Learn JLPT N4 Lesson 40 Grammar

Minna no Nihongo Lesson 40 Grammar Explained Simply (JLPT N4)

Introduction

Minna no Nihongo Lesson 40 introduces important Japanese grammar patterns that help learners ask indirect questions, check information politely, try new actions, and express qualities clearly.

These grammar points are essential for JLPT N4 and daily Japanese communication.

This lesson explains five key grammar patterns with simple rules and easy understanding for beginners.

1. Using 「…か」 (Embedded Questions)

Meaning: 「…か」 is used to turn a question into information inside a sentence.

Usage: It is used when you want to say:

what / who / where / when something is without directly asking a question

Structure: verb + か

i-adjective + か

na-adjective + か

noun + か

⚠️ Important rule: Do not use 「だ」 before 「か」.

Example Meaning

“I don’t know what it is.”

“I will decide where to go.”

2. Using 「…かどうか」 (Whether or Not)

Meaning

「…かどうか」 is used for yes or no information.

Usage

Use this pattern when the answer can only be:

yes

no

Structure: verb + かどうか

i-adjective + かどうか

na-adjective + かどうか

noun + かどうか

⚠️ Important rule:「だ」 is never used before 「かどうか」.

Example Meaning

“I don’t know whether it is okay or not.”

“I will check whether it is a holiday.”

3. Using 「〜てみます」 (Try Doing Something)

Meaning

「〜てみます」 means to try an action and see the result.

Usage

Use it when:

trying something for the first time

checking the result of an action

Structure: verb (て form) + みます

Example Meaning

“I will try eating it.”

“I will try using this.”

4. Using 「〜さ」 (Making Nouns from i-Adjectives)

Meaning

「〜さ」 turns an i-adjective into a noun that expresses degree or quality.

Usage

It is used to talk about:

size

length

height

strength

degree

Structure: i-adjective → remove い + さ

Important Rules

✔️ Works only with i-adjectives

❌ Cannot be used with na-adjectives

❌ Cannot be used with nouns

Example Meaning

“big” → “bigness”

“long” → “length”

5. Using 「〜でしょうか」 (Polite and Soft Questions)

Meaning: 「〜でしょうか」 is used to ask polite and gentle questions.

Usage : Use it when:

speaking politely

asking strangers

asking teachers or staff

making requests softly

Structure: plain sentence + でしょうか

Important Rule

Do not use 「だ」 before でしょうか.

Example Meaning

“Could it be here?”

“Would it be okay?”

Conclusion

Minna no Nihongo Lesson 40 grammar is essential for learners who want to speak more naturally and politely in Japanese.

Mastering these five patterns will greatly improve your JLPT N4 grammar accuracy and everyday communication skills.