JLPT N2 Grammar
The formal connectives of news, business, and essays: relational phrases
(〜に対して, 〜を通じて), inevitability (〜ざるを得ない), and aspect and
emphasis patterns. Each has a plain-English explanation and two examples.
Tap a pattern to expand it; mark what you know.
Also see N3 grammar .
Relation and viewpoint 関係・観点 0/5 〜に対して toward; in contrast to; per 〜に関して regarding; concerning 〜にとって for; from the standpoint of 〜として as; in the capacity of 〜に応じて according to; in response to
Time and sequence 時間・順序 0/6 〜際に on the occasion of; when 〜に先立って prior to; in advance of 〜たとたんに the moment that; just as 〜最中に in the middle of; right while
Cause and reason 原因・理由 0/5 〜だけに precisely because; being... all the more 〜ばかりに just because (with a bad result) 〜ものだから because; the reason is that (excuse) 〜あまり out of too much; so... that 〜ことだから since it's... (knowing how they are)
Contrast and concession 対比・逆接 0/6 〜反面 on the other hand; while 〜一方で while; on the other hand 〜わりに considering; for (despite expectation) 〜にしては for; considering it's 〜からといって just because... doesn't mean
Condition and basis 条件・根拠 0/6 〜さえ〜ば if only; as long as just 〜ないことには unless; without first 〜以上は now that; since (given that) 〜からには now that; since (so naturally) 〜に基づいて based on; on the basis of
Ability and inevitability 可能・不可避 0/6 〜かねる cannot; be unable to bring oneself to 〜かねない might (something bad); be capable of 〜がたい hard to; difficult to 〜ざるを得ない have no choice but to; cannot help but 〜ようがない there's no way to; cannot possibly
Aspect and degree 様相・程度 0/7 〜つつある be in the process of 〜一方だ keep getting more and more 〜きる do completely; finish entirely 〜ぬく do all the way through (despite hardship) 〜気味 a touch of; -ish; tending toward 〜っぽい -ish; tends to; looks like
Means and scope 手段・範囲 0/5 〜をめぐって concerning; over (a dispute) 〜をはじめ starting with; including (notably) 〜のみならず not only... but also
Emphasis and listing 強調・列挙 0/5 〜こそ precisely; the very (emphasis) 〜やら〜やら what with... and... 〜ことか how...! (exclamation)