JLPT N3 Grammar Map: うちに, ことにする, はずだ, わけだ, ように

verb dictionary form / ている / ない-form, い-adjective, な-adjective + な, noun + の + うちに

若いうちに、いろいろな国へ行きたい。I want to visit many countries while I am young.

Do something before a situation changes: "while…"

Watch out:〜ているうちに means "while doing…, before I knew it": 読んでいるうちに寝てしまった (I fell asleep while reading).

verb た-form + ばかり

日本に来たばかりなので、まだ道がわかりません。I just came to Japan, so I don't know the way yet.

The speaker feels that not much time has passed since something happened.

Watch out:〜たところ means literally right after. 〜たばかり is about how it feels, so it can be used for something a month ago.

verb dictionary form / noun + の + たびに

この歌を聞くたびに、高校時代を思い出します。Every time I hear this song, I remember my high school days.

"Every time…"

Watch out:What follows must be something that happens every time.

verb dictionary form / ない-form + ことにする / ことになる

毎朝30分歩くことにしました。 / 来月から大阪で働くことになりました。I decided to walk for 30 minutes every morning. / It has been decided that I will work in Osaka from next month.

ことにする = you decided it yourself. ことになる = someone else (like your company) decided it, or it just turned out that way.

Watch out:ことにしている describes your own rule or habit.

plain form + はずだ (な-adjective + な, noun + の)

荷物は今日届くはずです。The package should arrive today.

You have a reason to expect that something is true: "should."

Watch out:〜はずがない means "there is no way that…"

plain form + わけだ / わけではない

10年住んでいたのか。日本語が上手なわけだ。 / 肉が嫌いなわけではない。You lived here 10 years? No wonder your Japanese is good. / It's not that I dislike meat.

わけだ = "no wonder": you now understand the reason. わけではない = "it's not that…": a partial denial.

Watch out:わけがない is a strong denial, the same as はずがない.

plain form / noun + の + おかげで / せいで

先生のおかげで合格できました。 / 雨のせいで試合が中止になった。Thanks to my teacher, I passed. / Because of the rain, the match was canceled.

おかげで = a good result (with thanks). せいで = a bad result (blaming someone or something).

Watch out:おかげで is sometimes used sarcastically for a bad result.

noun + によって

地震によって、多くの家がこわれた。 / 国によって、習慣がちがう。Many houses were destroyed by the earthquake. / Customs differ from country to country.

Four uses: a cause, a method, the doer in a passive sentence, and "it differs depending on…"

Watch out:〜によると gives a source of information: 天気予報によると (according to the weather forecast).

verb dictionary form / potential form / ない-form + ように

忘れないように、メモしておきます。I will make a note so that I don't forget.

"So that…" The part before ように is something you cannot fully control, like できる or 忘れない.

Watch out:For things you control directly, use 〜ために: 合格するために勉強する (I study in order to pass).

verb dictionary form / た-form / noun + の + とおりに (noun + どおりに)

説明書のとおりに組み立ててください。Please assemble it as the manual says.

"Exactly as…"

Watch out:Attached directly to a noun, it is read どおり: 予定どおり (as planned).

verb dictionary form / た-form / noun + の + ついでに

駅へ行くついでに、手紙を出してきます。While I'm going to the station, I'll mail the letter.

Use the chance of doing one thing to also do something else.

Watch out:The first part is the main errand; the second is the extra one.

verb ば-form + the same verb in dictionary form + ほど

練習すればするほど上手になる。The more you practice, the better you get.

"The more…, the more…"

Watch out:い-adjectives: 安ければ安いほど. な-adjectives: 静かなら静かなほど.

noun (+ particle) + さえ

忙しくて、水を飲む時間さえなかった。I was so busy that I didn't even have time to drink water.

"Even" something you would normally expect.

Watch out:〜さえ〜ば means "as long as…, that's enough": 時間さえあれば行ける (if I only have the time, I can go).

noun / い-adjective minus い / verb ます-stem + っぽい

この服は子どもっぽい。 / 最近、忘れっぽい。These clothes look childish. / Lately I'm forgetful.

"Feels like…" or "tends to…" Casual speech.

Watch out:It often has a slightly negative feel.

verb volitional form + とする

家を出ようとしたとき、電話が鳴った。Just as I was about to leave the house, the phone rang.

Two meanings: "be about to do" and "try hard to do."

Watch out:〜ようとしない means "won't even try": 話を聞こうとしない (won't listen).

noun + に対して

学生の質問に対して、先生がていねいに答えた。The teacher answered the student's question carefully.

Two meanings: "toward / in response to" and "in contrast to."

Watch out:Contrast example: 兄が静かなのに対して、弟はにぎやかだ (my older brother is quiet, while my younger brother is lively).