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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Active filters: CEFR level: B2
B2 Keigo (Honorific Language) Verified

Respectful Verbs: The "O-ni naru" Pattern

The standard "upgrade kit" to make any normal verb respectful when speaking about superiors or customers.

  • • Respectful form for someone else's actions
  • • Verbs: o + stem + ni naru
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

~わけだ (It makes sense that...)

Use `~わけだ` to confirm that a result is the logical and expected consequence of a specific reason.

  • • Expresses a natural or logical conclusion based on...
  • • Commonly translates to 'No wonder,' 'It makes sens...
8 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

Partial Negation: 'It's not that...' (~わけではない)

Use ~わけではない to precisely correct assumptions while keeping the conversation smooth and nuanced.

  • • Used to deny an assumption without a flat total ne...
  • • Commonly translated as 'It doesn't mean that' or '...
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

Social Duty: Can't possibly do (〜わけにはいかない)

Use わけにはいかない when you physically can do something, but socially, ethically, or situationally, you really shouldn't.

  • • Expresses 'cannot possibly do' due to social or mo...
  • • Never used for lack of physical ability or skill.
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Verbs Verified

Being Unable to... (Politely) (~かねる)

Use `~かねる` to decline requests politely in professional settings without sounding cold or direct.

  • • Formal way to say 'cannot' or 'unable to' in Japan...
  • • Attaches to the verb masu-stem to express polite r...
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Verbs Verified

Warning: Negative Possibilities (~kanenai)

Use `~かねない` to warn that a specific action or situation might lead to a negative, undesirable outcome.

  • • Expresses a high possibility of a negative or unde...
  • • Only used for 'bad' results like accidents, failur...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

I'm Certain! (~ni chigai nai)

Use `に違いない` when you've analyzed clues and reached a high-certainty conclusion about a situation.

  • • Used for strong logical deductions based on eviden...
  • • Translates to 'I'm certain that...' or 'There's no...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

Unbearable Feelings (~te tamaranai)

Use `~てたまらない` to express emotions or physical sensations so strong they feel impossible to contain.

  • • Expresses intense, uncontrollable physical or ment...
  • • Literally means 'cannot endure' or 'cannot stand i...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

Uncontrollable Feelings: ~てならない (~te naranai)

Use ~てならない when an emotion or thought bubbles up so strongly you absolutely cannot control it.

  • • Expresses an uncontrollable emotion, thought, or s...
  • • Used mainly with first-person subjects ('I').
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

Giving Direct Advice (~koto da)

Use `~ことだ` to offer firm, expert-like advice or general rules for achieving a specific goal.

  • • Used for giving direct advice or rules for success...
  • • Follows Verb (Dictionary Form) or Verb (Nai-form).
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

Japanese Grammar: "No Need To..." (Koto wa nai)

Use {ことはない} to tell someone that an action is unnecessary, pointless, or that they are worrying too much.

  • • Means "there is no need to" or "it is not necessar...
  • • Attach directly to the Dictionary Form of the verb...
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B2 Conditionals Verified

Assuming scenarios with 'としたら' and 'とすれば'

Use `としたら` to explore hypothetical possibilities and `とすれば` for logical assumptions in more formal contexts.

  • • Used for hypothetical 'what if' scenarios that are...
  • • Formed by adding plain form verbs, adjectives, or...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Conditionals Verified

If I could (Impossible Wish) (~mono nara)

Use Verb (Potential) + ものなら to talk about things you wish you could do but probably can't.

  • • Expresses impossible or unlikely wishes
  • • Means "If one could..."
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Adjectives Verified

Expressing Vibes and Feelings with ~げ (~ge)

Use `~げ` to describe the nuanced, observable 'air' or 'vibe' of someone's internal feelings or a situation's atmosphere.

  • • Used to describe the 'air' or 'vibe' of an emotion...
  • • Attaches to adjective stems (remove ~い or ~な) an...
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

Far from it: Using ~どころか for Contrast

Use ~どころか to emphasize that a situation is much more extreme than what was just suggested.

  • • Far from expectation; reality is much more extreme...
  • • Used with nouns, verbs, and adjectives in their pl...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

Japanese Grammar "No time for..." (~dokoro dewa nai)

Use 〜どころではない when you want to express that your current busy, broke, or stressful situation makes an action completely impossible.

  • • Means 'not the time/place for' or 'out of the ques...
  • • Used when circumstances (time, money, health) make...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Sentence Structure Verified

Formal Sequence: Upon doing X (~ta ue de)

Use V-ta + 上で to state that you will do an action only after a necessary preparation step is complete.

  • • Means 'Upon doing X' or 'After X'
  • • Implies X is a necessary preparation
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Particles Verified

The One and Only (koso): Adding Powerful Emphasis

Use `こそ` to spotlight one thing as the absolute most important or relevant among all options.

  • • Used for strong emphasis on a specific subject or...
  • • Commonly translates to 'precisely,' 'the very,' or...
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B2 Particles Verified

～として (As / In the capacity of)

Use `Noun + として` to declare the role, function, or "hat" someone is wearing, like saying "speaking as a..." or "functioning as a...".

  • • Means "as" or "in the role of"
  • • Attach directly to a Noun
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Particles Verified

Listing Things in a Whirlwind (~yara ~yara)

Use `~やら~やら` to list messy, diverse, or overwhelming things when you feel there is too much going on.

  • • Used to list multiple examples with a sense of cha...
  • • Works with nouns, dictionary-form verbs, and i/na...
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B2 Sentence Structure Verified

~to iu koto da: Reporting Hearsay ('I've heard that...')

Use `~ということだ` to relay information you didn't witness yourself or to clarify the main point of a situation.

  • • Used to report secondhand information ('I've heard...
  • • Also used to summarize or conclude ('So, it means...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Verbs Verified

No Choice But to... (~zaru o enai)

Use `~ざるを得ない` to express an inescapable logical or situational necessity where no other options remain.

  • • Used when external circumstances or logic force a...
  • • Follows the negative stem (Nai-form) of a verb +...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

Expressing Strong Rejection: (~ものか / ~もんか)

Use `~ものか` for emphatic, emotional rejection when a simple 'no' just isn't strong enough.

  • • Expresses strong, emotional negation or total reje...
  • • Translates to 'No way!', 'As if!', or 'Like heck I...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Expressions & Patterns Verified

Japanese Grammar: Sue ni (At the end of...)

Use `末に` (sue ni) to emphasize that a final result came from a long, difficult, or intense process.

  • • Means "after a long process of..."
  • • Connects a struggle to a final result
11 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.

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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.

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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

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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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