N5 Grammar: Comparisons & Degree

Common mistakes

• Confusing だけ with しか — しか requires a negative verb, だけ does not
• Placing だけ in the wrong position — it follows the word it restricts

Common mistakes

• Using dictionary form instead of ta-form for positive advice (食べるほうがいい → 食べたほうがいい)
• Using ないほうがいい instead of なくてもいい — different nuances of 'not necessary' vs 'should not'

Common mistakes

• Forgetting の中で to define the scope of comparison
• Placing 一番 after the adjective instead of before it

Common mistakes

• Confusing くらい/ぐらい (approximate) with ごろ — ごろ is for approximate time of day only, くらい is for durations and quantities
• Using ごろ for duration instead of くらい (2時間ごろ → 2時間ぐらい)

Common mistakes

• Confusing まだ (still/not yet) with もう (already/not anymore)
• Using まだ + past tense instead of まだ + ていません for 'not yet'

Common mistakes

• Confusing まで (until/to endpoint) with に (at/to destination) — まで emphasizes the endpoint/extent
• Forgetting to pair から with まで when expressing ranges

Common mistakes

• Confusing もう (already) with まだ (still/not yet) — they are natural pairs
• Using もう with present tense for 'already' instead of past tense

Common mistakes

• Forgetting to drop い from い-adjectives before すぎる (高いすぎる → 高すぎる)
• Using dictionary form of verbs instead of masu-stem (食べるすぎる → 食べすぎる)

Common mistakes

• Using dictionary form instead of ta-form (食べることがある means 'sometimes eat' — different meaning)
• Confusing たことがある (experience) with ことがある (sometimes happens)

Common mistakes

• Reversing the order — A より B means B is MORE than A, not the other way around
• Forgetting の before ほうが (B のほうが, not B ほうが)