JLPT N5 grammar choice in context

The idea

For an action’s location use で; for the place where an object exists use に. A noun predicate can end in polite です. A time word such as 昨日 points to the past, often expressed with ました.

Examples

• 学校がっこうで日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうします。I study Japanese at school.
• 駅えきに行いきます。I go to the station.
• 机つくえの上うえに本ほんがあります。There is a book on the desk.
• 田中たなかさんは先生せんせいです。Tanaka is a teacher.
• 毎日まいにち、本ほんを読よみます。I read a book every day.
• 朝あさ、パンを食たべました。I ate bread this morning.

Watch out

Do not choose a particle from the location noun alone: the verb determines its role. These questions are original practice, not official JLPT questions; N5 topic labels are estimates.

Try it yourself

1. 図書館としょかん＿＿本ほんを読よみます。（に／で／を／と）

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   で

   で marks the library as the place where reading takes place.

2. 机つくえの上うえ＿＿本ほんがあります。（で／を／に／と）

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   に

   に marks the desk as the location of a book with あります.

3. 田中たなかさんは先生せんせい＿＿。（ます／ました／ありません／です）

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   です

   です politely completes the noun predicate 先生.

4. 昨日きのう、パンを＿＿。（食たべました／食たべます／食たべません／食たべましょう）

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   食べました

   食べました is the polite past of 食べます; 昨日 places the action yesterday.

Use it today

Choose each answer, read the completed sentence aloud and explain which word or time clue helped you decide.