Mastering JLPT N3 Japanese
Intermediate Grammar
Building Better Sentences
You've already mastered the basics of stringing words together in Japanese. Now, let's connect bigger ideas. Moving beyond simple statements means using conjunctions that add nuance and show the relationship between different parts of a sentence.
Two of the most common ways to say 'because' or 'so' are から (kara) and ので (node). While they often overlap, they carry slightly different feelings. から is a direct, sometimes subjective, way to state a reason. It puts the emphasis on the cause.
時間がないから、タクシーで行きましょう。 Jikan ga nai kara, takushii de ikimashou. (Because there's no time, let's go by taxi.)
ので, on the other hand, is a bit softer and more objective. It presents the reason as a known fact or situation, leading gently to the result. It's often considered more polite in formal situations.
電車が遅れたので、会議に遅刻しました。 Densha ga okureta node, kaigi ni chikoku shimashita. (The train was late, so I was late for the meeting.)
Another useful connector is のに (noni), which expresses a contrast, like 'although' or 'despite'. It highlights a surprising or unexpected result given the first part of the sentence.
たくさん勉強したのに、試験に合格できなかった。 Takusan benkyou shita noni, shiken ni goukaku dekinakatta. (Even though I studied a lot, I couldn't pass the exam.)
Unlocking New Verb Forms
Expanding your verb skills is key to expressing more complex actions and situations. Let's look at three essential intermediate forms: potential, passive, and causative.
Potential Form
adjective
Indicates that someone has the ability or possibility to do something. It's the equivalent of 'can' or 'to be able to' in English.
Next is the passive form. This is used when the subject of the sentence is receiving an action, rather than doing it. It's often used in news reports or when the person performing the action is unknown or unimportant.
この本は多くの人に読まれています。 Kono hon wa ooku no hito ni yomarete imasu. (This book is read by many people.)
Finally, the causative form lets you talk about making or letting someone do something. It's used when a person causes another person or thing to act.
母は私に部屋を掃除させました。 Haha wa watashi ni heya o souji sasemashita. (My mother made me clean my room.)
These three forms change a verb's meaning significantly. Here’s a quick guide to how they are formed for different verb types.
| Verb Type (Example) | Dictionary Form | Potential Form | Passive Form | Causative Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (-u ending) | 書く (kaku) | 書ける (kakeru) | 書かれる (kakareru) | 書かせる (kakaseru) |
| Group 2 (-ru ending) | 食べる (taberu) | 食べられる (taberareru) | 食べられる (taberareru) | 食べさせる (tabesaseru) |
| Irregular | する (suru) | できる (dekiru) | される (sareru) | させる (saseru) |
| Irregular | 来る (kuru) | 来られる (korareru) | 来られる (korareru) | 来させる (kosaseru) |
Notice that for Group 2 and irregular verbs, the potential and passive forms look the same. Context is your best friend for telling them apart. If the sentence has a direct object marked with を, it's likely the potential form. If the subject is receiving an action from someone marked with に, it's probably the passive form.
Adding Shades of Meaning
Sometimes, you don't want to state a fact directly. You might want to express an expectation, a guess, or an obligation. Intermediate grammar provides tools for this kind of nuance.
One common pattern is 〜はず (hazu), which shows that you have a strong reason to believe something is true. It’s a confident expectation or assumption.
彼は昨日日本に着いたはずです。 Kare wa kinou Nihon ni tsuita hazu desu. (He should have arrived in Japan yesterday.)
When you want to say something seems or looks a certain way based on your own observation, you can use 〜みたい (mitai) or 〜よう (you). They are often used like 'looks like' or 'seems like'.
外は雨が降っているみたいだ。 Soto wa ame ga futteiru mitai da. (It looks like it's raining outside.)
If your impression is based on something you heard or read, 〜らしい (rashii) is a better fit. It conveys hearsay or reports.
新しい先生は厳しいらしいです。 Atarashii sensei wa kibishii rashii desu. (I hear the new teacher is strict.)
Finally, to express a sense of duty or what one 'should' do, you can use 〜べき (beki). It conveys a moral or social obligation.
学生はもっと勉強するべきだ。 Gakusei wa motto benkyou suru beki da. (Students should study more.)
These expressions allow you to communicate your perspective more precisely. They show whether your statement is a fact, an assumption, or an opinion, which is a crucial skill for natural conversation.
You are writing a formal email to your boss to explain why you will be late. Which conjunction is more appropriate to politely state your reason?
Choose the correct conjunction to complete the sentence: 「たくさん勉強した＿＿＿、試験に落ちてしまった。」 (takusan benkyou shita ___, shiken ni ochite shimatta.)
Mastering these patterns takes practice, but they will dramatically increase your ability to understand and express complex thoughts in Japanese.