Learn N3 Grammar – Week 4 Day 1

Learn N3 Grammar – Week 4 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 ~にとって (~ni totte)
* Meaning: for…, from the standpoint of ~ (followed by a judgement or comment)
* Usage: Noun + にとって
Common forms ~にとって/~にとっては/ ~にとっても/ ~にとっての

Examples
1. この写真は私にとって、何よりも大切なものです。
Kono shashin wa watashi ni totte nani yori mo taisetsu na mono desu.
This photo is more important to me than anything.

2. 社員にとっては、給料は高いほうがいい。
Shain ni totte wa kyuuryou wa takai hou ga ii.
For company employees, higher pay is better.

3. だれにとっても一番大切なのは健康です。
Dare ni totte mo ichiban taisetsu na no wa kenkou desu.
For anyone, health is the most important thing.

4. 環境問題は、人類にとっての課題だ。
Kankyou mondai wa jinrui ni totte no mondai da.
Environmental problems are a challenge (task) for humanity.

II. Pattern ~わりには (~wari ni wa)
* Meaning: not in keeping with ~, for ~, compared with ~
* Usage: put the verb, adjective or noun into the plain form and add わりに or わりに
は. Note that "na" adjectives keep "na", and nouns add "no".

Examples
1. 私はたくさん食べるわりに太らない。
Watashi wa takusan taberu wari ni futoranai.
I eat a lot, but I do not put on weight.

2. あのレストランの料理は、値段のわりにおいしい。
Ano resutoran (restraurant) no ryouri wa nedan no wari ni oishii.
The food at that restaurant is good for the price.

3. 彼は勉強しないわりには成績がいい。
Kare wa benkyou shinai wari ni wa seiseki ga ii.
For someone who does not study at all, his grades are amazing.

4. この品物は高いわりには品質がよくない。
Kono shinamono wa takai wari ni wa hinshitsu ga yokunai.
This product is expensive, but the quality is poor.

5. 兄は慎重なわりにはよく忘れ物をする。
Ani wa shinchou na wari ni wa yoku wasure_mono wo suru>
My brother is quite careful, but he still often leaves things behind.

III. Pattern ~くせに (~kuse ni)
* Meaning: even though; and yet; even ~ (expressing contempt or reproach)
* Usage: put the verb, adjective or noun into the plain form and add くせに.
* Note: rarely used in formal speech.

Examples
1. よく知らないくせに、あの人は何でも説明したがる。
Yoku shiranai kuse ni, ano hito wa nan demo setsumei shitagaru.
That man knows next to nothing, yet he wants to explain everything.

2. 彼は、若いくせにすぐ疲れたと言う。
Kare wa wakai kuse ni sugu tsukareta to iu.
He is young, yet he complains of being tired at the slightest thing.

3. 父は下手なくせにカラオケが大好きなんです。
Chichi wa heta na kuse ni karaoke ga daisuki nan desu.
My father is a bad singer, yet he loves karaoke.

4. 彼は学生のくせに高級車に乗っている。
Kare wa gakusei no kuse ni koukyuusha ni notte iru>
He is only a student, yet he always drives flashy cars.

IV. Pattern ~なんか (~nanka)
* Usage: V て/ A(i->ku)/ A-na/ N＋など/ なんか/ なんて
* Meaning 1: used when giving an example to play something down or belittle it. (Mainly in conversation)

Examples
1. 「この機械に詳しい人はいませんか 」 「彼など詳しいと思いますよ。 」
“Kono kikai ni kuwashii hito wa imasen ka?” “Kare nado kuwashii to omoimasu yo”
"Does anyone know this machine inside out?" "I think someone like him knows it well."

2. ネクタイなんかしめて、どこ行くの。
Nekutai (necktie) nanka shimete, doko iku no?
Wearing a tie like that, where are you off to?

* Meaning 2: used when speaking negatively or dismissing something as not very important.

Examples
1. 忙しくて、テレビなど見ていられない。
Isogashikute terebi nado mite irarenai.
I am so busy I cannot even watch TV.

2. 本当です。うそなんかつきませんよ。
Hontou desu. Uso nanka tsukimasen yo.
It is really true. I would not tell lies like that.

3. スキーなんて簡単ですよ。だれでもすぐできるよ う になります。
Sukii nante kantan desu yo. Dare demo sugu dekiru you ni narimasu.
Something like skiing is easy. Anyone can learn to ski straight away.