JLPT N5 Grammar
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Category: Verb Forms
The grammar pattern "〜に行く" is used to express the purpose of movement. It combines the verb stem (masu-stem) with the particle "に" and a motion verb (行く/来る/帰る) to indicate that someone is going, coming, or returning in order to perform a specific action. This pattern is commonly used in everyday conversations to convey the purpose of a trip or a visit.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masu-stem | [Verb stem] + に + 行く/来る/帰る | 見る + に + 行く = 見に行く |
| Masu-stem (with irregular verbs) | [Irregular verb stem] + に + 行く/来る/帰る | 食べる + に + 行く = 食べに行く |
| Masu-stem (with verb groups that change stem) | [Verb group stem] + に + 行く/来る/帰る | 知る + に + 行く = 知りに行く |
デパートへ買い物に行きます。
Depāto e kaimono ni ikimasu.
I'm going to the department store to shop.
デパートへ = to the department store, 買い物 = shopping
友だちに会いに行きました。
Tomodachi ni aim ni ikimashita.
I went to visit my friend.
友だちに = to my friend, 会い = to meet
毎週日曜日にプールへ泳ぐのに行きます。
Maigetsu nichiyōbi ni pūru e oyogu no ni ikimasu.
I go to the pool every Sunday to swim.
毎週日曜日に = every Sunday, プールへ = to the pool, 泳ぐの = to swim
会社へ仕事に行きます。
Kaisha e shigoto ni ikimasu.
I'm going to the company to work.
会社へ = to the company, 仕事 = work
病院へ医者に会いに行きました。
Byōin e isha ni aim ni ikimashita.
I went to the hospital to see a doctor.
病院へ = to the hospital, 医者に = to a doctor, 会いに = to visit
This pattern is commonly used in everyday conversations to convey the purpose of a trip or a visit. It can be used with various verbs to indicate different purposes. For example, "見に行く" means going to see something, while "食べに行く" means going to eat.
The masu-stem is used to form the pattern "〜に行く", so using the dictionary form instead will result in an incorrect sentence.
The particle に can have different functions depending on the context. In this pattern, it is used as the purpose particle, but it can also be used as the destination particle. Make sure to use the correct particle to avoid confusion.
The pattern "〜に行く" can be used with different motion verbs, such as 行く, 来る, and 帰る. Make sure to use the correct motion verb depending on the context to avoid confusion.
In the JLPT exam, this pattern is often tested in the reading comprehension section. Make sure to practice reading sentences with this pattern to improve your reading skills.
デパートへ買い物______行きます。
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