N3 Grammar Cheat Sheet - LTL JLPT Practice | JLPT N3—Intermediate

Oct 5, 2026

41 key JLPT N3 grammar patterns presented for intermediate-level study, combining example sentences with concise English explanations of meaning and usage. Coverage includes inference, expectations, denial/qualification, comparison and hypothetical concession, cause and blame, and contrasts expressed through conditionals and phrase patterns. Additional topics address purpose, obligation, sequence and gradual change, as well as “as soon as/depending on” timing and “exactly as” rule-following, supporting efficient review and self-study with direct examples.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

1. ~ようだ/ ~ようです

2. ~らしい

3. ~はずだ

4. ~わけだ

5. ~わけではない

6. ~かのようだ

7. ~さえ~ば

8. ~にしても

9. ~としても

10. ~ものの

11. ~からには

12. ~くせに

13. ~おかげで

14. ~せいで

15. ~ものだから

16. ~ため(に)

17. ~ところが

18. ～一方(で)

19. ~に対して

20. ~わりに

21. ~だけでなく

22. ~ばかりか

23. ～上に

24. ~さえ

25. ~ようになる

26. ~ようにする

27. ~ことになっている

28. ~ことにしている

29. ~ていく

30. ~たびに

31. ~うちに

32. ~てからでないと

33. ～次第

34. ~とおりに

35. ~にしては

36. ~ほど

N3 Grammar Cheat Sheet LTL JLPT Practice | [ltl-japanese.com](ltl-japanese.com) JLPT N3—Intermediate 41 key N3 grammar patterns—step up to intermediate with inference, conditionals, contrast, cause and more complex sentence structures. For full explanations visit [ltl-japanese.com/grammar-bank/](ltl-japanese.com/grammar-bank/) | 1. ~ようだ/ ~ようです | 2. ~らしい | | --- | --- | | 'It seems like ~'—inference based on direct | 'Apparently ~ / it seems ~'—based on indirect | | evidence or the speaker's impression. | evidence or hearsay from others. | | かれはつかれているようです。 | らいしゅう、しけんがあるらしい。 | | He seems to be tired. | Apparently there's an exam next week. | | 3. ~はずだ | 4. ~わけだ | | 'Should be ~ / expected to be ~'—logical | 'That means ~ / no wonder ~'—explaining a natural | | expectation based on known facts. | or logical conclusion. | | かれはもうとうちゃくしているはずだ。 | ずっとれんしゅうしていたから、じょうずなわけだ。 | | He should already have arrived. | You've been practising all along—no wonder you're good. | | 5. ~わけではない | 6. ~かのようだ | | 'It's not that ~ / not necessarily ~'—partially denying | 'As if ~ / as though ~'—comparing something to a | | or qualifying a statement. | hypothetical situation. | | にほんごがきらいなわけではない。 | かれはしっているかのようにはなした。 | | It's not that I dislike Japanese. | He spoke as if he knew. | | 7. ~さえ~ば | 8. ~にしても | | 'If only ~ then ~'—minimal condition: as long as this | 'Even if ~ / no matter ~'—acknowledging a | | one thing is true. | condition but drawing a separate conclusion. | | じかんさえあれば、にほんにいけるのに。 | たかいにしても、かいたい。 | | If only I had time, I could go to Japan. | Even if it's expensive, I want to buy it. | | 9. ~としても | 10. ~ものの | | 'Even if we assume ~ / even supposing ~'— | 'Although ~ / even though ~'—introduces a | | hypothetical concession. | contrast or unexpected outcome. | | かりにしっぱいしたとしても、あきらめない。 | にほんごをべんきょうしているものの、まだはなせない。 | | Even assuming I fail, I won't give up. | Although I study Japanese, I still can't speak it. | | 11. ~からには | 12. ~くせに | | 'Now that ~ / since ~'—implies obligation or | 'Even though ~ / and yet ~'—criticism or surprise at | | determination after a commitment. | a contradiction. | | はじめたからには、さいごまでやりとげる。 | しらないくせに、したり顔ではなす。 | | Now that I've started, I'll see it through to the end. | He talks knowingly even though he has no idea. | | 13. ~おかげで | 14. ~せいで | | 'Thanks to ~'—positive cause; the outcome is good | 'Because of ~ (negative)'—blaming something or | | because of something. | someone for a bad outcome. | | せんせいのおかげで、しけんにうかった。 | ねすごしたせいで、ちこくした。 | | Thanks to my teacher, I passed the exam. | Because I overslept, I was late. | 15. ~ものだから 'Because ~ (excuse)'—giving a reason, often as a personal explanation or excuse. でんしゃがおくれたものだから、まにあわなかった。 Because the train was delayed, I didn't make it in time. 16. ~ため(に) 'Because of ~' (cause, noun) / 'in order to ~'(purpose, verb) . じこのために、でんしゃがとまった。 The train stopped due to an accident. | 17. ~ところが | 18. ～一方(で) | | --- | --- | | 'However ~ / but ~'—introduces a result that is | 'On the other hand ~ / while ~'—contrasting or | | contrary to expectations. | simultaneous aspects. | | れんしゅうした。ところが、しあいにまけた。 | べんきょうしているいっぽうで、スポーツも | | I practised. However, I lost the match. | たのしんでいる。
While I study, I also enjoy sports. | | 19. ~に対して | 20. ~わりに | | 'In contrast to ~ / toward ~ / in response to ~'. | 'Considering ~ / for ~ / despite ~'—result is | | あにはおとなしいのに対して、いもうとはにぎやかだ。 | unexpected given the premise. | | In contrast to my quiet brother, my sister is lively. | ねだんのわりに、りょうがおおい。
Considering the price, the quantity is generous. | | 21. ~だけでなく | 22. ~ばかりか | | 'Not only ~ but also ~'—adds another element on | 'Not only ~ but also ~' (stronger)—an even more | | top of what's expected. | surprising addition. | | えいごだけでなく、にほんごもはなせる。 | かれはうたばかりか、おどりもうまい。 | | I can speak not only English but also Japanese. | Not only can he sing, but he can dance well too. | | 23. ～上に | 24. ~さえ | | 'Moreover ~ / on top of that ~'—stacking two | 'Even ~'—marks a surprising or extreme

FAQs

What grammar topics are covered in this N3 cheat sheet?

It covers 41 JLPT N3 grammar patterns such as inference (~ようだ/~らしい), expectations (~はずだ), explanations (~わけだ), denial/qualification (~わけではない), and various conditional and contrast forms.

How does the sheet explain the meaning of each grammar pattern?

Each entry provides an English summary of the function (e.g., direct evidence vs hearsay for ~ようだ/~らしい) plus example sentences in Japanese.

How are time and sequence relationships handled in the examples?

Patterns like ~てからでないと (not until after), ~うちに (while/before a window closes), ~次第 (as soon as), and ~とおりに (exactly as) are included to express strict timing and step-by-step rule following.

Oct 5, 2026

Uploaded by AfterMidnight