In this Topic, we will be learning about two unrelated yet relatively easy words. First, we'll learn about けれども, which is a more formal version of けど, meaning 'but'. Second, we'll learn about つもり, which is used to say that one 'intends' to do something.

As this is the final main Topic of N5 (there is only the final bonus Topic after this one!), we thought we'd end on something a little more relaxed. Congratulations on getting this far and now let's jump into these final two N5 grammar points!

We're very nearly at the end of N5! Even though N5 is the most 'basic' level, it is definitely not easy. We've covered a lot of ground, learned about many grammatical concepts, and seen hundreds of words. If mastered, the 'simple' grammar of N5 can be used in all sorts of complicated ways. Let's look at some examples of what we can do with the grammar from each Lesson of N5.

Level Up

In Lesson1, we took the first step into the world of Japanese grammar, focusing on things that are crucial for making natural, interesting sentences. We the learned fundamental words だ　and です, and how to form and organize Japanese sentences with the particles は and も. We also learned the basics of こそあど words, the essentials of adjectives, and how to ask questions.

In Lesson 2, we entered the world of verbs and particles, with things that are necessary to use basic types of verbs. We did this via the case-marking particles が and を, the sentence-ending particles よ, ね and な, and also by becoming familiar with verb conjugation, with the negative and polite forms of verbs.

In Lesson 3, we fleshed out our particle knowledge by covering the remaining essential particles needed in their basic uses. We covered で, に, か, and と in their essential uses, and also expanded our range of expression with だろう and でしょう, and the contextual/explanatory use of の.

In Lesson 4, we started to manipulate verbs with different verb forms, making further use of the particles we had just learned. We learned about the past form of verbs, both standard and polite, and also how to nominalize verbs with の.

In Lesson 5, we learned about basic sentence linking structures and the て-form. Getting to grips with the て-form helped us link actions, and also unlocked the essential ている pattern. We also learned more about で and were introcued to から.

In Lesson 6, we filled in any knowledge gaps we may have still had around the basics, learning about question words and quotation particles. Besides expanding on questions and question words, we also learned more about tense in Japanese, including the past tense of nouns and な-Adjectives, and how to modify nouns with verbs using relative clauses.

In Lesson 7, we got into slightly more advanced linking and identification phrases. We completed the こそあど system with words beginning with ど, and we learned how to talk about limits and progress with だけ, まだ, and もう. We also learned how to talk about wanting to do things with たい.

In Lesson 8, we learned more about how to identify amounts and locations. We did this via words like まで, くらい, まえに, and すぎる. We also learned the larger sentence level comparative phrases より～のほうが and のなかで～がいちばん.

In Lesson 9, we upgraded our conversation skills by learning how to suggest and request. We did this with all sorts of phrase like ましょうか, ほうがいい, てください, and なくてはならない. The selection of phrases in Lesson 9 allowed us to really level up how we can ask people to do things and talk about things that must or must not be done.

In Lesson 10, we rounded off our abilities with phrases related to giving and receiving, and describing our experiences. We learned about the absolutely essential group of verbs もらう, くれる, and あげる. We also learned about how to talk about things we have done with たことがある, and deepened our understanding of ている.

Simply by looking at all these examples, it is clear that although N5 is just the first step, it is also a big one.

With that, we've reached the end of the main N5 Topics, with just a bonus Topic up next before we’re ready to move on to N4!