Learn N3 Grammar – Week 1 Day 3

Learn N3 Grammar – Week 1 Day 3
A roundup of the most commonly used N3 grammar.
Below is the most commonly used N3 grammar for anyone taking the JLPT

The patterns are ～みたい (~mitai), ～らしい (~rashii), ～っぽい (~ppoi)

I. Pattern ~みたい (~mitai)
This pattern is used to say something looks like something else. Do not confuse it with the word 見
たい (mitai) – want to see.

Grammar: ~みたい (~mitai) usually comes after verbs, nouns and adjectives (put into the 普通
形 (futsuukei – plain form)).

There are 3 uses here:
(+) at the end of a sentence: ～みたいだ (mitai da)
(++) in the middle of a sentence, used like a particle: ~みたいに (~mitai ni)
(+++) in the middle of a sentence, used like a な-adjective (A-na).
In this case it is naturally followed by a noun: ～みたいな N (~mitai na N)

Examples
1. もう売り切れみたい。(= もう売り切れのようだ)
<Mou urikire mitai = (Mou urikire no you da)>
It seems to have sold out.

2. ヴァンちゃんみたいに日本語が上手くなりたい。
Vân-chan mitai ni nihongo ga umaku naritai.
I want to get as good at Japanese as Vân.

3. ここの砂は星みたいな形をしている。(=星のような~)
Koko no suna wa hoshi mitai na katachi wo shite iru.
The grains of sand here are star-shaped.

II. Pattern ~らしい (~rashii)
Used to present a guess based on what you have seen or heard.
Grammar: ~らしい (rashii) usually comes after verbs, nouns and adjectives put into the 普通
形(futsuukei).
Most common is N らしい (N rashii).

Examples
1. 今日は、春らしい暖かい日でした。（＝本当に春と感 じ る）
<Kyou wa haru rashii atatakai hi deshita. (=hontou ni haru to kanjiru)>
Today is a very warm, spring-like day.

2. 私は女性らしい洋服はあまり着ない。(＝皆が女性の 服 だと感じる)
Watashi wa josei rashii youfuku wa amari kinai.
I do not often wear feminine clothes.

III. Pattern ~っぽい (~ppoi)
(+) Means feels like ~, seems like…. But ～っぽい (~ppoi) is used more for people
and only in speech.
Most common are 子供っぽい (kodomoppoi), 女っぽい (onnappoi) and 男っぽい (otokoppoi).
In this case ～っぽい (~ppoi) follows a noun or an い-adjective (A-i) with the い (i) dropped.

(+) Sometimes ～っぽい (~ppoi) is used to describe something that happens easily or often.
In that case, take the V-masu form, drop masu and add ～っぽい (~ppoi).

Examples:
1. あの小学生は、大人っぽい。(＝大人みたいだ)
Ano shougakusei wa otonappoi.
That primary school pupil looks very grown-up.

2. この料理は油っぽくていやだ。(＝油が多い感じがして）
Kono ryouri wa aburappokute iya da.
I do not like this dish; it is too oily.