Irodori Starter Grammar (A1)

です is used to end sentences in polite speech. It functions similar to 'is/am/are' in English but is more like a polite sentence-ending particle.

Used when meeting someone for the first time. Literally means 'it's the first time (we meet).' Usually followed by your name and よろしくおねがいします.

ありがとうございます is the polite form of thank you. どうも is a casual 'thanks.' Different levels of politeness are used depending on the situation.

すみません is used both for 'excuse me' and 'I'm sorry.' It's a versatile expression for getting attention, apologizing, or showing gratitude in some contexts.

Use これ (this), それ (that near the listener), and あれ (that over there) to refer to objects based on their distance from the speaker and listener.

Use この, その, and あの before a noun to specify which item you are talking about.

The particle の shows ownership or relationship between two nouns.

Use だれの to ask who owns or is related to an object.

Used to ask 'What is ~ in Japanese?' This pattern can be used to ask for translations or names of things in Japanese.

A polite request meaning 'Please say ~' or 'Please tell me ~'. Used when asking someone to pronounce or state something.

Used to ask 'Do you understand ~?' The particle が marks the object of understanding.

A polite phrase meaning 'One more time, please' or 'Can you repeat that, please?' Used when you didn't hear or understand something.

Used to express age. 歳 (sai) is the counter for years of age. Always comes after the number.

こちらは is a polite way to say 'this is' when introducing someone. More formal than これは.

The particle の shows possession or relationship, similar to 's or 'of' in English.

いくつですか？ is a polite way to ask 'how old?' なんさいですか？ is more direct but still polite. Use おいくつですか？ for very polite situations.

Used to express that you like something. すき is a na-adjective, so it takes な before nouns. The particle が marks the object of liking.

たべます means 'to eat' and のみます means 'to drink'. The particle を marks the direct object (what is eaten or drunk).

Adverbs that express frequency: いつも (always), よく (often), あまり (not much/rarely). あまり is used with negative endings.

A polite way to order or request something, similar to 'please' or 'I'd like ~'. Used when ordering food or making requests.

つ is a general counter for objects. Used for counting items when you don't know or don't need a specific counter. Numbers change form: ひとつ (1), ふたつ (2), みっつ (3), よっつ (4), いつつ (5), むっつ (6), ななつ (7), やっつ (8), ここのつ (9), とお (10).

A polite way to order or request something. 下さい means 'please give me' and is used when ordering food or asking for items.

いくつ means 'how many' and is used to ask about quantity of countable items. Can be used with the つ counter or other specific counters.

で indicates the method, means, or choice. Used when specifying how you want something (eat-in vs take-out, size options, etc.).

Use i-adjectives (い-adjectives) and na-adjectives (な-adjectives) to describe nouns. Na-adjectives require な before nouns. Common housing adjectives: きれいな (clean/tidy), しずかな (quiet), ひろい (spacious), せまい (cramped).

ある is used for inanimate objects (things), いる is used for animate beings (people, animals). Use が to mark what exists and に to mark where it exists.

Used to make polite requests. The て-form of the verb plus 下さい means 'please do ~'. For ru-verbs: remove る add て. For u-verbs: change final u-sound to te-form.

Used to describe what features or things exist in a place. Similar to 'There is/are ~' in English.

います is used for animate beings (people, animals), あります is used for inanimate objects. に marks the location where something exists.

Used to ask 'Where is ~?' どこ means 'where' and is used to ask about locations of people or things.

Position words describe relative locations. Use の to connect the reference object with the position word, then に to mark the location.

ね seeks agreement or confirmation ('isn't it?'). よ provides new information to the listener ('I'm telling you').

Japanese time uses 時 (じ) for hours and 分 (ふん/ぷん) for minutes. Note that some minutes have special readings. Use 半 (はん) for 'half past' and 前 (まえ) or 過ぎ (すぎ) for 'before' or 'after'.

から means 'from' and まで means 'until' or 'to'. Used together to express time ranges or durations.

Adverbs indicating how often something happens: いつも (always), よく (often), ときどき (sometimes), あまり (rarely - with negative), ぜんぜん (never - with negative).

Many activities use する (to do) as the verb. The activity is treated as a noun followed by をします.

Use this pattern to make polite requests. The て-form of the verb is followed by 下さい to ask someone to do something.

かします means 'to lend' and かります means 'to borrow'. The particle を marks the object being lent or borrowed.

The particle で indicates the means or method by which an action is performed.

The particle に indicates the destination or target of an action.

Use まい as a counter for flat objects like paper, sheets, or notes.

Use this pattern to say what you like. The particle が marks the thing that is liked.

どんな is used to ask about the type or kind of something. It's similar to 'what kind of' in English.

The particle を marks the direct object of a verb - what is being acted upon.

と connects two or more nouns, similar to 'and' in English.

で indicates where an action takes place or the means by which something is done.

ぜんぜん means 'not at all' and is used with negative verb forms to emphasize complete absence of an action.

Use this pattern to make polite invitations. It literally means 'Won't you ~?' and is a gentle way to invite someone.

Use this pattern to suggest doing something together. It's similar to 'Let's ~' in English.

The particle に is used with specific times to indicate when an action occurs.

で indicates where an action takes place.

Use this pattern to indicate a time period from one point to another.

Use this pattern to indicate a decision or choice.

Use へ to indicate the direction or destination of movement. It's similar to 'to' or 'toward' in English.

で indicates the means or method of transportation used to go somewhere.

Use this pattern to indicate the existence of something at a location.

まで indicates the destination or endpoint of movement, similar to 'to' or 'until'.

This verb is used to express how much time or money something takes.

This verb is used to indicate where a vehicle stops or where someone stays.

Add ですね to the end of a statement to seek agreement or confirmation, similar to 'isn't it?' or 'right?' in English.

Use this form to connect two adjectives when describing something. For い-adjectives, change い to くて. For な-adjectives, add で.

の connects nouns and can show possession or describe relationships between things.

が is used to connect two contrasting ideas, similar to 'but' in English.

で indicates where an action takes place.

Use this pattern to express that you want something. The particle が marks the object that is wanted.

Use this pattern to make polite requests for items, similar to 'Please give me ~'.

の connects nouns and can describe the type or category of something.

とか is used when giving examples, similar to 'for example' or 'things like' in English.

な adjectives require な before a noun when used attributively.

Use this pattern to ask how much something costs. いくら means 'how much'.

Use this pattern to politely ask for something, similar to 'Please give me ~'.

で indicates the means or method of payment.

Use this pattern to indicate a decision or choice.

Japanese uses different counters for different types of items. こ is a general counter for small objects.

Use this form to talk about past actions. Change verbs from ます form to ました form for past tense.

For い-adjectives, remove い and add かったです. For な-adjectives, add でした.

に indicates the purpose or destination of movement when followed by verbs like いきます、きます、かえります.

と means 'with' when indicating who you did something with.

で indicates where an action takes place.

Use this pattern to express that you want to do something. Remove ます from the verb and add たいです.

Use this pattern to suggest doing something together or to offer to do something for someone.

に indicates the purpose or destination of movement when used with verbs of movement.

で indicates the means of transportation used to go somewhere.

と means 'with' when indicating who you do something with.