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Common expression patterns for naming, cause/effect, desire, and sensory perception
What each pattern means, when to use it, and the mistakes that cost marks in the exam.
Turns adjectives into nouns to express measurable degree or state. Remove い from い-adjectives (高い → 高さ) or な from な-adjectives (静かな → 静かさ) and add さ.
Common mistakes
Used for involuntary sensory perception — smells (匂いがする), sounds (音がする), tastes (味がする), and physical sensations (寒気がする). The sensory input takes が, never を. Distinct from active perception verbs like 聞く (to listen) or 見る (to look).
Common mistakes
Used to describe the emotions or physical sensations of a THIRD PERSON. It converts an i-adjective or na-adjective into a verb by removing the final 'i' or 'na'.
Common mistakes
Expresses that something happens occasionally or habitually. Use the dictionary form for positive actions and the nai-form for negative actions to describe things that occur from time to time.
Common mistakes
Expresses gratitude for a cause that led to a POSITIVE result. Can be used with nouns (no + okage), adjectives, or verbs.
Common mistakes
Indicates a cause that led to a NEGATIVE result. It carries a sense of blame or misfortune.
Common mistakes
Expresses a desire for someone else to perform an action. The person who is desired to act is marked with the particle 'ni'.
Common mistakes
Used to define or identify a noun by its name or what it is called. Often used when introducing something the listener might not know.
Common mistakes
Indicates that an action is performed exactly following a model, instructions, or a thought. Used with nouns (no + toori) or verbs (dictionary/ta-form + toori).
Common mistakes
Adaptive practice
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