Grammar Practice
Test your understanding of Japanese particles and grammar structures with these JLPT-style questions.
Question 1
まいにち しんぶん ___ よみます。
- a) へ
- b) を
- c) に
- d) が
Show Answer
Correct Answer: b) を
Explanation: を is the direct object particle used before transitive verbs. “しんぶん を よむ” means “to read a newspaper.” The verb よむ is transitive and requires the direct object particle を.
Why others are incorrect:
- へ: Direction particle; would mean “towards a newspaper”
- に: Location/destination particle; would suggest reading AT the newspaper
- が: Subject particle; would create a grammatically confusing sentence
Question 2
わたしは まいにち かいしゃ ___ いきます。
- a) を
- b) で
- c) に
- d) と
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) に
Explanation: に is the destination particle used with verbs of motion like いく (to go). “かいしゃ に いく” means “to go to the company.”
Why others are incorrect:
- を: Direct object particle; doesn’t work with destinations
- で: Location of action particle; used for where an action takes place, not the destination
- と: Companionship/quotation particle; doesn’t work with destinations
Question 3
きのう、ともだち ___ えいが を みました。
- a) が
- b) を
- c) と
- d) に
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) と
Explanation: と is the particle used to express “with” (companionship). “ともだち と えいが を みた” means “I watched a movie with a friend.”
Why others are incorrect:
- が: Subject particle; would make friend the subject
- を: Direct object particle; friend is not the object being watched
- に: Would suggest giving something TO the friend
Question 4
としょかん ___ べんきょうします。
- a) に
- b) で
- c) を
- d) が
Show Answer
Correct Answer: b) で
Explanation: で is the particle indicating the location where an action takes place. “としょかん で べんきょうする” means “to study at the library.”
Why others are incorrect:
- に: Indicates destination, not location of action
- を: Direct object particle; doesn’t work for locations
- が: Subject particle; library is not the subject
Question 5
わたしは まいあさ ６じ ___ おきます。
- a) で
- b) を
- c) が
- d) に
Show Answer
Correct Answer: d) に
Explanation: に is used to specify exact times. “６じ に おきる” means “to wake up at 6 o’clock.”
Why others are incorrect:
- で: Used for locations of actions or means, not specific times
- を: Direct object particle; time is not a direct object
- が: Subject particle; time is not the subject
Question 6
ともだち に ほん ___ あげました。
- a) が
- b) で
- c) を
- d) に
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) を
Explanation: を marks the direct object being given. “ほん を あげる” means “to give a book.” The book is what’s being transferred.
Why others are incorrect:
- が: Subject particle; the book is not the subject
- で: Means/location particle; doesn’t work with giving verbs
- に: Already used for the recipient (ともだち に)
Question 7
あめが ふって います ___ 、がっこうに いきました。
- a) から
- b) のに
- c) ので
- d) けど
Show Answer
Correct Answer: b) のに
Explanation: のに expresses contrast or “despite/even though.” “あめが ふって いる のに、がっこうに いった” means “Even though it was raining, I went to school.”
Why others are incorrect:
- から: Indicates reason/cause, meaning “because it was raining”
- ので: Also indicates reason/cause, similar to から
- けど: While this can show contrast, のに is more emphatic
Question 8
この テスト は むずかしい ___ 、わかりません。
- a) のに
- b) ので
- c) から
- d) けど
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) から
Explanation: から indicates reason or cause. “この テスト は むずかしい から、わかりません” means “Because this test is difficult, I don’t understand it.”
Why others are incorrect:
- のに: Would express contrast (“despite being difficult”)
- ので: While this also means “because,” から is more commonly used in casual speech
- けど: Means “but/however,” which doesn’t fit
Question 9
きょう は いい てんき ___ 、そとで あそびましょう。
- a) に
- b) が
- c) を
- d) だから
Show Answer
Correct Answer: d) だから
Explanation: だから means “therefore” or “so.” “きょう は いい てんき だから、そとで あそびましょう” means “Today the weather is nice, so let’s play outside.”
Why others are incorrect:
- に: Particle for time/direction; doesn’t connect clauses
- が: Subject particle or “but”; doesn’t fit the meaning
- を: Direct object particle; doesn’t connect clauses
Question 10
ごはん を たべて ___ 、がっこう に いきます。
- a) を
- b) に
- c) から
- d) で
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) から
Explanation: から after the te-form indicates doing something after completing an action. “ごはん を たべて から、がっこう に いきます” means “After eating, I go to school.”
Why others are incorrect:
- を: Direct object particle; can’t follow te-form
- に: Direction particle; doesn’t fit with te-form
- で: Location/means particle; doesn’t fit this pattern
Question 11
わたしは ここに いちど ___ きた ことが あります。
- a) だけ
- b) もう
- c) まだ
- d) まえ
Show Answer
Correct Answer: a) だけ
Explanation: だけ means “only” or “just.” “いちど だけ きた ことが あります” means “I have come here only once.”
Why others are incorrect:
- もう: Means “already”; doesn’t fit with “once”
- まだ: Means “still/not yet”; doesn’t make sense here
- まえ: Means “before”; incorrect usage
Question 12
アキラ ___ わたし ___ あなたの ともだちなんですよ。
- a) は / は
- b) や / や
- c) と / と
- d) も / も
Show Answer
Correct Answer: d) も / も
Explanation: も / も means “both…and” or “also…also.” “アキラ も わたし も” means “both Akira and I.” The sentence means “Both Akira and I are your friends.”
Why others are incorrect:
- は / は: Topic markers; doesn’t create “both…and” meaning
- や / や: Used for listing examples; not for “both…and”
- と / と: Means “and” but not in this pattern
Question 13
はは は となりの おくさんと すこし はなし を ___ から いえに かえって いった。
- a) し
- b) する
- c) して
- d) した
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) して
Explanation: して is the te-form of する. “はなし を して から” means “after having a talk.” The sentence means “Mother returned home after talking a little with the neighbor.”
Why others are incorrect:
- し: Stem form; can’t be used with から
- する: Dictionary form; doesn’t work with から
- した: Past form; doesn’t fit with から pattern
Question 14
いえに いるより ここ ___ ほうが きけんですよ。
- a) を
- b) な
- c) に
- d) の
Show Answer
Correct Answer: d) の
Explanation: の is used in comparative structures with ほう. “ここ の ほうが きけん” means “it’s more dangerous here.” The sentence means “It’s more dangerous here than staying at home.”
Why others are incorrect:
- を: Direct object particle; doesn’t work with ほう
- な: Na-adjective connector; doesn’t fit
- に: Direction/location particle; incorrect with ほう
Question 15
わたしが あなた ___ ならんで たっても いいですか？
- a) と
- b) で
- c) を
- d) に
Show Answer
Correct Answer: a) と
Explanation: と means “with” when expressing doing something together. “あなた と ならんで たつ” means “to stand in line with you.” The sentence means “May I stand in line next to you?”
Why others are incorrect:
- で: Means/location particle; doesn’t express “with”
- を: Direct object particle; person is not an object
- に: Doesn’t express “together with” in this context
Question 16
コーヒーでも のみながら ___ 。
- a) はなします
- b) はなしません
- c) はなしましょう
- d) はなしましよう
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) はなしましょう
Explanation: ましょう is the volitional form meaning “let’s.” “コーヒーでも のみながら はなしましょう” means “Let’s talk while drinking coffee.”
Why others are incorrect:
- はなします: Simple present; doesn’t suggest invitation
- はなしません: Negative; opposite meaning
- はなしましよう: Incorrect spelling/conjugation
Question 17
みなさん、なぜ ここに あつまったか、わかっている ___ 。
- a) でした
- b) でしました
- c) でしょう
- d) でしましょう
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) でしょう
Explanation: でしょう expresses conjecture or “probably/I suppose.” “わかっている でしょう” means “you probably understand/know.” The sentence means “Everyone, you probably know why we gathered here.”
Why others are incorrect:
- でした: Past tense; doesn’t express conjecture
- でしました: Incorrect conjugation
- でしましょう: Volitional; doesn’t fit the context
Question 18
わたしの がっこうには たくさんの がくせいが ___ 。
- a) いっています
- b) います
- c) あります
- d) あっています
Show Answer
Correct Answer: b) います
Explanation: います means “to exist/be” for people and animals. “がくせいが います” means “students exist/are.” The sentence means “There are many students at my school.”
Why others are incorrect:
- いっています: Means “going”; doesn’t express existence
- あります: Used for inanimate objects, not people
- あっています: Means “matching/correct”; wrong meaning
Question 19
この じしょは ここ ___ つかって ください。
- a) に
- b) の
- c) で
- d) を
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) で
Explanation: で indicates the location where an action takes place. “ここ で つかって ください” means “please use it here.” The sentence means “Please use this dictionary here.”
Why others are incorrect:
- に: Direction/destination; doesn’t indicate location of action
- の: Possessive; doesn’t fit
- を: Direct object; location is not an object
Question 20
なにか ___ ことが ありますか？
- a) いたい
- b) いいたい
- c) いうたい
- d) いってたい
Show Answer
Correct Answer: b) いいたい
Explanation: いいたい is the tai-form (want to) of いう (to say). “いいたい こと” means “something you want to say.” The sentence means “Is there anything you want to say?”
Why others are incorrect:
- いたい: Means “painful”; wrong verb
- いうたい: Incorrect conjugation
- いってたい: Incorrect conjugation
Practice Tips
- Pay attention to which particle creates the correct grammatical relationship
- Consider the verb type (transitive/intransitive) when choosing particles
- Remember that some particles have multiple uses depending on context
- Review the Particles section for more details
Additional practice questions (11-20) sourced from: JapaneseTest4You - JLPT N5 Grammar Exercise 4