Search pages and navigate
In addition to; besides; on top of...
Definition
This grammar pattern is used to add or emphasize a quality or characteristic to a statement, reinforcing the overall evaluation. It is often used to stack similar qualities, such as positive with positive or negative with negative. This pattern is commonly used in everyday conversation and writing, and is a key component of the JLPT N2 level.
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| V・A (普通形) | V・A (普通形) + 上に | 彼は優秀な学生である______、大学に入学した。 |
| Naな・である | Naな・である + 上に | 彼は優秀な学生である______、大学に入学した。 |
| Nの・である | Nの・である + 上に | 彼は優秀な学生である______、大学に入学した。 |
Examples
このアパートは家賃が安い______、駅からも近いので人気がある。
Kono apato wa iei ga yasui______、eki kara mo chikai node ninki ga aru.
This apartment is cheap______ close to the station, so it's popular.
このアパートは家賃が安い______、駅からも近いので人気がある。 (This apartment is cheap______ close to the station, so it's popular.)
道に迷った______雨まで降ってきて、散々な目に遭った。
Michi ni mayotta______ame made furitsukete、sansansha na me ni aetta.
I got lost______ it rained all the way, and I had a terrible time.
道に迷った______雨まで降ってきて、散々な目に遭った。 (I got lost______ it rained all the way, and I had a terrible time.)
彼女は仕事ができる______性格もいいので、みんなに好かれている。
Kanojo wa shigoto ga dekiru______seikaku mo ii node、minna ni suki ni narimashita.
She is capable______ has a good personality, so everyone likes her.
彼女は仕事ができる______性格もいいので、みんなに好かれている。 (She is capable______ has a good personality, so everyone likes her.)
Context
This pattern is used to add or emphasize a quality or characteristic to a statement, reinforcing the overall evaluation. It is often used in everyday conversation and writing, and is a key component of the JLPT N2 level. The pattern can be used with both positive and negative qualities, but it is generally used to stack similar qualities. For example, 'He is smart______ lazy' is not a good example of this pattern, as it mixes positive and negative qualities.
Watch out
This pattern is used to stack similar qualities, so mixing positive and negative qualities is not a good example of this pattern.
This pattern uses '上に', while '上で' is used to indicate a location or a time. For example, 'I studied______ I went to bed' uses '上で', not '上に'.
This pattern is used to add or emphasize a quality or characteristic to a statement, reinforcing the overall evaluation. It is not used to indicate a sequence of events. For example, 'I went to the store______ I bought some milk' uses a different pattern, not '上に'.
Strategy
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to use similar qualities and to reinforce the overall evaluation. Also, be careful not to confuse this pattern with '上で' or to use it for unrelated sequence of events.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N2 test-style questions. Each sentence shows V・A (普通形) + 上に / Naな・である + 上に / Nの・である + 上に used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
このアパートは家賃が安い上に、駅からも近いので人気がある。
Pattern used: 上に
上に is used here to list two positive attributes (cheap and close to the station) of the apartment.
道に迷った上に雨まで降ってきて、散々な目に遭った。
Pattern used: 上に
上に stacks the negative event of raining on top of being lost.
彼女は仕事ができる上に性格もいいので、みんなに好かれている。
Pattern used: 上に
上に adds a second positive quality to explain why she is well-liked.
Interactive
このアパートは家賃が安い______、駅からも近いので人気がある。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.