Japanese Grammar
By taking the time to understand how the Japanese language works, you'll be able to speak Japanese naturally, and read and write in Japanese. We know this can be one of the more challenging parts of your course, and we’re here to help! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!- Can I turn Romanji off? Is it possible to turn the Romanji off? I can read Kana, but now finding my eyes are now reading the Romanji3 replies • Last post by Bird-lover • Apr 11, 2026
- Romanji vs Hiragana/Katakana/Kanji Hi all I was wondering how you guys are dealing with the options of using romanji versus hiragana, katakana and kanji? I currently learn words by reading romanji and don't take notes with hiragana as I find it too be too slow and I quickly lose momentum...4 replies • Last post by Indy-Rocket-Languages • Jan 28, 2026
- Translations in 7.7 とき Hi, I'm redoing section 7.7 and I've stumbled upon few issues that I've missed originally. I'm getting bit lost in some of the translations for the とき clause. For example: 旅行に行く時、新しい服を買った。is translated as “When (I) went on (my) trip, (I) bought new clo...2 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Dec 14, 2025
- Counters Where would I find all the lessons on counters? Thanks for your help.3 replies • Last post by ClaudiaR27 • Dec 2, 2025
- Use of の方が vs もっと Hi everyone, I was just doing exercises from 5.8 where we've 2 examples バスの方が安いです。and 私の家はもっと大きいです。Why wouldn't I use バスはもっと安いです。 for the first sentence instead? I understand (or at least I hope I do ;-) ) use of の方が when comparing 2 objects, but if it...2 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 12, 2025
- Why no particle after Ashita but after Shuumatsu in lesson 2.9 Hello. I have a question, hoping someone can explain the grammar of two sentences in lesson 2.9 talking about what will happen. The first sentence is ashita testo ga arimasu. I understand what it says but I wonder why there is no WA after ashita? Can som...5 replies • Last post by SamanthaW-k8ax • Jul 9, 2025
- Use of -て来た 空港までタクシーに乗って来た Can sometime please tell me if this sentence (last lesson in Module 9) is said by someone who is at the airport (having just arrived), or can it be said by anyone at any time and place ? Or some other restriction? I'm finding the us...4 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Feb 17, 2025
- Emphasis/contrast In module 9 we have 自転車 でも 学校に行きます。 じてんしゃ で も がっこう に いきます。 Jitensha de mo gakkō ni ikimasu. (I) also go to school by bike. Does this imply By bike, I go to school, ‘in addition to other destinations’, or I go to school by bike ‘as well...2 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Feb 2, 2025
- Course content and JLPT coverage Hello, So I know that you guys say that the 3 levels will cover N5 and N4. However when I analysed the content outline (topic titles on dashboard) for all 3 levels using ChatGPT, it showed me that the course actually covers like 70% (majority) of N3 ...2 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Nov 10, 2024
- Lesson 9.5 Double Particles からは and までは I think I understood about the other double particles but I don't quite understand からは and までは Ex : このレストランは5時からは開いています。 Tell me if I'm wrong, does this mean that the restaurant opens at 5 a.m. and NOT at any other time? Ex : 家から駅までは近いです。 And...2 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Apr 23, 2024
- aku vs aite Hi. Can someone help me to understand the difference between the plain form of aku あく vs aite あいて ? Is aite considered the ing form of aku? Ie to open vs opening? Thank you!3 replies • Last post by Heru- • Mar 9, 2024
- wa suki de wa arimasen Ohayogosaimasu I'm not understanding what the “de” means in “wa suki de wa arimasen”. Arigato6 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Jul 11, 2023
- Te form (Tabete) vs (Tabemasu) vs (Taberu) Hajimemashite everyone! Can some help me to differentiate between the Te form of Tabe, vs Taberu vs Tabemasu? Arigato!4 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Jul 9, 2023
- Doko vs Kara vs Kimashite Hajimemashite! I'm in the very beginning stages of learning Japanese and stuck on comprehending the difference between Doko (Where), Kara (From) and Kimashite (come). I can kinda see Kimashite being different, but Doko and Kara seem very similar, since w...3 replies • Last post by Heru- • Jun 18, 2023
- accessing my microphone I am not able to access the microphone in order to playback my responses Thank you, Joan2 replies • Last post by Margaret-RocketLanguages • May 7, 2023
- Sentence Structure I am sure we will get into it more in depth later on as I am only on my 3rd lesson but I am obviously having a hard time understanding the sentence structure and the in between or linking words such as ga, and when they are used. Again I know I literally...7 replies • Last post by AJ-Rocket-Languages • Dec 1, 2022
- Lesson 2.4 Grammar へやをよやくしたいのですが. Hi, So I'm trying to parse out the meaning of this sentence from lesson 2.4, and I can't figure out what the の is for: へや を よやく したい の です が。 I understand that: へや を よやく is “room reservation" and since よやく is a noun, you can add します “to do”, to mak...3 replies • Last post by Michi Tsubasa • Sep 12, 2022
- Let's listen. Up until lesson 8.1, “Let's listen.” has been: 聞いてみましょう Kiite mimashou In lesson 8.1 it iis: 聞きましょう Kikimashou I'm wondering what the difference is?2 replies • Last post by Margaret-RocketLanguages • Mar 7, 2022
- Honorifics Hey, I am trying to learn the Japanese Language, and I was wondering if someone could tell me when to put the “O” honorific since I had seen it pop up so many times while I was doing the lessons. I hope you all are having a nice morning, evening, or nigh...6 replies • Last post by Nekojita • Nov 11, 2021
- Ka at the end of sentence Hi all, so we learnt that, when put at the end of a sentence, “ka” will turn that sentence into a question, like in “Ogenki desu ka”. Then, why is not the same with “Anata wa” for example? It is a question, but no “ka” at the end. Thanks for your help...2 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Sep 7, 2021
- Sensei used twice in the same sentence? In Lesson 1.7, to point out Tanaka is the teacher, we're given the phrase, たなか せんせい が せんせい です Tanaka sensei ga sensei desu. From the content of the lesson, I was expecting to see something like Tanaka-san ga sensei desu. But instead, the word for ...3 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Jun 10, 2021
- Suki na dake desu I don't understand the use of the “na” in the expression “suki na dake desu” Thanks in advance for your answer2 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • May 27, 2021
- Marker to use before Tsuki I'm not very far into the course, but in Lesson 1.3 “At the sushi bar”, the first sentence used is "osushi wa tsuki desu ka?". But in grammar lesson 1.6 “To Like or Not Like”, they say that "tsuki" always goes with “ga”. Is this an error on the part of t...3 replies • Last post by JohnH197 • May 27, 2021
- Lesson 5.9 When Something Is Happening I was just looking for a little bit of a clarification, as some of the flash cards at the end of the lesson brought up a few questions. I understand that you can て あります and て います along with a Transitive and Intransitive verb respectively to show a chang...2 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • May 6, 2021
- Kana vs Kanji Usage I know that some kanji in Japanese can be and are typically written in kana, and that there are not exactly any set in stone rules over these usages. However, I was wondering, is there some kind of nuance or implication for the use of a kanji and then th...2 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Apr 6, 2021
- oiwai de mo Konnichiwa I'm a little bit lost with the “oiwai de mo”. What is the construction of “oiwai de arimasu”. Why isn't it “oiwai ga arimasu” ? This refers to lesson 7.4 Arigoto Olivier3 replies • Last post by Abgueguen • Mar 27, 2021
- Double に？ In Lesson 2.8 there are the sentences らいしゅう かぞく に あいます (I will meet my family next week.) and しち じ に いきます (I will go at 7 o'clock). In the first sentence, に is used to show a point of contact, and in the second sentence に is used to note the specifi...3 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Mar 5, 2021
- だいじょうぶ and いいですか What is the difference between だいじょうぶ and いいですか and how they are used? Thanks.3 replies • Last post by ClaudiaR27 • Feb 26, 2021
- 都合が悪い vs. 不便 Hello, Can someone please explain the difference to me between 都合が悪い and 不便? I'm familiar with 不便/fuben and 便利/benri. In lesson 4.5, it introduces 都合が悪い as inconvenient. すみません、ちょっと都合が悪いです / sumimasen, chotto tsugō ga warui desu. Would it be accept...3 replies • Last post by JohnH197 • Feb 21, 2021
- Shashin o totte moratte mo ii desu ka. In one of the early lessons, Kenny asks Sayaka if she will take a picture for him by saying “shashin o totte moratte mo ii desu ka.” I understand shashin o totte means “taking a picture”, that the mo following the te might act as “even”, and that ii desu...4 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Feb 21, 2021
- Omachi kudasai Konnichiwa I'm trying to understand the structure of “omachi kudasai”. Normally it should be “matte kudasai” but how do you build the polite form ? Arigato gozaimasu3 replies • Last post by Abgueguen • Feb 12, 2021
- Are both of these sentences correct? Hello, When I was testing myself on lesson 3.8, I translated the sentence “(I will) read (my) book under the tree” as follows: 本を木 の 下で読みます/ hon o ki no shita de yomimasu The correct answer was: 木 の 下で本を読みます / Ki no shita de hon o yomimasu Could yo...4 replies • Last post by イ リ ニ • Feb 11, 2021
- あちらのビル vs. あのビル Hello! I'm really confused by the use of the “no” particle when I compare the following two sentences: That building over there is famous Achira no biru wa yūmē desu / あちらのビルは有名です That building over there is tall Ano biru wa...3 replies • Last post by イ リ ニ • Jan 21, 2021
- もう すこし だけ で いい Mou sukoshi dake de ii. This little phrase was from a song. What I do understand is “More by a little only de is good” or more understandably, “Just a little more de is good”. However, I'm not sure I understand the use of de here. De is the particle whic...3 replies • Last post by Jyuune • Jan 8, 2021
- Understanding this usage of を Hello, I was starting module 6 and took a break to go back through all the previous modules again to learn the new content that was added. I realized that I'm not quite understanding something. Could someone please enlighten me on the use of を in the ...3 replies • Last post by イ リ ニ • Jan 4, 2021
- “There Is” and I “Have” In lessons 2.9, it is written : "To say “there is” something, we use います or あります with the particle が . " But in lessons 2.4, Kenny uses は instead of が with います : "英語を話せる人はいますか？" Why that ?5 replies • Last post by GregV84 • Oct 29, 2020
- Lesson 2.7 Question, Nouns Used as Verbs? Sooo, this sentence in Lesson 2.7: 私は 料理 も 絵 も 上手 です。 (わたしは りょうり も え も じょうず です。) …is translated as “I am good at (both) cooking and drawing.” I'm not sure about that word for cooking, but I thought 絵 meant a painting or drawing (noun; with ...3 replies • Last post by EarleyGrave • Oct 29, 2020
- difference between "wa" and "ga" if both are used to clear the topic of a sentence and what is spoken about, who do i know wich one to use?4 replies • Last post by EarleyGrave • Oct 29, 2020
- Using the 'wa' particle twice in a sentence... Hello everyone, I'm a little confused about the use of particles in a module 4.2 sentence: わたし に は そんな に おもしろ そう に は みえません。 Watashi ni wa sonnani omoshiro sō ni wa mie masen / It does not look very fun to me. I understand the usage of わたし に...10 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 29, 2020
- Lessons 1.2 Tea Time In lesson 1.2 atatakai/ 暖かい is not used correctly. atatakai/ 暖かい = Warm atsui/ 暑い = Hot.8 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 23, 2020
- Double usage of "ni wa" particle (Module 4.2) In Module 4.2, “What Are You Reading?”, there is the line, Watashi ni wa sonnani omoshirosou ni wa miemasen. It does not look very fun to me. If I attempt to translate more literally I get… Watashi ni wa … sonnani omoshirosou … ni wa … miemas...5 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 12, 2020
- nemure sō desu Hi everybody I don't understand the construction in lesson 3.5. To say "it seems i can sleep" they say "nemure sō desu" but I would have expected "nemureru sō desu". What is the construction of sō desu with a verb ? Thank you Olivier5 replies • Last post by Abgueguen • Oct 11, 2020
- Confused about the usage of tense in this sentence... Hello everyone! I'd like to ask for some help in understanding the use of kaetta vs. kaerimasu in this sentence from module 5.3. You should return home for Christmas: クリスマスに帰ったほうがいいですよ / Kurisumasu ni kaetta hō ga īdesu yo Why isn't it: クリスマ...3 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 10, 2020
- Can this sentence be said both ways? Hello! In lesson 5.1, the sentence given is: I'm already full / もう おなか が いっぱい です / Mō onaka ga ippai desu. I always try to go through the lessons and see how well I can translate before looking at the answer, and I would have swapped "stomach" for ...4 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 10, 2020
- ”あっ” ... Why a small つ？(Lesson 2.4) こんにちは、みなさん。 In Lesson 2.4 there is the statement: あっ、タクシー が き ました。 What's the function of the small つ in this instance being placed after the あ? Are there other places this occurs that are worth knowing about? Using the Japanese IME keyboard ...3 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 10, 2020
- して います vs. しますwhen asking if someone plays a sport Hello, I have a question from module 4.8. Do you play any sports? なにか スポーツ を して います か？/ Nanika supōtsu o shite imasu ka? I like to try the translations myself before looking at the correct translation, and for this sentence, I put: なにか スポーツ を し...5 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 10, 2020
- Question about meaning of 飲み (飲み過ぎ) Hello, I have a question about how the verb 飲む is being used in module 4.1: 飲み過ぎですよ / you drank too much Where exactly do you get 飲み from (it doesn't seem to be listed as any tense or form when I look up different conjugations of the verb). Is thi...4 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 9, 2020
- を vs. で in these examples Hello everyone, Every time I think I have a clear grasp of で, I get thrown for a loop. I have an every-growing list of the differences between で and に, but I seem to be not understanding clearly the difference sometimes between using で vs. を Could ...4 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 9, 2020
- Ninki ga arimasu So in 4.4 we are introduced to ninki and the lesson likens the usage to kirei with: totemo ninki as very popular and totemo kirei as very beautiful. When I learned this originally, I could swear I learned that despite the way we use popular in English, ...2 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 9, 2020
- Why does this sentence use 'ga arimasu' and not 'desu'? This is from the sporting section in level 1 - but all the forums seem to say that 'ga arimasu' should be when something exists, and 'desu' when it IS that thing. If the player IS very popular, why have we used 'ga arimasu'???? Thanks to anyone who ca...4 replies • Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor • Oct 9, 2020
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