Japanese Grammar Hub

Understand Japanese Grammar Faster

Browse the grammar system by level and category, then open clear explanations with practical examples.

187 Total Rules
47 Chapters
6 CEFR level
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Understand Japanese Grammar Faster

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Active filters: CEFR level: A1
A1 Sentence Structure Verified

Japanese Word Order: The Verb-Last Rule (SOV)

In Japanese, the verb is the anchor that must always stay at the end of the sentence.

  • • Verbs always go at the very end of the sentence.
  • • Japanese follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order,...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Sentence Structure Verified

Japanese Basics: The "A is B" Sentence (wa/desu)

Use the pattern **A `は` B `です`** to say "A is B," remembering that the verb always comes last.

  • • Japanese sentence order is SOV (Subject-Object-Ver...
  • • Particle `は` (wa) marks the topic.
12 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Particles Verified

The Object Marker: を (wo/o) Particle

The particle を (pronounced "o" in modern Japanese, though romanized as "wo") is one of the most fundamental particles in Japanese. It marks the direct object of a verb — the thing that receives the a...

  • • を marks the direct object (the thing receiving th...
  • • Pronounced "o" (not "wo") in normal speech
5 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Particles Verified

The Versatile Particle: に (ni) — Location, Time & Direction

The particle に (ni) is arguably the most versatile particle in Japanese. It serves multiple crucial roles that English handles with different prepositions like "at," "in," "to," "on," and "for." At i...

  • • に marks specific time: 3時に (at 3 o'clock)
  • • に marks destination: 学校に行く (go to school)
5 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Particles Verified

The Action Particle: で (de) — Means & Location of Action

The particle で (de) answers two fundamental questions: "Where do you do it?" and "How/by what means do you do it?" It marks the location where an action takes place and the tool, method, or means use...

  • • で marks location of action: レストランで食べる (e...
  • • で marks means/tool: 箸で食べる (eat with chopstic...
5 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Particles Verified

The Direction Particle: へ (e) — Toward a Destination

The particle へ (pronounced "e" when used as a particle, not "he") marks direction — the way you are heading. While に also indicates destination, へ puts the focus on the journey and direction rather...

  • • へ marks direction: 日本へ行く (go toward Japan)
  • • Pronounced "e" not "he" as a particle
4 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Verb Basics Verified

Polite Present & Future: The ます (masu) Form

The ます (masu) form is the polite present/future tense of Japanese verbs and is the first verb form most learners encounter. It is used in everyday polite conversation — with strangers, coworkers, te...

  • • ます form = polite present/future tense
  • • Group 1: change -u to -i + ます (書く→書きます)
4 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Verb Basics Verified

Polite Negative: ません (masen) — "I don't..."

To make a polite negative sentence in Japanese ("I don't...", "I won't..."), simply replace ます with ません. This is one of the easiest and most regular patterns in Japanese — no exceptions, no irreg...

  • • Replace ます with ません for polite negative
  • • Works for all verbs with no exceptions
4 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Verb Basics Verified

Polite Past Tense: ました (mashita) — "I did..."

To express past tense politely in Japanese ("I did...", "I ate...", "I went..."), replace ます with ました. Like the negative form, this is perfectly regular with zero exceptions. 食べます → 食べまし...

  • • Replace ます with ました for polite past tense
  • • Works for all verbs: 食べました, 行きました, しま...
4 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Verb Basics Verified

Polite Past Negative: ませんでした (masen deshita) — "I didn't..."

The polite past negative ("I didn't...") is formed by replacing ます with ませんでした. This completes the four basic polite conjugations every beginner needs: ます (present affirmative), ません (pres...

  • • Replace ます with ませんでした for polite past neg...
  • • Completes the 4 polite forms: ます/ません/ました/...
4 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Adjectives Verified

い-Adjectives: Japanese Adjectives That Conjugate

Japanese has two types of adjectives, and い-adjectives (i-adjectives) are the ones that end in い and can conjugate on their own — meaning they change form for negative, past, and past negative witho...

  • • い-adjectives end in い and conjugate independentl...
  • • Negative: drop い + くない (美味しくない)
4 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Adjectives Verified

な-Adjectives: Japanese Adjectives That Need な

な-adjectives (na-adjectives) are the second type of Japanese adjective. Unlike い-adjectives, they do not conjugate on their own — instead they behave more like nouns and use です/じゃない for conjug...

  • • な-adjectives need な before nouns: きれいな人
  • • Conjugation uses です forms (not the adjective its...
5 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Sentence Structure Verified

The Politeness Sticker: Desu (です)

Desu is the polite "equals sign" placed at the end of a sentence to define what the subject is.

  • • Desu means 'is', 'am', or 'are'.
  • • It always goes at the end of the sentence.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Sentence Structure Verified

Japanese Politeness: ~Desu and ~Masu

Desu/Masu is your 'social safety net'—use Masu for verbs and Desu for everything else to sound polite and respectful.

  • • Verbs always end with ~masu
  • • Nouns and Adjectives end with ~desu
12 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Particles Verified

Connecting Nouns with {の|no}

Use {の|no} to glue nouns together; think of it as 's' or 'of' connecting a description to a main object.

  • • Connects two nouns together (A の B).
  • • Indicates possession (Mine), origin (Japan's), or...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Particles Verified

Connecting Nouns: 'And' (と)

Use the particle `と` to link nouns in a complete, clearly defined list of items.

  • • Connects two or more nouns like 'and' in English.
  • • Used only for exhaustive, complete lists of items.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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Why Learn Japanese Grammar?

Grammar is the foundation of language fluency. Without understanding grammar patterns, you can memorize vocabulary but struggle to form correct sentences. Here's why structured grammar study matters:

Build Accurate Sentences

Move beyond memorized phrases. Understand the rules so you can create original, correct sentences in any situation.

Pass Language Exams

Grammar is tested in every major language exam — IELTS, DELE, DELF, JLPT, HSK, TOPIK, and more. Our CEFR-aligned curriculum maps directly to exam requirements.

Understand Native Speakers

Knowing grammar helps you parse complex sentences, understand nuance, and follow conversations even when speakers use advanced constructions.

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Students who study grammar systematically reach fluency faster than those who rely on immersion alone. Structure accelerates learning.

How Our Japanese Grammar Course Works

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Choose Your Level

Start with your CEFR level — from A0 Zero Point to C2 Mastery. Not sure? Begin at A0 and progress at your own pace.

2

Study Structured Chapters

Each chapter covers a grammar topic with clear explanations, pattern tables, and real-world example sentences.

3

Practice with Exercises

Test your understanding with interactive exercises — fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, sentence building, and translation practice.

4

Track & Progress

Your progress is saved automatically. Complete chapters, unlock new levels, and watch your grammar mastery grow.

Frequently Asked Questions About Japanese Grammar

SubLearn covers 187 Japanese grammar rules organized across 6 CEFR proficiency levels (from A1 to C2), spanning 47 structured chapters. Each rule includes clear explanations, real-world examples, and interactive practice exercises.

Our Japanese grammar curriculum covers CEFR levels from A1 to C2. Each level is designed to match your current proficiency — beginners start with basic sentence patterns at A1, while advanced learners tackle nuanced structures at C1-C2.

Yes! All Japanese grammar rules, explanations, and examples are completely free to access. You can browse the full curriculum, read detailed explanations, and practice with exercises at no cost.

Grammar is organized into 47 thematic chapters following the CEFR framework. Each chapter groups related rules together — for example, verb tenses, sentence structure, or particles — so you can learn related concepts in a logical sequence.

Yes! Create a free account to track which grammar rules you've studied, see your progress across all CEFR levels, and pick up exactly where you left off. Your learning progress syncs across devices.

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