List of Notes for the Grammar Flashcards
NOTE

EXPLANATIONS
Card #11

Note 1a.

To talk about the present and future (the non-past) politely, you can use the ます masu and です desu forms. 行く iku is a Type I verb. See
Grammar Lesson 2 for more details

Note 1b.

To talk about the present and future (the non-past) politely, you can use the ます masu and です desu forms. しめる shimeru is a Type IIverb. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details

Note 1c.

To talk about the present and future (the non-past) politely, you can use the ます masu and です desu forms. する suru is a Type III verb.
See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details

Card #12
Note 2a.

To talk about the present and future (the non-past) politely, you can use the ます masu and です desu forms. ほそい hosoi is an い-adjective,
so we simply need to add です desu in the polite form. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details

Note 2b.

To talk about the present and future (the non-past) politely, you can use the ます masu and です desu forms. ひま hima is a な-adjective, so
we add じゃありません ja arimasen to form the negative non-past. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details

Note 2c.

To talk about the present and future (the non-past) politely, you can use the ます masu and です desu forms. いしゃ isha is a noun, so we
can add です desu or でしょう deshō to form the polite non-past. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details

Note 2d.

To talk about the present and future (the non-past) politely, you can use the ます masu and です desu forms. いしゃ isha is a noun, so we
can add です desu or でしょう deshō to form the polite non-past. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details

Card #13
Note 3.

Both ある aru・あります arimasu and いる iru・います imasu can mean “to be” or “to exist,” but they are not interchangeable. います is used
for animate objects like people and dogs. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details

Card #14
Note 4a.

The Japanese counter for long cylindrical objects like legs is 本 hon. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Note 4b.

If you don’t know a particular counter, you can use numbers from the native Japanese number system, like 二つ futatsu (2 things). They
can also be used for abstract things like もんだい mondai (problems). See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Note 4c.

The Japanese counter for flat object like tickets is まい mai. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Card #15
Note 5a.

In Japanese “20 years old” is not said in the regular way. Instead of saying にじゅっさい nijussai, we usually say はたち hatachi. See
Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Note 5b.

In Japanese “the 20th day (of the month)” is not said in the regular way. Instead of saying にじゅうにち nijūnichi, we usually say はつか
hatsuka. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Note 5c.

You can use 時 ji to count hours, and 分 fun to count minutes. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Card #16
Note 6b.

あまい amai is an い-adjective, which can be placed directly in front of a noun. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Note 6a.

あかるい akarui is an い-adjective, which can be placed directly in front of a noun. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Note 6c.

きれい kirei is a な-adjective, which needs the な particle between it and the noun it modifies. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Note 6d.

ゆうめい yūmei is a な-adjective, which needs the な particle between it and the noun it modifies. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.
Card #17

Note 7a.

Nouns like ギター gitā can be used to modify other nouns if you use the の particle. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Note 7b.

Nouns like 先生 sensei can be used to modify other nouns to show possession of an item with the use of the の particle. See Grammar
Lesson 2 for more details.

Card #18
Note 8.

You can use the の no particle to refer to a specific kind of thing. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Card #19
Note 9a.

The は wa particle is the topic-marking particle in Japanese. It acts as a ‘box’ in which the rest of the sentence is placed, giving it context.
The topic can often be removed from the sentence and it still has the same meaning. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Note 9b . The は wa particle can also be used to show contrast. In this way it can be translated as ‘as for ~.’ See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.
Note 9c . The は wa particle can also be used to show contrast. In this way it can be translated as ‘as for ~.’ It can also be combined with otherparticles like で de, へ e, and に ni, but not with other particles like を o or が ga. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Card #20
Note 10.

The が ga particle is the subject-marking particle in Japanese. It often marks the doer in a sentence. It could mark the object when usedwith certain adjectives like すき suki (liked). Unlike the topic, removing the subject from the sentence will make it confusing or
ungrammatical. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

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NOTE

EXPLANATIONS
Card #21

Note 11a. どう dō is a Japanese question word that means “how” as in “how do you like X?”. See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.
Note 11b. どれ dore is a Japanese question word that means “which?” See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.
Note 11c. どの dono is a Japanese question word that means “which ~.” In contrast to どれ dore, it needs to be followed by a noun. See Grammar
Lesson 2 for more details.

Card #22
Note 12c. どんな donna is a Japanese question word that means “what kind of ~.” See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.
Note 12b. いくら ikura is a Japanese question word that means “How much (does it cost)?” See Grammar Lesson 2 for more details.

Card #23
Note 13a. To talk about the polite past, you can use the ました mashita form. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.
Note 13b. To talk about the polite negative past, you can use the ませんでした masen deshita form. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.
Note 13c. To talk about the polite past of an い-adjective, you remove the last い i and add かったです katta desu. See Grammar Lesson 3 for moredetails.
Note 13d. To talk about the negative polite past of an い-adjective, you remove the last い i and add くなかったです ku nakatta desu. See Grammar
Lesson 3 for more details.

Card #24
Note 14.

To talk about the polite past of a な-adjective, simply add でした deshita. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.

Card #25
Note 15a. You can use ほしい hoshii to talk about something you want. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.
Note 15b. You can use ほしい hoshii to talk about something you want. To make it negative, simply remove the final い i and add くない ku nai, likeother い-adjectives. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.
Note 15c. You can use ほしい hoshii to talk about something you want. To make it about the past, simply remove the final い i and add かった katta,
like other い-adjectives. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.

Card #26
Note 16a. You can use the たい tai ending with the Vstem of a verb to talk about what you want to do. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.
Note 16b. You can use the たい tai ending with the Vstem of a verb to talk about what you want to do. To make it negative, remove the final い i andadd くない ku nai, like other い-adjectives. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.
Note 16c. You can use the たい tai ending with the Vstem of a verb to talk about what you want to do. To make it negative past, remove the final い i
and add くなかった ku nakatta, like other い-adjectives. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.

Card #27
Note 17a. You can use これ kore to talk about an object near the speaker, or something the speaker himself/herself has referred to previously. See
Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.
Note 17b. You can use あれ are to talk about an object far away from and not in the same area as both listener and speaker, or something the listenerand speaker have common knowledge about. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.

Card #28
Note 18a. You can use それ sore to talk about an object near the listener or not close to either speaker or listener but in the same area, or something
the listener has referred to previously. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.
Note 18b. You can use あの ano to modify an object that is far away from and not in the same area as both listener and speaker, or something thelistener and speaker have common knowledge about. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.
Note 18c. To talk about the polite past of an い-adjective, you remove the last い i and add かったです katta desu. See Grammar Lesson 3 for moredetails.

Card #29
Note 19a. You can use こちら kochira to refer to a direction that is toward the speaker, or to something the speaker himself/herself has referred topreviously, or to politely refer to somone you are introducing. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.
Note 19b. You can use こんな konna to modify an object near the speaker, or something the speaker himself/herself has referred to previously. See
Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.

Card #30
Note 20a. One way of using the て te form is to link multiple actions together consecutively or to link actions in a chronological order. See Grammar
Lesson 4 for more details.
Note 20b. The で de particle can be used to mark the location where something takes place. See Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.

Card #31
Note 21.

The で de particle can be used to mean “by (the), with, using” or to mark the cause of something. See Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.

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NOTE

EXPLANATIONS
Card #32

Note 22a. The に ni particle can be used to mark the time or the frequency that something happens. See Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.
Note 22b. The に ni particle can be used to mark a location being traveled to. See Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.

Card #33
Note 23a. You can add か ka to a question word to refer to an unspecified person, place, thing, etc… (i.e. someone, someplace, something, etc…) See
Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.
Note 23b. The に ni particle can be used to mark a location being traveled to. See Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.
Note 23c. You can add か ka to a question word to refer to an unspecified person, place, thing, etc… (i.e. someone, someplace, something, etc…) See
Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.
Note 23d. To talk about the polite past, you can use the ~ました mashita form. See Grammar Lesson 3 for more details.

Card #34
Note 24a. You can add か ka to a question word to refer to an unspecified person, place, thing, etc… (i.e. someone, someplace, something, etc…) See
Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.
Note 24b. The と to particle links two nouns together like “and” in English. See Grammar Lesson 5 for more details.
Note 24c. You can add か ka to a question word to refer to an unspecified person, place, thing, etc… (i.e. someone, someplace, something, etc…) See
Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.

Card #35
Note 25a. You can add も mo to a question word with a negative sentence to refer to “nothing, nowhere, no one,” etc. See Grammar Lesson 4 for moredetails.
Note 25b. In a positive sentence, you can add the も mo particle which can be used to refer to “everywhere, every time, both,” etc. See Grammar
Lesson 4 for more details.

Card #36
Note 26.

You can use the へ e particle to mark a location that is being moved to or toward. In many situations, it can be interchanged with に ni, butthere is more emphasis on the direction of travel. See Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.

Card #37
Note 27.

You can use ください kudasai for smaller requests or くださいませんか kudasaimasen ka for bigger requests or to be very polite. See
Grammar Lesson 4 for more details.

Card #38
Note 28a. The most common use of the を o particle is to mark the object of a sentence. See Grammar Lesson 5 for more details.
Note 28b. Sometimes を o can be replaced with が ga if you are talking about something you like or something you want to do. See Grammar Lesson
5 for more details.

Card #39
Note 29a. The が ga particle can be used when we talk about the state of an object. See Grammar Lesson 5 for more details.
Note 29b. The を o particle can be replaced by は wa if it is the topic of the conversation or is used for contrast. See Grammar Lesson 5 for more details.
Note 29c. Sometimes を o can be replaced with が ga if you are talking about something you like or something you want to do. See Grammar Lesson
5 for more details.

Card #40
Note 30a. The と to particle links two nouns together like “and” in English. See Grammar Lesson 5 for more details.
Note 30b. The や ya particle has a meaning of “or,” but it implies that there are more options. See Grammar Lesson 5 for more details.
Note 30c. The か ka particle can be used to mark two (or more) alternatives, like “or” in English. See Grammar Lesson 5 for more details.

Card #41
Note 31.

The も mo particle can mean “too” or “also” when used with a positive sentence, or “not either” with a negative sentence. See Grammar
Lesson 5 for more details.

Card #42
Note 32a. ましょうか mashō ka is used to seek mutual understanding on agreement of something. See Grammar Lesson 5 for more details.
Note 32b. ませんか masen ka is used to ask for the listener’s opinion. See Grammar Lesson 5 for more details.

Card #43
Note 33a. You can use Vstem + に ni + 行く iku to talk about the reason you are going somewhere. See Grammar Lesson 5 for more details.
Note 33b. You can use Vstem + に ni + 行く iku to talk about the reason you are going somewhere. If you are using a compound verb with the form
N+する suru like べんきょうする benkyō suru or そうじする sōji suru, you can leave out し shi, but it might sound too casual. See Grammar
Lesson 5 for more details.

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EXPLANATIONS
Card #44

Note 34a. You can also use the negative casual tense with the か ka particle to talk about whether or not you want to do something. See Grammar
Lesson 6 for more details.
Note 34b. The casual negative form can also be used with で de to tell someone not to do something. See Grammar Lesson 6 for more details.

Card #45
Note 35a. The よ yo and わ wa particles are used to point out certain facts or correct someone. However, わ wa is feminine and not used as often. See
Grammar Lesson 6 for more details.
Note 35b. The ね ne particle is used to confirm information. It is very similar to adding “isn’t it?” to the end of a sentence in English. See Grammar
Lesson 6 for more details.

Card #46
Note 36.

The ている te iru form is used to talk about an action taking place now or a state of something. See Grammar Lesson 6 for more details.

Card #47
Note 37a. When you talk about a change in state, you can use もう mō. In a positive context, もう is similiar to “already” in English. See Grammar
Lesson 6 for more details.
Note 37b. When you talk about a change in state, you can use もう mō. In a negative context, もう means “no longer.” See Grammar Lesson 6 formore details.
Note 37c. If you talk about a state remaining the same, you can use まだ mada. In a positive context, まだ is similiar to “still.” In a negative context,
まだ means “not yet.” See Grammar Lesson 6 for more details.

Card #48 to #52
Note 38.

To review other locations words, see Grammar Lesson 6.

Card #53
Note 39.

から kara can mark a starting point or source. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Note 40.

から kara can mark a starting point or source. まで made can mark an end point. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Note 41.

から kara can mark a starting point or source. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Card #54

Note 42a. まで made can mark an end point. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 42b. より yori has the meaning of “than”in English and is often used in comparisons. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 42c. する suru can be used to talk about a change somebody makes. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #55
Note 43a. なる naru is used to talk about a change that occurred naturally. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 43b. する suru can be used to talk about a change somebody makes. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #56
Note 44a. You can use 前に mae ni to mean “before.” See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 44b. You can use 後で ato de with the simple past tense to mean “after.” See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #57
Note 45a. You can use 後で ato de with the simple past tense to mean “after.” See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 45b. Vte + から kara can mean “right after.” See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 45c. You can use ながら nagara to talk about two actions taking place at the same time. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #58
Note 46.

とき toki is used to talk about the time something takes place. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Card #59

Note 47.

Adverbs can be used to describe how an action takes place. To form an adverb out of an い-adjective, remove the final い i and add く ku.
See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #60
Note 48a. ゆっくり yukkuri is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 48b. いっしょに issho ni is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #61
Note 49a. ちょうど chōdo is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 49b. だんだん dandan is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

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NOTE

EXPLANATIONS
Card #62

Note 50a. まっすぐ massugu is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 50b. すぐに sugu ni is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #63
Note 51a. ときどき tokidoki is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 51b. たいてい taitei is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #64
Note 52a. いつも itsumo is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 52b. よく yoku is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #65
Note 53a. また mata is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 53b. はじめて hajimete is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #66
Note 54a. あまり amari is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 54b. たくさん takusan is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #67
Note 55a. すこし sukoshi is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 55b. ちょっと chotto is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #68
Note 56a. おおぜい ōzei is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 56b. もう mō is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #69
Note 57a. ぜんぶ zenbu is one of many adverbs you”ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 57b. けっこう kekkō is one of many adverbs you”ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #70
Note 58a. もっと motto is one of many adverbs you”ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 58b. ほんとうに hontō ni is one of many adverbs you”ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #71
Note 59a. とても totemo is one of many adverbs you”ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 59b. いろいろ iroiro is one of many adverbs you”ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #72
Note 60a. たいへん taihen is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 60b. よく yoku is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #73
Note 61a. たぶん tabun is one of many adverbs you’ll need to learn for the test. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 61b. が ga is a very common conjunction, which can mean “but” in English. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #74
Note 62a. が ga can show a weak connection between the two clauses of a sentence. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 62b. しかし shikashi can mean “but” and is considered to be more formal than でも demo or が ga. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #75
Note 63a. でも demo can mean “but” and is considered to be more casual than しかし shikashi. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 63b. から kara can be used in the same sentence to state the reason for something. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #76
Note 64a. だから dakara is often used when the reason for something is more detailed and requires a separate sentence or the speaker wants to place
more emphasis on the reason. だから dakara is then used to refer to the previous sentence to state the reason. See Grammar Lesson 7 formore details.
Note 64b. そして soshite can link two sentences together even if the topics are different. It has the meaning of “and” in English. See Grammar Lesson
7 for more details.

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EXPLANATIONS
Card #77

Note 65a. それから sore kara is used to link two sentences chronologically and has the meaning of “and then” in English. See Grammar Lesson 7 formore details.
Note 65b. それでは sore de wa can be used to redirect the conversation. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #78
Note 66a. では de wa can be used to redirect the conversation. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.
Note 66b. それに sore ni can link two sentences that have the same topic. See Grammar Lesson 7 for more details.

Card #79
Note 67a. You can use the て-form to link two or more adjectives together with くて kute or で de to describe something or someone. See Grammar
Lesson 8 for more details.
Note 67b. The て-form of an adjective can be used to show the cause or reason for something. See Grammar Lesson 8 for more details.

Card #80
Note 68.

You can use どのくらい dono kurai and どれくらい dore kurai to ask about how much or how many of something. See Grammar Lesson 8 formore details.

Card #81
Note 69a. ぐらい gurai is used to talk about approximate amounts. See Grammar Lesson 8 for more details.
Note 69b. You can use ごろ goro to talk about approximate times. See Grammar Lesson 8 for more details.

Card #82
Note 70.

When you want to exclude something from a negative sentence, you can use しか shika. See Grammar Lesson 8 for more details.

Card #83
Note 71.

You can use だけ dake to mean “only.” See Grammar Lesson 8 for more details.

Card #84
Note 72.

You can use 〜たり〜たりする ~tari~tari suru to give examples of activities. See Grammar Lesson 8 for more details.

Note 73.

You can use clauses before a noun to describe it. See Grammar Lesson 8 for more details.

Card #85
Card #86
Note 74.

Be careful of the different transitive and intransitive pairs of verbs in Japanese. See Grammar Lesson 9 for more details.

Card #87
Note 75a. You can use ずつ zutsu to mean “each” in English. See Grammar Lesson 9 for more details.
Note 75b. You can use たち tachi to make certain nouns plural. See Grammar Lesson 9 for more details.
Note 75c. You can use がた gata to make certain nouns plural. See Grammar Lesson 9 for more details.

Card #88
Note 76a. You can use すぎに sugu ni to mean “past” or “after.” See Grammar Lesson 9 for more details.
Note 76b. You can use 中 (ちゅう chū) to mean “during” or “all throughout.” See Grammar Lesson 9 for more details.

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