JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE



A
AGEKU、AGEKU NO （～あげく、～あげくの）Grade 2

Meaning: After much __ing... Used only for negative results, such as "After much worrying, I decided to quit my job."
Notes: Same as 'sue ni' but can only be used for actions which have negative results. 'Sue ni' , on the other hand, can be used for both positive and negative things. Ageku and ageku no are the same meaning, but differ grammatically. ageku is a conjunction, used to join two clause, whereas ageku no always comes before a noun.

Example: 両親と話し合ったあげく、学校を辞めることにした。（りょうしんとはなしあったあげく、がっこうをやめることにした。）After consulting with my parents, I quit school.
両親と話あったあげくの決定です。（両親とはなしあったあげくの決定です。）This is a decision that I reached after talking with my parents.

CF: sue ni


AREBA
(see to areba)
　

ATARANAI

(See ni ataranai)



ATTE NO （～あっての）Grade 1
Meaning: It's only possible because of...; If not for A, B would not be possible.
Notes: Comes between two nouns.
Example: 法律あっての社会。（ほうりつあってのしゃかい。）Society is only possible because of laws.



B
BAKARI NI (～ばかりに) Grade 2

Meaning: Because. Always indicates a negative outcome.

Example: 新車を買ったばかりにお金がありません。（しんしゃをかったばかりにおかねがありません。）
勉強しなかったばかりに試験に失敗した。（べんきょうしなかったばかりにしけんにしっぱいした。）I failed the test because I didn't study.

I don't have any money because I bought a new car.

　

~BA KOSO （～ばこそ）Grade 1

Meaning: If only.

Notes: Always used with a conditional form verb.

Example: お金があればこそ、旅行できる。（おかねがあればこそ、りょこうできる。）If only I had money, I could go on a trip.

CF: Koso



BEKARAZU, BEKARAZARU （~べからず、～べからざる）Grade 1

Meaning: Shouldn't; Don't.
Notes: Written only. Old fashioned word that was often used on public notices prohibiting actions. Bekarazu always comes at the end of a sentence. Bekarazaru comes before a noun. Although the meanings are completely different, they may throw in questions where both beku and gatera would be appropriate, but only one would be grammatically correct. Beku comes after a masu form verb, or a gerund. E.g. Hakamairi o suru beku, furusato ni kaetta.
Example: ここにごみを捨てるべからず。（ここにごみをすてるべからず。）Do not throw your garbage here.

許すべからざるできごとだ。（ゆるすべからざるできごとだ。）That matter is something I can never forgive.

　

BEKU （～べく） Grade 1

Meaning: For the purpose of; To ____, In order to

Notes: 'Beku' is the same as '~ngatame' but they differ grammatically. 'Beku' comes after the dictionary form of a verb, whereas '~ngatame' follows the '~tai' form of a verb. Written.

Example: エンジニアになるべく一生懸命勉強した。（エンジニアになるべく、いっしょうけんめいべんきょうした。）I studied hard in order to become an engineer.



D

DAKE, DAKE NO （～だけ、～だけの）Grade 2

Meaning: As much as; As fast as; To the extent of.
Notes: Has no negative form. Dake no is always used before a noun.

Example: お好きなだけどうぞ。（おすきなだけどうぞ。）

Have as much as you want.

できるだけのことはした。I did as much as I could.



DAKE ATTE (～だけあって)

Meaning: As might be expected.

Notes: Often used after sasuga.

Example: 両親がプロ選手だけあって、さすが子供もスポーツ万能だ。（りょうしんがプロせんしゅうたけあって、さすがこどももスポーツばんのうだ。）As might be expected from a child whose parents are professional athletes, he's an all-around athlete.

CF:


DANI （～だに）Grade 1
Meaning: Even; Just. Used for emphasizing the unlikelihood of something happening.
Notes: Often used after 想像 (そうぞう) or 聞く (きく).

Example: 想像だにしなかった。（そうぞうだにしなかった）I never even imagined it.

聞くだにに恐ろしい。（きくだにおそろしい。）Just hearing about it is dreadful.

　

DARAKE (～だらけ) Grade 2

Meaning: Covered in; Full of. Used for things that can be sensed or seen, always has a negative nuance.

Notes: 'Darake' is easily confused with 'mamire'. They are similar, but 'mamire' means totally covered and can't be used for intangible things. You can say both 'chidarake' and 'chimamire' (covered in blood), 'hokoridarake' and 'hokorimamire' or 'dorodarake' and 'doromamire' (covered in mud). You can say 'machigaidarake' (full of mistakes), 'shiwadarake' (covered in wrinkles) and 'kizudarake' (covered with cuts) but not 'machigaimamire', 'shiwamamire' and 'kizumamire'. Both 'mamire' and 'darake' have negative meanings, while 'zukume' has a positive meaning.

Example: 泥だらけ。　(どろだらけ。)　

Covered in mud.

間違えだらけ (まちがえだらけ。)

Full of mistakes.

CF: ~gimi, ~gachi, ~ppoi, ~mamire, ~zukume, ~meku, ~rashii, kirai ga aru

DE ARE (1)（～であれ）Grade 1

Meaning: No matter what; Even if; No matter how...

Notes: Same meaning as 'Tatoe~temo'. Written. Formal.
Example: 社長であれ規則はまもらないといけない。（しゃちょうであれきそくはまもらないといけない。）Even the company president has to obey the rules.