Master the JLPT N4: Essential Grammar Review

Welcome to your ultimate JLPT N4 Grammar Review Guide! Transitioning from N5 to N4 means moving from basic survival phrases to expressing complex thoughts, intentions, and relationships.

Today, we will review the four highest-yield grammar pillars you must master to ace the N4 exam.

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1. The Benefactive Triad: Giving & Receiving (授受表現)

In Japanese culture, gratitude and social direction are baked directly into grammar. You must master these three auxiliary verbs attached to the Te-form (〜て):

Examples:

• てあげる: 私は友達に日本語を教えてあげました。
  • I taught Japanese to my friend (as a favor).
  私友達日本語
• てくれる: 鈴木さんは私に漢字を教えてくれました。
  • Suzuki-san taught me Kanji (kindly doing it for me).
  鈴木私漢字教
• てもらう: 私は先生に作文を直してもらいました。
  • I had the teacher correct my essay (I received the benefit).
  私先生作文直

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2. Expressing Intentions: 〜ようと思う (Volitional + to omou)

To express what you plan or intend to do, use the Volitional Form followed by と思う (or と思っています for ongoing intentions).思

• How to form the Volitional:
  • Group 1 (U-verbs): Change final -u to -ō (e.g., 行く $\rightarrow$ 行こう)行
  • Group 2 (Ru-verbs): Drop -ru, add -yō (e.g., 食べる $\rightarrow$ 食べよう)食
  • Irregulars: する $\rightarrow$ しよう / 来る $\rightarrow$ 来よう (こよう)来
  行食来

Example:

• 来年、日本に留学しようと思っています。
  • I am thinking of studying abroad in Japan next year.
  来年日本留学

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3. The Conditional "If / When": 〜たら

While N4 introduces several conditionals, 〜たら is the most versatile and safest to use. It indicates that the action in clause B can only happen after the condition in clause A is realized.

• Formation: Past Plain Form (Ta-form) + ら
  • Verb: 読む $\rightarrow$ 読んだら読
  • I-Adj: 寒い $\rightarrow$ 寒かったら寒
  • Na-Adj/Noun: 暇 $\rightarrow$ 暇だったら暇
  読寒暇

Example:

• 安かったら、新しいパソコンを買いましょう。
  • If it is cheap, let's buy a new computer.
  安新買

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4. Hearsay vs. Conjecture: 〜そうだ (Sō da)

This is a classic JLPT trap! The meaning changes completely based on how you attach そうだ.

A. Conjecture ("It looks like...")

• Rule: Verb Stem / Adjective Base (drop 〜い/〜な) + そうだ
• 雨が降りそうだ。 (It looks like it's going to rain.)雨降

B. Hearsay ("I heard that...")

• Rule: Dictionary/Plain Form + そうだ
• 明日、雨が降るそうだ。 (I heard it will rain tomorrow.)明日雨降

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Quick Challenge!

Test your knowledge. Translate this sentence using the grammar above:

"If you have time, I would like to have you teach me English."

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時間があったら、英語を教えてもらいたいです。
(Jikan ga attara, eigo o oshiete moraitai desu.)時間英語教

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Keep practicing, pay close attention to verb conjugations, and you will breeze through the N4 grammar section! がんばってください！