Grammar

Please do (something)

Verb (te-form) + ください

The te-form plus ください makes a polite request. You will hear it constantly at work: 確認してください (please check), 待ってください (please wait). To be even softer in business settings, use 〜ていただけますか instead.

May I…? / Is it OK to…?

Verb (te-form) + もいいですか

Asks for permission politely. Essential for a new employee: 質問してもいいですか (May I ask a question?), 帰ってもいいですか (May I go home?). The reply 大丈夫です or どうぞ means yes.

must do / have to do

Verb (nai-form, drop ない) + なければなりません

Expresses obligation. 行かなければなりません = I must go. In casual speech it shortens to 〜なきゃ. At work you will hear it about deadlines: 今日中に終わらせなければなりません (It must be finished today).

have (done) before — experience

Verb (ta-form) + ことがあります

Talks about past experience. Perfect for interviews: Reactを使ったことがあります (I have used React). The negative 〜たことがありません means you have never done it.

I will (humbly) do — keigo

Verb (causative te-form) + いただきます

Very common humble keigo in business. Literally 'I will receive the favor of being allowed to do'. 検討させていただきます (We will consider it), 確認させていただきます (Let me confirm). Use it with clients and managers — but don't overuse it in casual teams.

right in the middle of doing

Verb (te-form) + いるところです

Describes what you are doing right now. Useful when someone asks about your task status: 今、調べているところです (I'm looking into it right now). Compare: 〜するところです (about to do), 〜したところです (just did).

to be (polite copula)

Noun + です

「〜です」 means "to be (polite copula)". Structure: Noun + です. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

is not (polite negative)

Noun + じゃないです

「〜じゃないです」 means "is not (polite negative)". Structure: Noun + じゃないです. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

was (polite past)

Noun + でした

「〜でした」 means "was (polite past)". Structure: Noun + でした. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

topic marker

Noun + は

「〜は」 means "topic marker". Structure: Noun + は. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

subject marker

Noun + が

「〜が」 means "subject marker". Structure: Noun + が. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

object marker

Noun + を + Verb

「〜を」 means "object marker". Structure: Noun + を + Verb. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

location of existence

Place + に + います/あります

「〜に (place)」 means "location of existence". Structure: Place + に + います/あります. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

time marker

Time + に

「〜に (time)」 means "time marker". Structure: Time + に. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

direction marker

Place + へ + 行きます

「〜へ」 means "direction marker". Structure: Place + へ + 行きます. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

place of action

Place + で + Verb

「〜で (place)」 means "place of action". Structure: Place + で + Verb. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

by means of

Noun + で

「〜で (means)」 means "by means of". Structure: Noun + で. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

also / too

Noun + も

「〜も」 means "also / too". Structure: Noun + も. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

possessive particle

Noun + の + Noun

「〜の (possessive)」 means "possessive particle". Structure: Noun + の + Noun. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

and / with

Noun + と + Noun

「〜と」 means "and / with". Structure: Noun + と + Noun. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

question marker

Sentence + か

「〜か (question)」 means "question marker". Structure: Sentence + か. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

isn't it? (agreement)

Sentence + ね

「〜ね」 means "isn't it? (agreement)". Structure: Sentence + ね. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

you know (emphasis)

Sentence + よ

「〜よ」 means "you know (emphasis)". Structure: Sentence + よ. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

polite present verb

Verb stem + ます

「〜ます」 means "polite present verb". Structure: Verb stem + ます. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

polite negative verb

Verb stem + ません

「〜ません」 means "polite negative verb". Structure: Verb stem + ません. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

polite past verb

Verb stem + ました

「〜ました」 means "polite past verb". Structure: Verb stem + ました. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

polite negative past

Verb stem + ませんでした

「〜ませんでした」 means "polite negative past". Structure: Verb stem + ませんでした. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

please do ~

Verb te-form + ください

「〜てください」 means "please do ~". Structure: Verb te-form + ください. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

please don't ~

Verb nai-form + でください

「〜ないでください」 means "please don't ~". Structure: Verb nai-form + でください. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

progressive / state

Verb te-form + います

「〜ています」 means "progressive / state". Structure: Verb te-form + います. This is a JLPT N5 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.