Spreadsheet laying out key grammar, word order and some vocabulary for beginners' Japanese language courses. Based off the CEFR A1 course at the Cambridge Language Centre with detail added from various respected online sources.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
General Pattern Topic Time Location Subject Indirect Object Direct Object Verb
Verb Sentences Time (Ni) Place (De) Person (To) Object (O) Verb (Ka)
"Come, Go, Return" Verbs Time (Ni) Person (To) Method (De) From (Kara) To (Made) Verb (Ka)
VERB CONJUGATIONS
Full Word Order Verb English Verb English
Positive Negative Subject of Sentence (Wa) Tabemasu Eat Tachimasu Stand up
Polite masu masen Time (Ni) Nomimasu Drink Tsuwarimasu Sit down
Plain ru nai Subject of Action (Ga) Kikimasu Listen Okimasu Get up
Past (Polite) mashita masen deshita Person (To) Yomimasu Read Nemasu Sleep
Past (Plain) ta nakatta Origin or Start Time (Kara) Kakimasu Write Hajimemasu Start
Present Participle te nakute/de End Time (Made) Iimasu Say Owarimasu Finish
General Conditional ba (na)kereba Direction (Hi) Mimasu Watch Arukimasu Walk
Proactive Conditional tara nakattaru/ra Possessive (Pronoun + No) Benkyoushimasu Study Hashirimasu Run
Volitional (Formal) mashoo / Adverbs Shukudaishimasu Do homework Ikimasu Go
Volitional (Informal) you / Comparatives (Yori) Kaimasu Buy Kimasu Come
Passive (r)areru / Means / Method (De) Urimasu Sell Kaerimasu Return
Causative seta / Place (De) / Destination (Ni) Hanashimasu Talk Hairimasu Enter
Causative Passive sareta / Object (O) Tsukurimasu Make Demasu Leave
Potential (r)eru / Verb Araimasu Wash Motteimasu Take
Imperative e, ro, ru nakei Question Marker (Ka) Kirimasu Cut Motteikimasu Bring
Tsukaimasu Use Mottekaerimasu Bring home
NON-VERB CONJUGATION Stuff in GOLD must be there. Oshiemasu Teach Denwarimasu Phone
Stuff in YELLOW can change around. Kimasu Wear Kaimanoshimasu Shop
Postiive Negative Particles are bracketed. Nugimasu Take off Soujishimasu Clean / Tidy
Present desu dewa arimasen Kaberimasu Wear (hat) Sentakushimasu Wash clothes
Past deshita dewa arimasen deshita Hakimasu Wear (trousers) Fukushuushimasu Revise
Numbers Akemasu Open Renshuushimasu Practice
Ichi (1) Shimemasu Close Ryokoushimasu Travel
PRONOUNS Ni (2) Torimasu Pick up Sanpashimasu Stroll
Japanese Note San (3) Okimasu Put down Ryourishimasu Cook
I (neutral) Watashi Usually omitted Yon (4) Aimasu Meet
I (very formal) Waga Like royal 'we' Go (5)
I (informal, masc.) Boku, Ore Roku (6)
I (informal, fem.) Atashi Nana (7)
You (neutral) Anata Also 'darling' Hachi (8)
You (very informal) Omae Kyuu (9)
You (informal) Kiki To a younger person Ju (10)
You (government officials) Kikan Hyaku (100)
He Kare Also 'boyfriend' Sen (1000)
She Kanojo Also 'girlfriend' Hyaku man (1 million)
We (formal) Ware Juu oku (1 billion)
We (informal) Warera Never with 'tachi'
They (pl.) Karera
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