JLPT N2 Grammar List

Indicates alternatives; 'A or B', 'either A or B'.

Expresses that in addition to A, there is also B; 'moreover', 'besides', 'not only', 'but also'.

Indicates a sudden change or shift in the topic or situation; 'now then', 'well', 'so'.

Expressing additional information; 'moreover', 'besides', 'furthermore'.

Express a cause-and-effect relationship; 'therefore', 'consequently', 'so'.

Express that A is equivalent to B; 'in other words', 'namely', 'that is to say'.

Indicates that when action A is done, action or event B follows; 'then', 'when', 'if'.

Recalling something related to A; 'speaking of which', 'by the way', 'now that you mention it'.

Expresses 'therefore' or 'because of that'.

Expressing 'that's exactly what A is; in other words, B'.

Express a sequence of events or cause-and-effect; 'and then', 'so', 'because of that'.

Expresses 'even so', 'nevertheless', 'still', or 'but'; used to contrast two statements.

Express contrast or a contradiction between two situations or facts; 'even though', 'despite', 'but still'.

Express 'if that's the case, then'; used to show a logical consequence or decision based on a given situation.

Changing the topic; 'by the way', 'speaking of which'.

Expresses contrasting ideas or statements; 'but', 'however'.

Express contrast between two situations; 'although', 'but', 'however'.

Adding a condition or exception to a statement; 'however', 'provided that', 'but only if'.

Used to give a reason, express cause or bring up a topic; 'because', 'since', 'it's just that'.

Used to give additional information about the topic; 'by the way', 'incidentally'.

Expresses the meaning 'if A, that means B' or 'A implies B'.

Used to give an explanation or provide additional information for A; 'that is to say', 'in other words'.

Provides additional information; 'moreover', 'besides', 'in addition'.

Express contrasting opinions or facts; 'although', 'but', 'however'.

Expressing 'in short', 'in a nutshell', or 'to sum up' when restating or summarizing A as B.

Indicates the reason, cause, or condition for something; 'due to', 'regarding', 'per'.

Expresses location or means; 'at', 'in', 'by', 'with'.

Used to provide a reason or explanation based on one's knowledge about the noun; 'since', 'because', 'knowing'.

Meaning 'starting with', 'including', 'not only... but also'.

Expresses 'starting with', 'beginning with', or 'including'.

Indicates a representative example of a group; 'starting with', 'including', 'such as'.

Concerning; with regard to; about

Indicate a situation or event revolving around a particular noun; 'concerning', 'regarding', 'pertaining to'.

Based on; drawing from; using as a reference.

Based on; using; utilizing.

Means 'without doing', 'not doing', or 'without happening'.

Express that something cannot be done without meeting a certain condition.

Expresses the outcome of a series of actions or events; 'in the end', 'finally', 'after'.

Expresses the result of doing something excessively or beyond a certain point.

Expresses doing something while a certain condition still holds; 'while', 'before', 'as long as'.

Expresses 'worth doing' for verbs.

Used to express that an effort is worth it or has value; 'to be worth the effort' or 'to pay off'.

Expresses the meaning of 'without worth', 'in vain', 'fruitless'.

Indicates a process or action is 'in progress' or 'halfway'.

Expresses that something tends to occur frequently or habitually.

Expresses an action that occurs immediately after another action; 'as soon as', 'no sooner than', 'the moment'.

Express the likelihood of a negative outcome or consequence.

Express inability or impossibility of doing an action (often as a polite refusal).

Express a similarity or comparison; 'as if', 'like', 'as though'.

Used to express a dilemma or indecision between two options or actions.

Express the emphasis on the reason; 'precisely because', 'it is precisely because'.

Expresses that something is exceptional, unusual, or negative based on a particular aspect or point.

Expresses a judgment or evaluation based on a certain standard; 'from this perspective', 'considering', 'judging from'.

Expresses 'just because...doesn't mean' or 'even though...not necessarily'.

Expresses a range of time, space, or quantities; 'from...to', 'between...and', 'over'.

Express a sense of responsibility or determination; 'since', 'now that', 'if'.

Express a perspective or point of view; 'from the standpoint of', 'in terms of', 'from the perspective of'.

Express a judgment or opinion based on a specific criterion; 'speaking from', 'in terms of', 'from the viewpoint of'.

Used to criticize someone for doing something contrary to what one would expect from their nature or situation.

Indicates the reason or basis for something; 'because', 'since', 'due to'.

Used to express feelings or emotions about a situation, action, or outcome.

Expresses that something is supposed to be or has been decided (rule, plan, custom).

Expresses that, as long as a certain condition is met, something else will follow; 'if only', 'provided that'.

Have no choice but to; cannot help but.

Cannot help but; cannot resist doing; an irresistible urge.

Express the unlikelihood of something happening; 'not likely', 'doesn't seem'.

Express a sequence of events happening in quick succession; 'as soon as', 'no sooner than'.

Express 'since then' or 'after'; used to indicate that an action occurred once and has not been repeated or that a state has continued since a certain event or time.

Expresses that something is as expected or deserves its reputation.

Expresses that although the situation isn’t ideal, it could be worse; 'it’s not great, but at least...'.

Used to describe an action that has just been completed, often followed by a result or observation.

Express the moment something happens; 'as soon as', 'just when'.

Indicates that something is full of or covered with a certain (usually negative) characteristic.

Expresses the impossibility or very low probability of something happening; 'no way', 'impossible'.

Shows two actions happening simultaneously or a contrast; 'while', 'although'.

Expresses an ongoing process or gradual change.

Express a continuous action or state; 'left as is', 'non-stop'.

Indicates that something has the appearance, characteristics, or behavior of something else.

Expresses that one cannot afford to do something; 'can't keep on', 'unable to continue'.

Expresses that something cannot be endured, tolerated, or is unbearable.

Indicates that something cannot be done before a certain action is completed; 'not until', 'only after'.

Emphasizes the condition; 'only when', 'precisely because'.

Expresses an intense emotional or physical state; 'extremely', 'can’t help but'.

Express extremely strong feelings or sensations; 'can't stand', 'unbearably'.

Indicates an uncontrollable emotion or feeling; 'can’t help but', 'overwhelmingly'.

Cannot afford to only do something; cannot always rely on it.

Used to show a strong assertion or emphasis on one’s opinion; 'isn't it?', 'aren't you?', 'right?'.

Express prohibition; 'must not', 'cannot', 'should not'.

Express the extent someone goes in order to achieve something; 'to the point of', 'even', 'so far as to'.

Expresses that something is natural or expected.

Expressing a general rule or common sense.

Express a strong desire or wish for something to be possible.

Express doing something as instructed or describing how something matches a rule or guideline; 'as', 'according to'.

Used to list examples or express uncertainty; 'such as', 'like', 'or something like that'.

Express a specific point in time or state; 'when', 'just about', or 'in the middle of'.

Express 'far from', 'not just', 'not only', or 'to say nothing of'.

Not the time/place for; far from; can't possibly.

Express a hypothetical situation; 'if', 'suppose', 'assuming'.

Even if, despite, although

Expresses 'together with' or 'along with'; used to describe two events or actions happening simultaneously or in parallel.

Expresses that something is not necessarily true; 'not always', 'not necessarily'.

Express that something is not impossible, meaning it is possible or could be done.

Used to express an action or state is 'not impossible', but emphasizes reluctance or doubt.

Cannot help but; cannot avoid; unable to refrain from.

Express doing two things simultaneously or at the same time.

Expresses the meaning of 'at the time of', 'in', 'on', or 'upon'.

Indicates the place, time, or context where an action or event occurs; 'in', 'at', 'on', 'regarding'.

Regardless of; irrespective of; (often used as) 'whether or not'.

Indicates a specific area or aspect in which someone or something excels.

Expresses a natural consequence or a change that occurs according to something else; 'as', 'with', 'in accordance with'.

Express a point of view; 'from the perspective of', 'if I were'.

Expresses 'either way', 'in any case', 'be it...', used when presenting two alternatives.

Expresses 'whenever', 'each time', 'whether...or'.

Expresses the idea that as one thing changes, so does another; 'as', 'along with', 'while'.

Expresses 'along with' or 'as a result of'; indicates that one event occurs along with another.

Express that something is 'nothing but' or 'none other than'.

Expresses 'despite', 'in spite of' or 'even though'.

Indicates the reason, method, or means by which something happens; 'by', 'through', 'due to'.

Indicates a range or extent; 'over', 'throughout', 'across'.

Express an action or event that occurs before another; 'before', 'prior to', 'preceding'.

Contrary to, against, in spite of

Based on, according to, depending on

Expresses 'toward', 'against', 'in contrast to', or 'in response to'.

Responding to; living up to; meeting.

In accordance with, depending on, in response to.

Express certainty; 'it is obvious', 'it must be', 'no doubt'.

Along with; in accordance with; following

Expresses that something is 'just' or 'nothing more than'; 'merely', 'only', 'simply'.

Indicates that something is related to or influenced by a certain matter or factor; 'concerning', 'in connection with', 'regarding'.

Expresses limitation; 'only', 'limited to', 'exclusive to'.

Used to express the moment or the occasion of an action; 'at the time of', 'upon', 'when'.

Expresses obligation or necessity; 'must', 'have to', 'need to'.

Not only... but also; as well as.

Express that something is understandable or reasonable.

Indicates 'on the basis of', 'in terms of', or 'from the standpoint of'.

Under the context or condition of; under.

Expresses 'not only... but also'; emphasizing the extent of something.

Express a continuing state or negative tendency; 'just', 'only', 'always'.

Express an undesired situation or result caused by something; 'simply because', 'due to', 'on account of'.

Not necessarily true that if A, then B.

Used to compare or contrast two elements; 'as for...'.

Expresses that while the first item is somewhat acceptable, the second item is not.

Expressing that something is obvious, and there is also something else.

Leaving aside, excluding.

Express that an action should not be done; 'should not', 'ought not to'.

Express a negative conjecture or determination; 'probably not' or 'I will not'.

Express doing something until a certain time or condition; 'until', 'to'.

Act according to; leave as is; unchanged.

Express indifference or disregard; 'without hesitating', 'without worrying about'.

Definitely not; no way; no chance.

Express a strong impression or feeling; 'there's something about it that...'

Expresses something natural or expected; 'it is normal that...', 'should', 'ought to'.

Express the reason or cause for something; 'because', 'since', 'due to'.

Expresses a strong negative suggestion or prohibition: 'should not', 'must not'.

Expresses a conditional wish or unlikely possibility; 'if only', 'if it were possible'.

Indicates contrast or contradiction between two clauses; 'although', 'but'.

Lists multiple attributes or actions applying to the same subject: 'both…and…', 'not only…but also…'.

Indicates 'as good as', 'virtually', or 'practically' the same as something.

Expresses various items or actions, 'things like..., and so on'.

Expresses that there is no way (method) to do something; it's impossible to do.

Express that there is no other choice; 'have no choice but', 'cannot do anything but'.

Expresses 'there’s no way' or 'it’s impossible', indicating a high degree of certainty.

Express a logical conclusion or reason; 'it means', 'no wonder', 'the reason is'.

Not necessarily; it doesn't mean that ~.

Expresses that one cannot (or must not) do something due to responsibility, social pressure, etc.

Indicates that something serves as a trigger or starting point for another action/event.

Express 'as', 'in the capacity of', or 'taking something as...'.

Indicates that something is centered around or focused on a main topic or area.

Means 'regardless of' or 'irrespective of'.

To express that something is done with a certain feeling, intention, or emotion.

Expresses 'through', 'throughout', or 'during'.

To rely on or depend on something or someone.

Indicates that while one action or situation is happening, another action or situation is also occurring or is in contrast.

Expresses that a situation or condition is continuing to increase or decrease in one direction.

Used to express that something is done after or on the basis of something else; 'after', 'upon'.

Express 'in addition to', 'besides', 'not only... but also'.

Expresses 'now that', 'since', or 'once'.

Expresses 'since' or 'as long as' in a conditional context.

Indicates something happening 'since', 'ever since', or 'after' a particular time.

To do something completely or thoroughly.

Express contrast between two aspects; 'on the one hand', 'on the other hand'.

Indicating target or intended audience.

Express a concern or fear that something undesirable might occur.

Expresses 'when' or 'in case of' specific situations or timings.

Express the outcome after a period of time or series of actions; 'after', 'as a result of'.

Expresses 'as soon as' (when used with Verb-ますstem) or 'depending on' (when used with a noun).

Indicates 'depending on; based on' a certain factor or situation.

A polite/formal way to say 'it depends on...' or 'as soon as...', often used in concluding statements.

Indicates a slight feeling or tendency toward a particular state.

Expresses 'as long as', 'while', or 'to the extent that' a certain condition holds true.

Means 'when', 'while', or 'on the occasion of' a certain event or situation.