Grammar

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.

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).

I heard that ~

Plain form + そうです

「〜そうです (hearsay)」 means "I heard that ~". Structure: Plain form + そうです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

looks like ~

Verb stem / Adj stem + そうです

「〜そうです (appearance)」 means "looks like ~". Structure: Verb stem / Adj stem + そうです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

if / when ~

Verb ta-form + ら

「〜たら」 means "if / when ~". Structure: Verb ta-form + ら. This is a JLPT N4 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.

if ~ (conditional)

Verb ba-form

「〜ば」 means "if ~ (conditional)". Structure: Verb ba-form. This is a JLPT N4 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.

if it is ~ (topic conditional)

Noun + なら

「〜なら」 means "if it is ~ (topic conditional)". Structure: Noun + なら. This is a JLPT N4 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.

whenever / if ~

Verb dictionary + と

「〜と (conditional)」 means "whenever / if ~". Structure: Verb dictionary + と. This is a JLPT N4 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.

I intend to ~

Verb volitional + と思います

「〜ようと思います」 means "I intend to ~". Structure: Verb volitional + と思います. This is a JLPT N4 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.

plan to ~

Verb dictionary + つもりです

「〜つもりです」 means "plan to ~". Structure: Verb dictionary + つもりです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

scheduled to ~

Verb dictionary / Noun の + 予定です

「〜予定です」 means "scheduled to ~". Structure: Verb dictionary / Noun の + 予定です. This is a JLPT N4 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.

might ~

Plain form + かもしれません

「〜かもしれません」 means "might ~". Structure: Plain form + かもしれません. This is a JLPT N4 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.

probably ~

Plain form + でしょう

「〜でしょう」 means "probably ~". Structure: Plain form + でしょう. This is a JLPT N4 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.

should be / expected to

Plain form + はずです

「〜はずです」 means "should be / expected to". Structure: Plain form + はずです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

whether or not

Plain form + かどうか

「〜かどうか」 means "whether or not". Structure: Plain form + かどうか. This is a JLPT N4 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.

try doing ~

Verb te-form + みます

「〜てみます」 means "try doing ~". Structure: Verb te-form + みます. This is a JLPT N4 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.

do in advance

Verb te-form + おきます

「〜ておきます」 means "do in advance". Structure: Verb te-form + おきます. This is a JLPT N4 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.

ended up doing / regret

Verb te-form + しまいました

「〜てしまいました」 means "ended up doing / regret". Structure: Verb te-form + しまいました. This is a JLPT N4 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.

has been done (state)

Verb te-form + あります

「〜てあります」 means "has been done (state)". Structure: Verb te-form + あります. This is a JLPT N4 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.

in the middle of ~

Verb te-form + いるところです

「〜ているところです」 means "in the middle of ~". Structure: Verb te-form + いるところです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

just finished ~

Verb ta-form + ところです

「〜たところです」 means "just finished ~". Structure: Verb ta-form + ところです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

just did ~

Verb ta-form + ばかりです

「〜たばかりです」 means "just did ~". Structure: Verb ta-form + ばかりです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

must ~

Verb nai-stem + なければなりません

「〜なければなりません」 means "must ~". Structure: Verb nai-stem + なければなりません. This is a JLPT N4 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.

don't have to ~

Verb nai-stem + なくてもいいです

「〜なくてもいいです」 means "don't have to ~". Structure: Verb nai-stem + なくてもいいです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

had better ~

Verb ta-form + ほうがいいです

「〜ほうがいいです」 means "had better ~". Structure: Verb ta-form + ほうがいいです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

too much ~

Verb stem / Adj stem + すぎます

「〜すぎます」 means "too much ~". Structure: Verb stem / Adj stem + すぎます. This is a JLPT N4 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.

easy to ~

Verb stem + やすいです

「〜やすいです」 means "easy to ~". Structure: Verb stem + やすいです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

hard to ~

Verb stem + にくいです

「〜にくいです」 means "hard to ~". Structure: Verb stem + にくいです. This is a JLPT N4 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.

can do ~

Verb dictionary + ことができます

「〜ことができます」 means "can do ~". Structure: Verb dictionary + ことができます. This is a JLPT N4 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.