JLPT N5 tests the foundation: basic verb forms, key particles, and a handful of sentence patterns. This checklist covers what matters so you don't waste time on the rest.
Copula and politeness
- 〜です / 〜ます — polite "is" / verb ending
- 学生です。 → "(I) am a student."
- 食べます。 → "(I) eat."
The て-form
The て-form connects verbs and is the base for requests, progress, and more.
- 食べて → "eat (and...)" / "please eat"
- 食べている → "am eating"
Key particles
- は (wa) — topic
- が (ga) — subject (see our は vs が guide)
- を (wo) — direct object (ご飯を食べる)
- に (ni) — destination/time (日本に行く、6時に)
- で (de) — means/location of action (バスで行く)
- へ (e) — direction (学校へ)
Adjectives
- い-adjectives conjugate: 高い → 高くない (not expensive)
- な-adjectives add な before a noun: 静かな部屋 (quiet room)
Existence
- あります — non-living things (本があります)
- います — living things (犬がいます)
Essential patterns
- 〜たい — want to do (行きたい)
- 〜ましょう — let's do (行きましょう)
- 〜ない — negative (食べない)
- 〜ている — ongoing state (住んでいる)
- 〜より〜のほうが — comparison (AよりBのほうが大きい — "B is bigger than A")
A 4-week study plan
- Week 1: Particles + copula. Write 10 sentences each, checked.
- Week 2: て-form + ます/ない conjugation of common verbs.
- Week 3: Adjectives + existence + comparison patterns.
- Week 4: Past tense + full mixed practice with reading.
Don't just memorize — read
Checklists are for tracking; reading real sentences is how grammar becomes instinct. Paste anything you don't fully understand into Shiritai and you'll see the grammar point, the verb form, and the nuance broken down together.