JLPT N4 Soft examples, lists, and limits
など, とか～とか, and し list examples without claiming the list is complete, and でも softens a suggestion as "or something". ばかり and だけで limit scope, while あまり～ない, 全然～ない, and なかなか～ない need a negative verb to work. Forgetting that negative ending, as in あまり好き, is a very common slip.
13 N4 grammar points in this group
など (nado): such as; things like
Use など when you want to list examples or indicate “things like” in natural Japanese.
本やノートなどを買いました。 — I bought books, notebooks, and things like that.
とか～とか (toka toka): things like; among others
Use とか～とか when you want to express things like; among others in a Japanese sentence.
週末は映画を見るとか、買い物するとかします。 — On weekends, I do things like watching movies and shopping.
でも (demo): or something; how about
Use でも after a noun when you want to present that noun as a casual example, suggestion, or minimum option.
少し休んで、お茶でも飲みませんか。 — Why don't we rest a little and have tea or something?
し (shi): and; what’s more
Use し when you want to express the N4 idea of “and; what’s more” in natural Japanese.
この店は安いし、おいしいです。 — This shop is cheap and tasty.
それに (sore ni): also; in addition
Use それに when you want to express the N4 idea of “besides; in addition; moreover” in natural Japanese.
この店はおいしいです。それに安いです。 — This shop is tasty. In addition, it is cheap.
または (matawa): or; one choice or the other
または presents alternatives: A or B, and in most cases either one will do. It is a statement, not a question.
現金またはカードで払えます。 — You can pay by cash or card.
ばかり (bakari): only; just that
ばかり has two everyday jobs at N4:
弟はゲームばかりしています。 — My little brother does nothing but play games.
だけで (dake de): just by doing
The pattern is [small action or amount] だけで [result]. The part before だけで is the only thing you need; the part after is what happens because of it.
この薬は一日一回飲むだけでいいです。 — You only need to take this medicine once a day.
も (mo): as much as; surprisingly many
Emphatic も attaches to a quantity — a number with a counter, or an amount of time, money, distance, or people — and marks it as more than expected.
昨日は三時間も勉強しました。 — Yesterday I studied for a whole three hours.
あまり～ない (amari nai): not very; not particularly
あまり lowers the strength of a negative sentence. Instead of denying something completely, you say it is true only to a small degree.
この店はあまり高くないです。 — This shop isn’t very expensive.
全然～ない (zenzen nai): not at all
Use 全然～ない when you want to express not at all in a Japanese sentence.
日本語は全然難しくないです。 — Japanese is not difficult at all.
なかなか～ない (nakanaka nai): not easy to; not readily
The pattern describes a gap between expectation and reality. You want, expect, or are trying to make something happen, but it doesn’t happen easily, or it takes a frustratingly long time.
バスがなかなか来ません。 — The bus just isn’t coming.
そんなに (sonna ni): that much; so much
Use そんなに when you want to express the N4 idea of “so much; that much” in natural Japanese.
そんなに高くないです。 — It is not that expensive.
More JLPT N4 grammar groups
- Conditionals and decisions (11)
- Giving, receiving, requests, and keigo (15)
- Passive, causative, and permission (12)
- Te-form helpers for real conversation (15)
- Time, timing, and sequence (17)
- Plans, intention, and change (8)
- Hearsay, appearance, and feelings (17)
- Guessing, certainty, and wondering (11)
- Nominalizers, quoting, and comparison (14)