I have re-organized grammar explanation posts so that you can build up your skills in order.
First download the list of vocabulary most likely used in the JLPT N5 exam here. It is based on the prescribed list for the pre-2010 exams.
Click the topic and another page will open to explain each item. Suggested activities are written next to the topic.
- Hello and Thank you
- My mum is nice. – Describe your family and things near you.
- I like sushi but I don’t like sashimi. – Describe what you like/dislike, what you want, what you are good at.
- I eat sushi. – Make three-part sentences using verbs.
- Yesterday, I ate sushi with a fork with my friends. – Expand three-part sentences using a phrase led by a particle. Talk about things in the past.
- Expanding a simple sentence using particles
- Expanding Simple Sentences with an adverb
- ~く/に [verb] (changing an adjective into an adverb)
- It’s 12:34pm on Thursday, 5 June. – Learn time related phrases, days of the week and how to say dates. This module is mainly for vocab learning.
- Time phrase during the day – あさ、ゆうがた、よる, etc.
- 2 coffee, please. – Learn counters and how to order something in a shop.
- There is a cat under the table. – Learn to describe where things are.
- I wanted to eat sushi and I ate too much. – Talk about what you want to do and learn more simple expressions using verbs.
- ~たいです
- ~すぎます
- ~がります
- ~に いきます/きます/かえります (purpose)
- I came to the library and I am reading a book now. Please be quiet. – Learn to use てform: connecting to verbs/adjectives, describe what you are doing and make a request.
- I haven’t finished reading the book yet. – Revise tenses and moods. Expand vocabulary.
- Let’s write a diary entry. I like watching soccer. – Let’s learn the plain form.
- Converting Polite form into Plain form
- AはB(だ)
- AはBじゃない/Bくない
- AはBだった/AはBかった
- AはBじゃなかった/AはBくなかった
- ~の (nominalisation)
- ~のがすきです
- ~のがじょうず/へたです
- ~でしょう (talking about weather)
- The book I’m reading now is very interesting. – Contact clause and expressions using plain form verbs/adjectives
- Do I have to do my homework now? – obligations, prohibitions, permissions, and requests not to do things.
- This book is more interesting than that book. – comparison and related expressions.
Verb Conjugations Videos for N5
N5 Vocabulary You Need to Be Careful about
- N5 Vocabulary
開ける(あける) vs 開く(ひらく)
たすける=help??
The English word “help” is a rather difficult word to translate. I usually tell my stude...
わかりません
If you are asked: あしたなにをしますか。(What are you going to do tomorrow?) and if you &...
If you want to drink English tea in Japan…
On Tuesday, I talked about Japanese tea. Today, I’m going to talk about “English style t...
Quiet
quiet The English word “quiet” is another difficult word to translate into Japanese. 静...
busy
busy The English word “Busy” is often remembered as 忙(いそが)しい in Japanese...
to put … on / to wear …
Japanese has at least 5 words for the English verb "to put ... on," depending on the item of clothin...
play
Play is a difficult word to translate into Japanese because there are many different meanings. Follo...
Me – how boys and men call themselves
While girls and women call themselves 私(わたし or わたくし)most of the time (apart from...
water
Many people know “water” is called 水(みず) in Japanese but the word 水(みず...
Plastic Bags=プラスチックのカバン?
It has been a while since free “single-use plastic bags” have disappeared from big supermarkets ...
Seasons
It is really springy in Australia now and the norther hemisphere is in autumn / fall. The bas...