N5 文章の文法: Grammar of the Whole Text
The first two grammar chapters worked at sentence level. 文章の文法（ぶんしょうのぶんぽう）zooms out: it tests whether you can follow grammar across several connected sentences — a short diary entry, letter, or mini-essay with 4 numbered blanks (問題3). The skills: choosing the right connector between sentences, tracking reference words (それ, その…), and feeling how topics continue invisibly across sentences. These are exactly the skills the Reading section needs, so this chapter is your bridge into 読解.
1. Sentence Connectors: The Traffic Signals of a Text
Between sentences, Japanese places a connector that announces the relationship. Learn them as traffic signals — each one tells the reader which way the text is about to turn:
| Connector | Signal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| そして | and; and then (adds smoothly) | 朝ごはんを食べました。そして、学校へ行きました。 |
| それから | after that (next in sequence) | 宿題をしました。それから、テレビを見ました。 |
| でも | but (casual turn) | ケーキが好きです。でも、今日は食べません。 |
| しかし | however (formal turn) | 行きたかったです。しかし、時間がありませんでした。 |
| だから | so, therefore (result follows) | 雨が降っています。だから、タクシーで行きます。 |
| それで | and so (consequence, mild) | かぜをひきました。それで、学校を休みました。 |
| では／じゃあ | well then (topic shift/wrap-up) | では、始めましょう。 |
| たとえば | for example | 日本の食べ物が好きです。たとえば、すしやてんぷらです。 |
The core exam skill: read the sentence BEFORE the blank and the sentence AFTER, and ask — same direction (そして/それから), opposite direction (でも/しかし), or cause→result (だから/それで)? The connector is decided by logic, not by feel.
2. Reference Words: The Text's Pronouns
In connected text, the こそあど series stops pointing at physical things and starts pointing at things already mentioned:
- それ／これ — "that (which I just mentioned)": 先週、映画を見ました。それはとてもおもしろかったです。
- その＋noun — "that ~ (just mentioned)": きのう、新しい店に行きました。その店のパンはおいしかったです。
- そこ — "there (the place just mentioned)": 図書館へ行きました。そこで三時間勉強しました。
In writing, the そ-series does almost all referring work (the あ-series is for shared memories in conversation). 問題3 will offer これ/それ/あれ options for a blank: choose そ-series when pointing back at the previous sentence's content. Ask yourself: "what exactly does it point to?" If you can name the antecedent, you have the answer.
3. Invisible Topics: Following the Dropped Subject
From Basic Japanese you know Japanese drops obvious subjects. In a text, one は sets the topic for many sentences:
わたしの兄は東京に住んでいます。（兄は）銀行で働いています。（兄は）毎朝六時に起きて、（兄は）七時の電車に乗ります。
Every bracketed 兄は is silent but real. Blanks in 問題3 often test whether you still know who is acting three sentences after the topic was set — especially when the writer switches between わたし and another person. Slow down at every new は: it changes the invisible subject of everything after it.
4. Time Flow & Tense Consistency
Diary and letter texts move through time, and the blank often needs the tense that matches the time word:
- きのう…（ ）→ past: 行きました／見ました
- 毎日…（ ）→ habit: 行きます／〜ています
- あした…（ ）→ non-past (or つもりです／〜たいです for plans and hopes)
Also watch the から/ので direction: reason before, result after. If the blank is followed by a result, the blank likely ends with から or ので.
5. Letter & Diary Conventions (the N5 Text Wrappers)
問題3 texts are usually framed as diaries, letters, or short compositions by a student. Recognize the furniture:
- Letters open with the season or health: お元気ですか。わたしは元気です。 and close with またお手紙を書きます。／お体に気をつけてください。
- Diaries use plain time markers: 今日は…、それから…、とても楽しかったです。
- Compositions state topic → details → feeling: わたしの家族について書きます。…（details）…これからもみんなで旅行したいです。
6. Worked Passage (Exam Simulation)
Read the passage; blanks are numbered. Answer, then check the reasoning below.
わたしは先週の日曜日、友だちと海へ行きました。朝は天気がよかったです。【１】、午後から雨が降りました。【２】、わたしたちは早くうちへ帰りました。
電車の中で、友だちは「来月また行きましょう」と言いました。わたしも【３】行きたいです。今度は母も【４】つもりです。
- Before: good weather. After: rain. Opposite direction → でも（or しかし — the options will offer only one turn-signal）.
- Before: rain. After: went home early. Cause→result → だから／それで.
- "My friend said let's go again — I too want to go（ ）": また (again) fits: わたしもまた行きたいです.
- Plan for next time: 母もつれて行くつもりです or simply いっしょに行く — the blank wants dictionary form＋つもり. Recognize the frame: 〜つもりです needs the dictionary form before it.
Notice how every answer came from a relationship between sentences — never from the blank's sentence alone. That is the entire spirit of 文章の文法.
7. Strategy Checklist for 問題3
- Read the whole text once before answering anything. It is only 5-8 sentences; the 30 seconds invested pays back on every blank.
- Connector blanks: classify the turn (same direction / opposite / cause-result / example) from the two neighboring sentences.
- Reference blanks: name the antecedent out loud in your head; default to the そ-series in writing.
- Verb-form blanks: match the time word, and check for frames (つもり, たいです, 〜ましょう) hiding after the blank.
- 4 items ≈ 5 minutes, including the read-through.
Summary & Key Takeaways
- 文章の文法 tests grammar between sentences: connectors, reference words, invisible topics, and tense flow.
- Connector = traffic signal: そして/それから (continue), でも/しかし (turn), だから/それで (result), では (shift), たとえば (example).
- Reference words in text default to the そ-series, pointing at what was just said — always name the antecedent.
- One は governs many sentences; track the invisible subject through the whole text.
- Match blank tense to time words; spot frames (〜つもり, 〜ましょう) that dictate the form before them.
- These are reading skills in miniature — the next three chapters scale them up to full passages.