Smart Grammar & Particle Hacks — Avoid Common Mistakes and Master Core Patterns (JLPT N5)
Particles and basic grammar rules are the backbone of JLPT N5. Small mistakes with particles (は / が / に / で / を / へ) or verb forms often cost points — but with a few simple hacks and practice patterns you can fix those errors fast. This post collects the most effective tricks, clear examples, and short exercises to help N5 students improve accuracy and confidence.
Why particles and basic grammar matter for N5
JLPT N5 tests whether you can understand basic Japanese used in everyday situations. That means vocabulary and grammar: sentence structure, verb forms, and particles. Even with good vocabulary, incorrect particles or wrong verb forms can make answers wrong. So focus on accuracy as well as speed.
Core particles at a glance — simple meanings & memory hacks
Below are the particles you must master for N5, with an easy memory trick and one clear example.
| Particle | Basic meaning | Memory hack | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| は (wa) | Topic marker — "as for..." | Think: highlight — it highlights the topic. | 私は学生です。 (Watashi wa gakusei desu.) — As for me, I am a student. |
| が (ga) | Subject / new information / emphasis | Think: give the subject a spotlight. | 誰が来ますか？ (Dare ga kimasu ka?) — Who will come? |
| を (o) | Direct object | Think: action passes through the object. | りんごを食べます。 (Ringo o tabemasu.) — I eat an apple. |
| に (ni) | Time / destination / indirect object | Think: into/at/on* (time & place). | 学校に行きます。 (Gakkō ni ikimasu.) — I go to school. |
| で (de) | Place of action / means | Think: where the action does happen. | 図書館で勉強します。 (Toshokan de benkyō shimasu.) — I study at the library. |
| へ (e) | Direction / "to" | Think: arrow → direction only. | 東京へ行きます。 (Tōkyō e ikimasu.) — I go to Tokyo. |
| と (to) | And / with (together with) | Think: partner or list connector. | 友だちと話します。 (Tomodachi to hanashimasu.) — I talk with a friend. |
Common particle confusions and fast fixes
- は vs が: If you are introducing new info or answering "who/what", use
が. For general topics, useは. Trick: ask whether you are introducing or emphasizing (new = が). - に vs で:
に= destination/time;で= where the action happens. Replace the particle with "to" (destination) vs "at/in (doing)". - へ vs に: both can show direction/destination — but
へemphasizes direction (like "toward"), whileにoften implies arrival or existence at the place.
Verb forms & small hacks (N5 essentials)
At N5 you should be comfortable with:
- Polite present:
～ます / ～です(e.g. 食べます、行きます) - Past polite:
～ました / ～でした(e.g. 食べました、行きました) - Negative polite:
～ません / ～じゃありません(e.g. 食べません) - て-form basics (for connecting sentences & making requests): e.g. 食べて、行って
Quick trick: conjugation anchors
For N5 verbs, group them into two simple buckets for faster conjugation:
- Group 1 (う-verbs) — change the final う-sound to います/いました/いません etc. Example: 書く → 書きます, 書きました.
- Group 2 (る-verbs) — drop る and add ます. Example: 食べる → 食べます, 食べました.
Rule of thumb: If the dictionary verb ends with 〜る and the preceding vowel is e or i (like 食べる、見る), it's usually a Group 2 verb. Otherwise, treat as Group 1 for safety.
Common errors JLPT N5 students make (and exact ways to fix them)
Below are typical mistakes and a short corrective habit to stop repeating them.
1. Mixing は and が
Wrong: 私が学生です。 (used as a general statement)
Fix: Use は when stating a known topic: 私は学生です。 If you want to emphasize "it is I who is the student (not someone else)", use が.
2. Using に and で incorrectly for place
Wrong: 図書館に勉強します。
Fix: Replace with 図書館で勉強します。 — because the action (studying) happens at the library. Practice test: ask "Where do you study?" — answer should use で.
3. Forgetting を for direct objects
Wrong (confusing): りんご食べます。
Fix: Insert the object marker: りんごを食べます。 Think: the object takes the action (e.g. "I eat an apple") — mark it with を.
Practice patterns — short drills (do 5 minutes daily)
Use these drills to build habitual accuracy. For each line, fill the blank with the correct particle or verb form.
- ____ (わたし) 学生です。 → Fill:
わたしは学生です。 - 明日____ (がっこう) 行きます。 → Choose: に / で / を
- コーヒー____ 飲みます。 → Choose: は / が / を
- 図書館____ 勉強しました。 → Choose: に / で / へ
- 誰____ 本を読みますか。 → Choose: が / は / を
Show answers
わたしは学生です。明日に学校へ／に行きます。(に or へ both possible; に = arrival emphasis.)コーヒーを飲みます。図書館で勉強しました。誰が本を読みますか。
Mini checklist — what to practice every day (10–20 minutes)
- 10 new vocabulary + 10 reviews (use flashcards with example sentence including particle)
- 5 minutes: particle drills (pick 3 sample sentences and check particles)
- 5 minutes: listen to a short dialogue and pick out particles + verbs you heard
- Once a week: timed mini mock (20 questions) focusing on particles & grammar
Extra hacks to speed learning
- Shadowing for particles: Repeat short audio out loud — pay attention to particle rhythm and placement.
- Write one short diary line daily: e.g.
今日は図書館で勉強しました。— writing locks in particle use. - Use color cues: Highlight particles in example sentences (e.g. blue for
は, red forが) to build visual associations.
Short FAQs
Q: When do I use は and when が?
A: Use は to set a topic or make general statements. Use が to mark the subject that is new, emphasized, or answers a question like "who?" or "what?".
Q: Can に and へ both be used for "to go to"? Which is safer?
A: Both can often be used. Use に if you want to indicate arrival or location (safer for beginners). Use へ to stress direction. When in doubt at N5, prefer に.
Final tips — exam day strategy for particles & grammar
- Read the whole sentence first — sometimes context makes the particle obvious.
- Eliminate impossible options: if a particle is for place-of-action and one choice is a time particle, cross it out.
- If you’re not 100% sure, prefer the particle that makes the sentence grammatically complete in the simplest way (
にoverへif both look okay).