Japanese grammar that learners mix up — compared side by side.
Each guide puts two to four similar patterns next to each other: the core difference, minimal-pair examples, a decision checklist, common mistakes, and practice with answers.
はずだ vs べきだ vs ほうがいい (hazu da vs beki da vs hou ga ii)
expectation vs obligation vs advice
から vs ので (kara vs node)
your own reason vs a reason stated as fact
に vs で (ni vs de)
where things are vs where actions happen
あげる vs くれる vs もらう (ageru vs kureru vs morau)
which way the favor travels
そうだ vs ようだ vs らしい vs みたい (sou da vs you da vs rashii vs mitai)
what you see, what you heard, what you infer
たら vs ば vs と vs なら (tara vs ba vs to vs nara)
four ways to say “if” and when each one fits
ために vs ように (tame ni vs you ni)
a goal you act on vs a state you hope for
わけだ vs わけではない vs わけがない vs わけにはいかない (wake da vs wake dewa nai vs wake ga nai vs wake ni wa ikanai)
no wonder, not really, no way, can't