JLPT N4 Giving, receiving, requests, and keigo
てあげる, てくれる, and てもらう show who does a favor for whom; くれる always points toward the speaker's side, which is the most common mix-up. ていただけませんか and お～ください make requests politer, and honorific forms like いらっしゃる and お～になる raise the listener while いたします lowers yourself.
15 N4 grammar points in this group
てあげる (te ageru): do something for someone
Use てあげる when you want to express do something for someone in a Japanese sentence.
友達に本を貸してあげました。 — I lent my friend a book.
てくれる (te kureru): someone does something for me
Use てくれる when you want to express that someone does something for you or a person close to you.
友達が宿題を手伝ってくれました。 — My friend helped me with my homework.
てもらう (te morau): have someone do for you
Use てもらう when you want to express that someone does something for you — in other words, you receive the benefit of another person's action.
友達に写真を撮ってもらいました。 — I had my friend take a photo for me.
てやる (te yaru): do for someone below you
Use てやる when you want to express that you are doing something for someone of lower status, an animal, or a child. It marks the speaker as the giver of the favor and the receiver as socially beneath the speaker.
犬に水を飲ませてやりました。 — I let the dog drink water.
てほしい (te hoshii): want someone to do
Use てほしい when you want to express want someone to do in a Japanese sentence.
もっとゆっくり話してほしいです。 — I want you to speak more slowly.
ていただけませんか (te itadakemasen ka): could you please do
Use ていただけませんか when you want to express could you please do in a Japanese sentence.
もう一度説明していただけませんか。 — Could you please explain one more time?
お～ください (o kudasai): please do; respectful request
Use お～ください when you want to make a polite, respectful request in natural Japanese.
少々お待ちください。 — Please wait a moment.
なさい (nasai): do this; command
Use なさい when you want to express the N4 idea of “do this; command” in natural Japanese.
早く寝なさい。 — Go to bed early.
てすみません (te sumimasen): sorry for doing
Use てすみません when you want to express sorry for doing in a Japanese sentence.
遅れてすみません。 — I am sorry for being late.
ございます (gozaimasu): the polite form of there is
ございます replaces あります when you are speaking very formally. The meaning does not change at all; only the level of politeness does.
お手洗いはあちらにございます。 — The restroom is over there.
でございます (de gozaimasu): the polite form of to be
Grammatically, でございます does exactly the same job as です or casual だ: it links a subject to a noun or な-adjective. The only thing that changes is the level of politeness.
こちらが受付でございます。 — This is the reception desk.
いらっしゃる (irassharu): honorific be, come, or go
One verb covers three plain verbs.
先生は今、教室にいらっしゃいます。 — The teacher is in the classroom now.
なさる (nasaru): do; honorific form
Use なさる when you want to express the N4 idea of “to do honorifically” in natural Japanese.
先生は何をなさっていますか。 — What is the teacher doing?
お～になる (o ni naru): do; honorific form
Use お～になる when you want to express the N4 idea of “to do honorifically” in natural Japanese.
先生はもうお帰りになりました。 — The teacher has already gone home.
いたします (itashimasu): the humble form of do
いたします (dictionary form いたす, often written 致します in formal writing) replaces する when you describe something you do. It carries no extra meaning. 確認します and 確認いたします both mean “I’ll check”; the second one tells the listener that you are placing yourself below them.
後ほど確認いたします。 — I’ll check and get back to you shortly.
Often confused in this group
- あげる vs くれる vs もらう — あげる gives outward, くれる gives toward you, もらう receives. 友達が本をくれた and 友達に本をもらった describe the same gift from opposite sides.
More JLPT N4 grammar groups
- Conditionals and decisions (11)
- Passive, causative, and permission (12)
- Te-form helpers for real conversation (15)
- Time, timing, and sequence (17)
- Plans, intention, and change (8)
- Soft examples, lists, and limits (13)
- Hearsay, appearance, and feelings (17)
- Guessing, certainty, and wondering (11)
- Nominalizers, quoting, and comparison (14)