NihonNestJLPT N5 grammar
Quick answer
N5 grammar is the small set of patterns that hold a polite sentence together: topic, object, place, time, questions, and the です and ます endings. This page shows 20 core patterns from NihonNest's N5 lessons. The full path in the app has 88 grammar points.
What these patterns are for
Each pattern below is one N5 lesson already in the app. The meaning is the first sentence of that lesson. The example is the lesson's own practice sentence, with the kana, romaji, and English stored beside it. Nothing here is from a higher level.
Learn them in this order if you are new: は, の, and を, then the place and time particles, then です and ます, then the polite negatives and past. One pattern a day is enough.
は
は marks the topic, the thing the sentence is about.
私は学生です。
わたしはがくせいです。
watashi wa gakusei desu.
I am a student.
の
の joins two nouns.
私の本です。
わたしのほんです。
watashi no hon desu.
It is my book.
を
を marks the direct object, the thing the verb acts on.
水を飲みます。
みずをのみます。
mizu o nomimasu.
I drink water.
に
に marks a destination, a point in time, or the place where something exists.
学校に行きます。
がっこうにいきます。
gakkou ni ikimasu.
I go to school.
か
か turns a sentence into a question.
学生ですか。
がくせいですか。
gakusei desu ka.
Are you a student?
も
も means also or too.
私も学生です。
わたしもがくせいです。
watashi mo gakusei desu.
I am a student too.
が
が marks the subject when you point out who or what does something, or what exists.
誰が来ますか。
だれがきますか。
dare ga kimasu ka.
Who is coming?
で
で marks the place where an action happens, or the means you use.
図書館で本を読みます。
としょかんでほんをよみます。
toshokan de hon o yomimasu.
I read a book at the library.
へ
へ marks a direction, where you are heading.
学校へ行きます。
がっこうへいきます。
gakkou e ikimasu.
I go to school.
と
と means and between nouns, or with someone.
友達と話します。
ともだちとはなします。
tomodachi to hanashimasu.
I talk with a friend.
から
から means from a time or a place.
九時から働きます。
くじからはたらきます。
kuji kara hatarakimasu.
I work from nine o'clock.
まで
まで means until a time, or as far as a place.
五時まで働きます。
ごじまではたらきます。
goji made hatarakimasu.
I work until five o'clock.
です
です is the polite form of is.
これは本です。
これはほんです。
kore wa hon desu.
This is a book.
ます
ます is the polite ending for verbs.
水を飲みます。
みずをのみます。
mizu o nomimasu.
I drink water.
〜たい
たい means want to do.
水が飲みたいです。
みずがのみたいです。
mizu ga nomitai desu.
I want to drink water.
〜てください
てください is a polite please do.
名前を書いてください。
なまえをかいてください。
namae o kaite kudasai.
Please write your name.
〜ません
ません is the polite way to say you do not do something.
肉を食べません。
にくをたべません。
niku o tabemasen.
I do not eat meat.
〜ました
ました is the polite past.
本を読みました。
ほんをよみました。
hon o yomimashita.
I read a book.
〜ましょう
ましょう means let's do it.
お茶を飲みましょう。
おちゃをのみましょう。
ocha o nomimashou.
Let's drink tea.
〜かった
かった is the past of an い-adjective.
昨日は暑かったです。
きのうはあつかったです。
kinou wa atsukatta desu.
Yesterday was hot.
The other N5 patterns, including the ones that join two sentences, are in the grammar lessons on Learn. There are 88 N5 grammar points on the full path.
FAQ
How many N5 grammar points does NihonNest have?
88. This page shows 20 core patterns. The rest are in the lessons on the Learn path.
Are these official JLPT sentences?
No. Each example comes from the NihonNest lesson for that pattern. NihonNest is not affiliated with or endorsed by the JLPT.
What should I learn first?
は, の, を, に, and で, plus です and ます. Those seven hold most beginner sentences. The list above keeps that order.
Do I need to memorise the romaji?
No. Romaji is a temporary reading aid. The kana line is the one to keep. The app hides romaji once your reviews are moving.
More guides
NihonNest is not affiliated with or endorsed by the JLPT. Not an official JLPT score.