Learn N3 Grammar – Week 3 Day 1

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

I. Pattern ~ても (~te mo) expressing a contrary supposition
＊ Meaning: even if…, although…, even though…
＊ Usage:
V-て/でも
A い→ A くても
A な, N→でも
– Adding も (mo) after て (te) gives a contrary condition.
– Unlike ～たら (~tara), ～ても (~te mo) is used when you expect something to happen naturally under a given condition but it does not, or the result is the opposite of what was expected.

Examples:
1. スイッチを 入れても、機械が 動きません。
Suitchi wo irete mo kikai ga ugokimasen.
Even though I switched it on, the machine still does not work.

2. 高くても、このラジカセを 買いたいです。
Takakute mo kono rajikase wo kaitai desu.
Even though it is expensive, I still want to buy this radio-cassette player.

3. 静かでも、寝ることが できません。
Shizuka demo neru koto ga dekimasen.
Even though it is quiet, I cannot sleep.

4. 日曜日でも、仕事を します。
Nichiyoubi demo shigoto wo shimasu.
Even though it is Sunday, I am still working.

*To stress the degree of the condition, we can add どんなに (donna ni), い
くら(ikura), だれが(dare ga), どう(dou), いつ(itsu), 何を (nani wo)

Examples
1. 私はいくらお酒を飲んでも顔色が変わらない。(=お酒を沢山飲ん だ場合も)
Watashi wa ikura osake wo nonde mo kaoiro ga kawaranai.(=osake wo takusan nonda baai mo)
However much I drink, my face does not change colour.

2.ギターを習い始めたが、どんなに練習しても全然上手くならない。(=何回も練習し たけれど)
Gitaa wo narai hajimeta ga, donna ni renshuu shite mo zenzen umaku naranai.
I started learning the guitar, but however much I practise I just do not get any better

II. Pattern ~V ずに (~V-zuni)
This is just another way of writing V ないで (V-naide).
Meaning: doing action 2 without doing action 1.
Usage: this pattern is used when an expected action does not happen and is replaced by another. Simply put the verb into the short negative (the "nai" form), then replace "nai" with "zuni".
Note: the verb する (suru) becomes せずに (se zuni).

Examples:
1. 辞書を使わずに書いたので, 自信がありません。(=使わないで)
Jisho wo tsukawa zuni kaita node, jishin ga arimasen.(=tsukawa naide)
I wrote it without using a dictionary, so I do not feel at all confident.

2. 昨夜、歯を磨かずに寝てしまった。(=磨かないで)
Sakuya, ha wo migaka zuni nete shimatta.
Last night I went to bed without brushing my teeth.