Grammar is the backbone of any language, and in Japanese, it works very differently from English. While that might seem intimidating at first, Japanese grammar is actually quite logical and consistent once you understand the basics.

If you’re just starting out, here are 10 essential grammar rules every beginner should know. Master these, and you’ll be well on your way to building real conversations.

1. The Basic Sentence Structure is Subject–Object–Verb

In English, we say: I eat sushi.
In Japanese, it becomes: I sushi eat.

Example:
わたしは すしを たべます。
(Watashi wa sushi o tabemasu.)

The verb always comes at the end of the sentence.

2. Particles Mark the Roles of Words

Particles are small words that follow other words to show their function in the sentence.

• は (wa) – topic marker

• が (ga) – subject marker

• を (o) – object marker

• に／へ (ni/e) – destination

• で (de) – location of action

Example:
にほんへ いきます。
(Nihon e ikimasu.) – I’m going to Japan.

3. There’s No Plural ‘S’

Japanese doesn’t mark plurals like English does. The word ねこ (neko) can mean “cat” or “cats” depending on context.

If you want to be specific, you can use counters or words like たくさん (takusan) for “many.”

4. Verbs Don’t Change for the Subject

In English, we say “I eat” but “she eats.”
In Japanese, the verb stays the same regardless of who’s doing the action.

Example:
わたしは たべます。 (I eat)
かれは たべます。 (He eats)

5. Desu (です) Ends Polite Sentences

The copula です (desu) is used to say “is” politely. You’ll use this a lot in early conversations.

Example:
これは ほんです。
(Kore wa hon desu.) – This is a book.

6. Negative Form: ~じゃないです / ~ません

To say something is not, use:

• For nouns/adjectives: じゃないです
  Example: がくせいじゃないです。 – I’m not a student.

• For verbs: 〜ません
  Example: たべません。 – I don’t eat.

7. Questions End with か

To turn a statement into a question, just add か at the end.

Example:
これは すしですか？
(Kore wa sushi desu ka?) – Is this sushi?

8. The Topic Particle は is Not the Subject

は (wa) marks the topic of the sentence, which is what the sentence is about, not necessarily the doer of the action.

Example:
にほんは さむいです。
(Nihon wa samui desu.) – As for Japan, it’s cold.

Here, Japan isn’t doing anything, it’s just the topic.

9. Adjectives Conjugate Like Verbs

Japanese adjectives change form to show tense and polarity (positive/negative).

Example (い-adjective):

• たのしい – fun

• たのしかった – was fun

• たのしくない – not fun

10. Particles Can Be Dropped in Casual Speech

In informal settings, people often drop particles (especially は, を, が), especially in spoken Japanese.

Example:
すし たべた。 – (I) ate sushi.
Still understandable from context!

Learn Grammar in Context

Understanding grammar rules is helpful, but using them is key. That’s why our Course for Beginners 1 introduces grammar in real conversation and reading practice, following the Genki textbook structure. You’ll learn how to actually say things like:

• “Where is the station?”

• “What time is your class?”

• “Let’s go together!”

All while reinforcing the rules you just read through guided practice, dialogues, and writing tasks.

Ready to Master the Basics?

Jump into our structured Genki-based course to go from beginner to confident communicator, starting with grammar that makes sense.

Check out the course.