
- ～ばかりでなく — Not Only, But Also
- ～ばかりだ — Just Keeps Going (One Way)
- ～ばかりに — Simply Because (Regret)
- ～はもちろん — Not to Mention
- ～はもとより — Let Alone (Formal)
- ～反面 — On the Flip Side
- ～ほど — To the Extent That
- ～ほかない／～ほかはない — No Choice But To
- ～まい — Surely Not / I Won't
- ～まま(に) — Just As It Is
- ～向きだ／～向き — Suited For / Facing
- ～向けだ／～向け — Made For / Aimed At
- ～ものだ — That's Just How It Is
- ～ものだから — It's Just That / Because (Excuse)
- ～ものの — Although / And Yet
- ～ものなら — If Only I Could
- ～ものか — As If I Ever Would!
- ～やら～やら — What With This And That
- ～ようがない／～ようもない — No Way To Do It
- ように(言う／頼む) — Relaying an Instruction
- わけがない — There's No Way
- わけだ — That Explains It
- わけではない — Not Exactly
- わけにはいかない — I Simply Can't
- わりに(は) — Considering That
- をこめて — Pouring In Feeling
- を中心に(して) — Centering On
- を通じて／を通して — By Way Of / Throughout
- をはじめ(として) — Starting With
- をめぐって／をめぐる — Over the Matter Of
- をもとに(して) — Based On
- ～をきっかけに(して) — The Turning Point
- ～かねない — Liable To Go Wrong
- ～かねる — Unable To Bring Oneself To
- ～がたい — Hard To Do; Hard To Accept
- ～得る／～得ない — Within / Beyond the Realm of Possibility
- ～たとたん(に) — The Very Instant
- ～たものだ — Those Were The Days
- ～ため(に) — Purpose or Cause
- ～ながら(も) — Even While
- ～ぶりに — For The First Time In
- ～ふりをする — Putting On An Act
- ～か～ないかのうちに — The Very Instant
- ～など／～なんか／～なんて — The Dismissive 'Such Things'
- ～って — The Casual Quote & Topic
- ～のみ — Only, and Nothing Else (Formal)
- ～ねばならない — Must (Literary)
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