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JLPT and exams

Confusing JLPT Grammar Pairs and How to Tell Them Apart

By the Hanabuddies team · · 2 min read

Many JLPT grammar questions test the difference between two patterns that look or translate alike, such as ために and ように (both “so that”) or はず and べき (both close to “should”). The fastest way to tell them apart is to learn one short rule for each pair, such as “ために needs a verb you control; ように is for things you can’t control”, and then practise with lots of example sentences rather than English translations. This guide covers the pairs that trip up learners most often at N4 to N2, with a rule and an example for each.

Purpose: ために vs ように

  • ために is used with actions you choose to do: 日本で働くために、日本語を勉強しています (I’m studying Japanese in order to work in Japan).
  • ように is used with states or things you can’t directly control, often with potential or negative verbs: 聞こえるように、大きい声で話してください (Please speak loudly so that we can hear). 忘れないように、メモします.

Expectation: はず vs べき

  • はず is what you expect to be true: 彼はもう着いているはずです (He should have arrived by now).
  • べき is what someone ought to do: もっと早く連絡するべきでした (I should have contacted you sooner).

Decisions: ことにする vs ことになる

  • ことにする: I decided. 来月から毎朝走ることにしました.
  • ことになる: it was decided (by others or by circumstances). 来月から大阪に転勤することになりました. It’s often used to sound modest, even about your own decision.

Two kinds of そうだ

  • Hearsay uses the plain form: 雨が降るそうです (I hear it will rain).
  • Looks like uses the verb stem or adjective stem: 雨が降りそうです (It looks like it’s going to rain). おいしそう (looks delicious).

The form before そう tells you which one it is, and the JLPT likes to test exactly that.

Guessing: らしい vs ようだ / みたい

  • ようだ / みたい: your own judgement from what you see or feel: 誰もいないようです.
  • らしい: based on information you heard or read: 新しい駅ができるらしい. It can also mean “typical of”: 子どもらしい (childlike).

Preparation: ておく vs てある

  • ておく: doing something in advance: 会議の前に資料を読んでおきます.
  • てある: the result of someone’s preparation, usually with が and a transitive verb: 窓が開けてある (The window has been left open). See transitive and intransitive verbs.

Time: うちに vs 間に

  • 間に: during a fixed period: 夏休みの間に、引っ越しました.
  • うちに: while a state lasts, often “before it changes”: 温かいうちに食べてください (Eat it while it’s warm).

How to study grammar pairs

  • Keep a list of pairs that confuse you, with one rule and two example sentences each.
  • Test yourself on fill-in-the-gap sentences, not English translations, because the JLPT tests Japanese in context.
  • Write your own sentences and get them checked. See Japanese essay correction.
  • Review pairs together, not on separate days, so you notice the difference.

See also JLPT grammar tips, common JLPT mistakes and wa vs ga.

Get your grammar checked

Grammar pairs are much easier with someone who can answer “why not the other one?” on the spot. Our native Japanese tutors teach one-to-one online, in English, and can build JLPT grammar practice around the pairs you find hardest. Your first 15 minutes are a free trial.