JLPT N4 grammar by function

JLPT N4 Time, timing, and sequence

間 and 間に separate "the whole time" from "at some point during", while までに sets a deadline and まで a continuous span. ところ, ているところ, and たところ pin an action to just before, during, or just after, and たばかり stresses that it feels recent. Confusing まで with までに is the classic error here.

17 N4 grammar points in this group

ていた (te ita): was doing; had been

Use ていた when you want to express was doing; had been in a Japanese sentence.

昨日の夜、テレビを見ていました。 — I was watching TV last night.

後で (ato de): after doing; later

後 (あと) means “after” or “the time after.” Add the particle で and you get a time phrase: “at the time after X.” The pattern is [finished event] 後で、[next event].

宿題をした後で、テレビを見ます。 — I’ll watch TV after I do my homework.

間 (aida): during; while something happens

間 turns a noun or a clause into a time span, and the main clause tells you what was true or ongoing for all of it.

授業の間、スマホを使わないでください。 — Please don’t use your phone during class.

間に (aida ni): while; before something ends

Picture a time window: summer break, the time you were asleep, the years you were a student. 間に says that something happened, or should happen, inside that window, before the window closes.

夏休みの間に、京都へ行きました。 — I went to Kyoto during the summer break.

までに (made ni): by; no later than

Think of までに as a deadline marker. Whatever comes before it is the limit; the rest of the sentence is a one-time action that has to be finished by then.

三時までに来てください。 — Please come by three o’clock.

頃 (koro goro): around; about

ごろ (“around”) follows a specific time and makes it approximate:

三時ごろ駅の前で会いましょう。 — Let’s meet in front of the station around three.

おきに (oki ni): at intervals of; every

Use おきに when you want to express the N4 idea of “every; at intervals of” in natural Japanese.

一日おきに運動しています。 — I exercise every other day.

ながら (nagara): while doing at the same time

The pattern verb stem + ながら, main verb describes two actions done by the same person at the same time:

音楽を聞きながら勉強します。 — I study while listening to music.

まま (mama): as it is; without changing

まま is a noun meaning “the unchanged state.” Attached to a word or clause, it says “in the state of X, without changing it.

電気をつけたまま寝てしまいました。 — I fell asleep with the light still on.

ところ (tokoro): about to do; at the point of

Use ところ when you want to express about to do; at the point of in a Japanese sentence.

今から昼ご飯を食べるところです。 — I am about to eat lunch now.

ているところ (teiru tokoro): be in the middle of doing

Use ているところ when you want to express be in the middle of doing in a Japanese sentence.

今、昼ご飯を食べているところです。 — I am in the middle of eating lunch.

たところ (ta tokoro): just finished doing

Use たところ when you want to express just finished doing in a Japanese sentence.

今、宿題が終わったところです。 — I just finished my homework.

たばかり (ta bakari): just did; has only just happened

Use たばかり when you want to express just did; has only just happened in a Japanese sentence.

今、駅に着いたばかりです。 — I just arrived at the station.

さっき (sakki): just now; a moment ago

Use さっき when you want to express the N4 idea of “just now; a short time ago” in natural Japanese.

さっき田中さんに会いました。 — I met Tanaka just now.

急に (kyuu ni): suddenly; all at once

急に tells you that a change happened quickly and without a lead-up. Before, the situation was stable; then something switched.

急に雨が降り出しました。 — It suddenly started raining.

やっと (yatto): finally; after effort

Use やっと when you want to express finally; after effort in a Japanese sentence.

やっと宿題が終わりました。 — I finally finished my homework.

ことがある (koto ga aru): there are times when

こと turns the verb into a noun, “the act of ~,” and がある says that act exists among your usual experiences. Put together: “there are occasions of doing ~.

忙しいと、朝ご飯を食べないことがあります。 — When I’m busy, I sometimes skip breakfast.

More JLPT N4 grammar groups

See all JLPT N4 grammar lessons →