Common JLPT N5 Grammar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The JLPT N5 level introduces essential grammar concepts, but many learners make similar mistakes. This guide highlights the most common grammar errors and shows you how to fix them quickly with simple explanations and clear examples.
1. Using 「は」 vs. 「が」 Incorrectly
Many learners confuse the topic marker 「は」 with the subject marker 「が」.
| Mistake | Correct Usage | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 私はりんごが好きです。 | 私はりんごが好きです。 | This is actually correct! "I" is the topic, "apple" is the thing liked. |
| りんごは好きです。 | りんごは好きです。 | Also correct! Focuses on "regarding apples, I like them". |
Tip: Both can be correct, depending on what you want to emphasize.
2. Forgetting to Conjugate い-Adjectives
い-adjectives change form before nouns and in negative form.
| Mistake | Correct Usage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| きれいな犬 | きれいな犬 | Correct because it's a nature adjective. |
| おいしいなりんご | おいしいりんご | い adjectives do not take 「な」 |
| おいしくないです | おいしくないです | Correct negative |
3. Using Wrong Verb Form with 〜たい
To express desire, attach 「たい」 to the verb stem.
| Mistake | Correct Usage | English |
|---|---|---|
| 食べますたい | 食べたいです | I want to eat |
| 行きたいです | 行きたいです | I want to go |
4. Wrong Particle with Place に / へ
Use 「に」 or 「へ」 with movement verbs.
| Mistake | Correct Usage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 学校を行きます | 学校へ行きます | I go to school |
| 日本を来ます | 日本に来ます | I come to Japan |
Tip: 「に」 is used more commonly than 「へ」.
5. Using に and で Incorrectly
Use 「に」 for existence, and 「で」 for action.
| Mistake | Correct Usage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 学校に勉強します | 学校で勉強します | I study at school |
| 学校でいます | 学校にいます | Someone is at school |
6. Forgetting Counters
Japanese numbers need counters.
| Mistake | Correct Usage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| りんご三 | りんごを三つ | Three apples |
| 本一 | 本を一本 | One bottle |
7. Overusing です / ます
Casual speech often drops polite endings.
| Mistake | Correct Usage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ありがとうございます！ | ありがとうございます！ | Correct polite expression |
| どこです？ | どこ？ | Casual speech |
8. Incorrect Word Order
Japanese word order is Subject + Object + Verb.
| Mistake | Correct Usage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 私は食べるりんご | 私はりんごを食べる | I eat an apple |
9. Confusing は and わ
「は」 is pronounced as "wa" when used as a particle.
| Mistake | Correct Spelling |
|---|---|
| わたしわ | わたしは |
10. Using に with Time Incorrectly
| Mistake | Correct Usage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 明日九時に来ます | 明日九時に来ます | Correct |
| 今に行きます | 今行きます | I'm going now (no に) |
Conclusion
Understanding these common mistakes will help you communicate more naturally in Japanese and score better on the JLPT N5 exam. Practice with example sentences and pay attention to particles, verb forms, and adjective rules to avoid errors.