JLPT N5 Grammar Points You Must Know

JLPT N5 Grammar Points You Must Know Before the Test means the basic sentence patterns that show up again and again on the easiest level of the JLPT. In other words: the stuff the test likes to repeat because it is rude like that.

For the broader learning path, visit our parent guide.

If you are starting with Japanese grammar, N5 is where the language stops being mysterious wallpaper and starts becoming usable. You do not need giant sentences. You need a small number of patterns that let you say who, what, where, when, and how with confidence. That is the whole game.

One learner once said the biggest surprise was not the kanji. It was realizing Japanese can be very short and still very clear. Annoying for beginners, yes. Helpful later, also yes.

For a bigger map of the level system, see Japanese JLPT Levels. If you want to check your current level first, try the Japanese Placement Test JLPT. And if you want to build more word power while you study grammar, the Japanese Vocabulary Test is a useful side quest.

1. です And ます: The Basic Polite Form

The polite form is the first thing you should get comfortable with. It appears in almost every beginner sentence. Think of it as the default setting for safe, normal Japanese.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
学生です	gakusei desu	I am a student.	私は学生です。	Watashi wa gakusei desu.	I am a student.
行きます	ikimasu	go	学校へ行きます。	Gakkō e ikimasu.	I go to school.
食べます	tabemasu	eat	朝ごはんを食べます。	Asagohan o tabemasu.	I eat breakfast.
見ます	mimasu	see/watch	テレビを見ます。	Terebi o mimasu.	I watch TV.

Notice the polite endings: です and ます. You will see them so often that your eyes will start predicting them before your brain does. That is normal. Congratulations, your Japanese is becoming sentient.

2. 〜は: Topic Marker

は is the topic marker. It tells the listener what you are talking about. It is read wa when used as a particle. Yes, Japanese enjoys one little joke per lesson.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
私は学生です。	Watashi wa gakusei desu.	I am a student.	私は学生です。	Watashi wa gakusei desu.	I am a student.
今日は雨です。	Kyou wa ame desu.	Today is rainy.	今日は雨です。	Kyou wa ame desu.	Today is rainy.
日本語はおもしろいです。	Nihongo wa omoshiroi desu.	Japanese is interesting.	日本語はおもしろいです。	Nihongo wa omoshiroi desu.	Japanese is interesting.

は does not always mean “the subject.” It often means “as for this topic.” That tiny difference saves a lot of confusion later.

3. 〜の: Possession And Connection

の connects nouns. It can mean “of,” “’s,” or simply show belonging. It is one of the most useful little pieces in the whole language.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
私の本	watashi no hon	my book	これは私の本です。	Kore wa watashi no hon desu.	This is my book.
日本の車	Nihon no kuruma	Japanese car	日本の車は人気です。	Nihon no kuruma wa ninki desu.	Japanese cars are popular.
友だちの家	tomodachi no ie	a friend’s house	友だちの家へ行きます。	Tomodachi no ie e ikimasu.	I go to a friend’s house.

4. 〜も: Also, Too, Even

も means “also,” “too,” or sometimes “even.” It is simple, flexible, and very common in N5 reading and listening.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
私も行きます。	Watashi mo ikimasu.	I will go too.	私も行きます。	Watashi mo ikimasu.	I will go too.
日本語も勉強します。	Nihongo mo benkyou shimasu.	I study Japanese too.	日本語も勉強します。	Nihongo mo benkyou shimasu.	I study Japanese too.
水もください。	Mizu mo kudasai.	Water too, please.	水もください。	Mizu mo kudasai.	Water too, please.

5. 〜を: Direct Object Marker

を marks the thing receiving the action. It is read o. In beginner Japanese, this is usually the object of a verb.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
本を読みます。	Hon o yomimasu.	I read a book.	本を読みます。	Hon o yomimasu.	I read a book.
りんごを食べます。	Ringo o tabemasu.	I eat an apple.	りんごを食べます。	Ringo o tabemasu.	I eat an apple.
映画を見ます。	Eiga o mimasu.	I watch a movie.	映画を見ます。	Eiga o mimasu.	I watch a movie.

6. 〜に: Time, Place, And Destination

に is a multitool. It can show time, destination, or the place where something exists or happens. It is helpful. It is also slightly bossy.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
七時に起きます。	Shichi-ji ni okimasu.	I wake up at 7 o’clock.	七時に起きます。	Shichi-ji ni okimasu.	I wake up at 7 o’clock.
学校に行きます。	Gakkō ni ikimasu.	I go to school.	学校に行きます。	Gakkō ni ikimasu.	I go to school.
部屋にいます。	Heya ni imasu.	I am in the room.	部屋にいます。	Heya ni imasu.	I am in the room.

7. 〜へ: Direction

へ shows direction. It is read e. It is often used with movement verbs like 行きます and 来ます.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
学校へ行きます。	Gakkō e ikimasu.	I go to school.	学校へ行きます。	Gakkō e ikimasu.	I go to school.
家へ帰ります。	Ie e kaerimasu.	I go home.	家へ帰ります。	Ie e kaerimasu.	I go home.
日本へ来ました。	Nihon e kimashita.	I came to Japan.	日本へ来ました。	Nihon e kimashita.	I came to Japan.

8. あります And います: Existence

あります is used for things that are not alive. います is used for people and animals. This distinction matters a lot in N5. Japanese does not let furniture and cats share the same grammar seat.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
本があります。	Hon ga arimasu.	There is a book.	本があります。	Hon ga arimasu.	There is a book.
犬がいます。	Inu ga imasu.	There is a dog.	犬がいます。	Inu ga imasu.	There is a dog.
公園に人がいます。	Kouen ni hito ga imasu.	There is a person in the park.	公園に人がいます。	Kouen ni hito ga imasu.	There is a person in the park.

9. 〜が: Subject Marker And New Information

が often marks the subject or highlights new information. At N5, it is enough to know that it can point to what exists, what can do something, or what you want.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
猫がいます。	Neko ga imasu.	There is a cat.	猫がいます。	Neko ga imasu.	There is a cat.
水がほしいです。	Mizu ga hoshii desu.	I want water.	水がほしいです。	Mizu ga hoshii desu.	I want water.
日本語がわかります。	Nihongo ga wakarimasu.	I understand Japanese.	日本語がわかります。	Nihongo ga wakarimasu.	I understand Japanese.

10. 〜で: Place Of Action

で shows where an action happens. It is different from に. That difference is one of those classic beginner traps, because of course Japanese had to give you two small particles and let them fight.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
学校で勉強します。	Gakkō de benkyou shimasu.	I study at school.	学校で勉強します。	Gakkō de benkyou shimasu.	I study at school.
レストランで食べます。	Resutoran de tabemasu.	I eat at a restaurant.	レストランで食べます。	Resutoran de tabemasu.	I eat at a restaurant.
公園で遊びます。	Kouen de asobimasu.	I play in the park.	公園で遊びます。	Kouen de asobimasu.	I play in the park.

11. 〜から And 〜まで: From And Until

から means “from,” and まで means “until” or “to.” Together, they mark a range. Very useful. Very testable. Very unglamorous, which means the JLPT absolutely loves it.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
九時から勉強します。	Ku-ji kara benkyou shimasu.	I study from 9 o’clock.	九時から勉強します。	Ku-ji kara benkyou shimasu.	I study from 9 o’clock.
五時まで働きます。	Go-ji made hatarakimasu.	I work until 5 o’clock.	五時まで働きます。	Go-ji made hatarakimasu.	I work until 5 o’clock.
月曜日から金曜日まで学校です。	Getsuyoubi kara kinyoubi made gakkou desu.	School is from Monday to Friday.	月曜日から金曜日まで学校です。	Getsuyoubi kara kinyoubi made gakkou desu.	School is from Monday to Friday.

12. 〜が好きです And 〜がほしいです

These two patterns are very common in N5 because they let you say what you like and what you want. A practical language, finally.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
音楽が好きです。	Ongaku ga suki desu.	I like music.	音楽が好きです。	Ongaku ga suki desu.	I like music.
日本料理が好きです。	Nihon ryouri ga suki desu.	I like Japanese food.	日本料理が好きです。	Nihon ryouri ga suki desu.	I like Japanese food.
水がほしいです。	Mizu ga hoshii desu.	I want water.	水がほしいです。	Mizu ga hoshii desu.	I want water.

13. 〜たいです: Want To Do Something

〜たいです is used when you want to do an action. It attaches to the stem of a verb. At N5, just learn the shape and the feeling first.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
行きたいです。	ikitai desu	I want to go.	東京へ行きたいです。	Toukyou e ikitai desu.	I want to go to Tokyo.
食べたいです。	tabetai desu	I want to eat.	ラーメンを食べたいです。	Raamen o tabetai desu.	I want to eat ramen.
見たいです。	mitai desu	I want to see/watch.	映画を見たいです。	Eiga o mitai desu.	I want to watch a movie.

14. Negative Form: 〜ません And 〜じゃありません

Negatives are a core N5 skill. You need them for “do not,” “is not,” and “cannot.” Without negatives, your Japanese becomes suspiciously enthusiastic.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
行きません。	ikimasen	do not go / will not go	学校へ行きません。	Gakkō e ikimasen.	I do not go to school.
食べません。	tabemasen	do not eat / will not eat	朝ごはんを食べません。	Asagohan o tabemasen.	I do not eat breakfast.
学生じゃありません。	gakusei ja arimasen	I am not a student.	私は学生じゃありません。	Watashi wa gakusei ja arimasen.	I am not a student.

15. Past Form: 〜ました And 〜でした

Past tense is everywhere in basic Japanese. Use it for completed actions and past states. Luckily, the polite past is neat and predictable. A rare gift.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
行きました。	ikimashita	went	昨日、学校へ行きました。	Kinou, gakkou e ikimashita.	Yesterday, I went to school.
食べました。	tabemashita	ate	晩ごはんを食べました。	Bangohan o tabemashita.	I ate dinner.
学生でした。	gakusei deshita	was a student	去年は学生でした。	Kyonen wa gakusei deshita.	I was a student last year.

16. Question Form: 〜か

か turns a sentence into a question. It usually appears at the end. Simple, direct, and very important for listening and reading.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
行きますか。	ikimasu ka	Will you go?	学校へ行きますか。	Gakkō e ikimasu ka.	Will you go to school?
食べますか。	tabemasu ka	Will you eat?	すしを食べますか。	Sushi o tabemasu ka.	Will you eat sushi?
先生ですか。	sensei desu ka	Are you a teacher?	あなたは先生ですか。	Anata wa sensei desu ka.	Are you a teacher?

17. 〜てください: Please Do This

〜てください is a very common request pattern. You will hear it in instructions, classrooms, and anywhere someone wants you to be helpful on purpose.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
見てください。	mite kudasai	Please look.	ここを見てください。	Koko o mite kudasai.	Please look here.
聞いてください。	kiite kudasai	Please listen.	先生の話を聞いてください。	Sensei no hanashi o kiite kudasai.	Please listen to the teacher’s talk.
待ってください。	matte kudasai	Please wait.	少し待ってください。	Sukoshi matte kudasai.	Please wait a moment.

18. 〜ています: Ongoing Action Or State

〜ています can show something happening now, or a continuing state. N5 usually starts with the “happening now” meaning.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji Example	Translation
勉強しています。	benkyou shite imasu	I am studying.	今、勉強しています。	Ima, benkyou shite imasu.	I am studying now.
読んでいます。	yonde imasu	I am reading.	本を読んでいます。	Hon o yonde imasu.	I am reading a book.
住んでいます。	su nde imasu	I live / am living	東京に住んでいます。	Toukyou ni sunde imasu.	I live in Tokyo.

Common N5 Grammar Confusions

Here are the traps that show up again and again. Because naturally, Japanese likes to make tiny grammar markers do enormous jobs.

は is the topic marker, not always the subject marker.
が often marks new information or the thing doing/being something.
に is for time, destination, or existence with います/あります.
で is for the place where an action happens.
へ shows direction, especially with movement verbs.
あります is for non-living things; います is for living things.
です is polite and can end simple noun/adjective sentences.
ます is the polite verb ending in the present/future form.

Quick Practice

Try swapping the words and keeping the pattern. That is how grammar gets sticky instead of decorative.

Change 学校へ行きます。 to past: 学校へ行きました。
Change 本を読みます。 to negative: 本を読みません。
Change 私は学生です。 to negative: 私は学生じゃありません。
Change 水がほしいです。 to “want to drink”: 水を飲みたいです。
Change レストランで食べます。 to question: レストランで食べますか。

Fast Reference Summary

Grammar Point	What It Does	Simple Example	Meaning
です	Polite “is/are”	学生です。	I am a student.
ます	Polite verb form	行きます。	I go.
は	Topic marker	私は	As for me
が	Subject/new info	猫がいます。	There is a cat.
を	Direct object marker	本を読みます。	I read a book.
に	Time, destination, existence	七時に起きます。	I wake up at 7.
で	Place of action	学校で勉強します。	I study at school.
から / まで	From / until	九時から五時まで	From 9 to 5
か	Question marker	行きますか。	Do you go?
てください	Please do	見てください。	Please look.

If you want to keep going after N5, the natural next step is the JLPT N4 Japanese Grammar guide. If you are still building your base, the JLPT N5 Japanese Study Guide is the better place to slow down and lock things in.

JLPT N5 grammar is not about sounding fancy. It is about building clean, reliable sentences you can actually use. Learn the particles, memorize the polite forms, and keep seeing the same patterns in real examples. That is the boring-looking secret that works.