JLPT Sentence Structure and Cohesion 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following correctly uses 〜ばかり to mean 'just finished doing'?
- 食べるばかり
- 食べていばかり
- 食べたばかり (Correct answer)
- 食べてばかり
Correct answer: 食べたばかり
〜たばかり attaches to the past tense (た-form) to mean that an action was just completed very recently.
Question 2: In the pattern 〜ようにする, what is the speaker expressing?
- An attempt or effort to make something happen habitually (Correct answer)
- A spontaneous change in state
- A direct command to someone else
- A completed past action
Correct answer: An attempt or effort to make something happen habitually
〜ようにする means to make an effort or take steps to do/achieve something habitually.
Question 3: Which sentence uses 〜てしまう to express regret or an unintended outcome?
- 宿題をしてしまいます (I intend to do my homework)
- 財布を忘れてしまった (I accidentally left my wallet behind) (Correct answer)
- 早く起きてしまう (I always wake up early)
- 本を読んでしまいたい (I want to read a book)
Correct answer: 財布を忘れてしまった (I accidentally left my wallet behind)
〜てしまう can express that something happened accidentally or to the speaker's regret, as in forgetting one's wallet.
Question 4: What nuance does 〜はずだ add to a sentence?
- The speaker is guessing based on appearance
- The speaker expects something to be true based on reasoning or prior knowledge (Correct answer)
- The speaker is expressing a strong desire
- The speaker is issuing a prohibition
Correct answer: The speaker expects something to be true based on reasoning or prior knowledge
〜はずだ expresses the speaker's logical expectation or assumption based on known facts.
Question 5: Which particle combination correctly marks both the starting point and ending point of movement?
- からまで (Correct answer)
- にで
- をまで
- がへ
Correct answer: からまで
から marks the starting point and まで marks the endpoint, together expressing 'from... to...'.
Question 6: In passive constructions in Japanese, which particle typically marks the agent (the one performing the action)?
- を
- に (Correct answer)
- が
- で
Correct answer: に
In passive sentences, に marks the agent — the person or thing performing the action on the subject.
Question 7: What is the correct usage of 〜と when describing an automatic or natural consequence?
- 春になると、桜が咲く (When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom) (Correct answer)
- 明日雨だと、出かけない (If it rains tomorrow, I won't go out)
- もし時間があると、手伝います (If I have time, I'll help)
- 彼が来ると思う (I think he will come)
Correct answer: 春になると、桜が咲く (When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom)
〜と is used for natural, automatic, or habitual consequences, making it ideal for describing seasonal events like cherry blossoms blooming in spring.
JLPT Sentence Structure and Cohesion 3
Which of the following correctly uses 〜ばかり to mean 'just finished doing'?