๐Ÿ“„ Text Grammar (ๆ–‡็ซ ใฎๆ–‡ๆณ•)

Master Grammar in Context and Discourse

Understanding Text Grammar

Text grammar questions test your ability to understand how sentences connect within a larger context. At the N2 level, you need to master discourse markers, conjunctions, and coherence devices that create logical flow in paragraphs and longer texts.

๐Ÿ”— Discourse Connectors (ๆŽฅ็ถš่ฉž)

1. Adding Information (ๆƒ…ๅ ฑ่ฟฝๅŠ )

ใ•ใ‚‰ใซ (sarani) - furthermore, moreover
Example:
ใ“ใฎ่ฃฝๅ“ใฏๅฎ‰ใ„ใ€‚ใ•ใ‚‰ใซใ€ๅ“่ณชใ‚‚่‰ฏใ„ใ€‚
This product is cheap. Furthermore, the quality is good.

ใใฎไธŠ (sonoue) - on top of that, moreover
Example:
ๅฝผใฏ้ ญใŒใ„ใ„ใ€‚ใใฎไธŠใ€ใ‚นใƒใƒผใƒ„ใ‚‚ๅพ—ๆ„ใ ใ€‚
He's smart. On top of that, he's good at sports.

ใใ‚Œใซ (soreni) - besides, moreover
Example:
ไปŠๆ—ฅใฏ็–ฒใ‚ŒใŸใ€‚ใใ‚Œใซใ€ๆ˜Žๆ—ฅใ‚‚ๆ—ฉใ„ใ€‚
I'm tired today. Besides, I have to get up early tomorrow.

ๅŠ ใˆใฆ (kuwaete) - in addition, moreover (formal)
Example:
็ตŒๆธˆใŒๆˆ้•ทใ—ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚ๅŠ ใˆใฆใ€ๅคฑๆฅญ็އใ‚‚ไธ‹ใŒใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚
The economy is growing. In addition, unemployment is decreasing.

2. Contrasting (ๅฏพๆฏ”)

ใ—ใ‹ใ— (shikashi) - however, but
Example:
ๅ‹‰ๅผทใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ—ใ‹ใ—ใ€่ฉฆ้จ“ใซ่ฝใกใŸใ€‚
I studied. However, I failed the exam.

ใจใ“ใ‚ใŒ (tokoroga) - however, but (unexpected result)
Example:
้›จใŒ้™ใ‚‹ใจๆ€ใฃใŸใ€‚ใจใ“ใ‚ใŒใ€ๆ™ดใ‚ŒใŸใ€‚
I thought it would rain. However, it was sunny.

ใใ‚Œใซๅฏพใ—ใฆ (sore ni taishite) - in contrast to that
Example:
ๅŽปๅนดใฏๆš‘ใ‹ใฃใŸใ€‚ใใ‚Œใซๅฏพใ—ใฆไปŠๅนดใฏๆถผใ—ใ„ใ€‚
Last year was hot. In contrast, this year is cool.

ไธ€ๆ–น (ippou) - on the other hand
Example:
้ƒฝไผšใฏไพฟๅˆฉใ ใ€‚ไธ€ๆ–นใ€็”ฐ่ˆŽใฏ้™ใ‹ใ ใ€‚
Cities are convenient. On the other hand, the countryside is quiet.

3. Cause and Effect (ๅ› ๆžœ้–ขไฟ‚)

ใ ใ‹ใ‚‰ (dakara) - therefore, so
Example:
้›จใŒ้™ใฃใŸใ€‚ใ ใ‹ใ‚‰ใ€่ฉฆๅˆใฏไธญๆญขใซใชใฃใŸใ€‚
It rained. Therefore, the game was cancelled.

ใใฎใŸใ‚ (sonotame) - for that reason, therefore
Example:
ไบค้€šไบ‹ๆ•…ใŒใ‚ใฃใŸใ€‚ใใฎใŸใ‚ใ€้“ใŒๆททใ‚“ใงใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚
There was an accident. For that reason, the roads are congested.

ใ—ใŸใŒใฃใฆ (shitagatte) - consequently, therefore (formal)
Example:
ๅฃฒไธŠใŒๆธ›ๅฐ‘ใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ—ใŸใŒใฃใฆใ€็ตŒ่ฒปใ‚’ๅ‰Šๆธ›ใ™ใ‚‹ใ€‚
Sales decreased. Consequently, we'll cut expenses.

ใใฎ็ตๆžœ (sonokekka) - as a result
Example:
ๆฏŽๆ—ฅ็ทด็ฟ’ใ—ใŸใ€‚ใใฎ็ตๆžœใ€ไธŠๆ‰‹ใซใชใฃใŸใ€‚
I practiced every day. As a result, I became skilled.

4. Explanation and Restatement (่ชฌๆ˜Žใƒป่จ€ใ„ๆ›ใˆ)

ใคใพใ‚Š (tsumari) - in other words, that is
Example:
ๅฝผใฏๆฅใชใ„ใ€‚ใคใพใ‚Šใ€ไธ€ไบบใง่กŒใใ—ใ‹ใชใ„ใ€‚
He's not coming. In other words, I have to go alone.

ใ™ใชใ‚ใก (sunawachi) - namely, that is to say (formal)
Example:
ๆ˜Žๆ—ฅใฏ็ฅๆ—ฅใ ใ€‚ใ™ใชใ‚ใกใ€ไผš็คพใฏไผ‘ใฟใ ใ€‚
Tomorrow is a holiday. That is to say, the company is closed.

่ฆใ™ใ‚‹ใซ (yousuruni) - in short, to sum up
Example:
้•ทใ่ฉฑใ—ใŸใŒใ€่ฆใ™ใ‚‹ใซๅๅฏพใ ใจใ„ใ†ใ“ใจใ ใ€‚
He talked for a long time, but in short, he's against it.

่จ€ใ„ๆ›ใˆใ‚‹ใจ (ikaeruto) - to put it another way
Example:
ๅฝผใฏๅคฉๆ‰ใ ใ€‚่จ€ใ„ๆ›ใˆใ‚‹ใจใ€ๆ™ฎ้€šใ˜ใ‚ƒใชใ„ใ€‚
He's a genius. To put it another way, he's not ordinary.

5. Example and Illustration (ไพ‹็คบ)

ไพ‹ใˆใฐ (tatoeba) - for example
Example:
ๆžœ็‰ฉใŒๅฅฝใใ ใ€‚ไพ‹ใˆใฐใ€ใ‚Šใ‚“ใ”ใ‚„ใƒใƒŠใƒŠใชใฉใ€‚
I like fruit. For example, apples and bananas.

ๅ…ทไฝ“็š„ใซใฏ (gutaitekiniwa) - specifically, concretely
Example:
ๅ•้กŒใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ€‚ๅ…ทไฝ“็š„ใซใฏใ€ไบˆ็ฎ—ใŒ่ถณใ‚Šใชใ„ใ€‚
There's a problem. Specifically, we don't have enough budget.

็‰นใซ (tokuni) - especially, particularly
Example:
ใ‚นใƒใƒผใƒ„ใŒๅฅฝใใ ใ€‚็‰นใซใ‚ตใƒƒใ‚ซใƒผใŒๅฅฝใใ ใ€‚
I like sports. Especially soccer.

6. Conclusion (็ต่ซ–)

็ตๅฑ€ (kekkyoku) - in the end, after all
Example:
่‰ฒใ€…่€ƒใˆใŸใ€‚็ตๅฑ€ใ€่กŒใ‹ใชใ„ใ“ใจใซใ—ใŸใ€‚
I thought about various things. In the end, I decided not to go.

ๆœ€็ต‚็š„ใซ (saishuutekini) - finally, ultimately
Example:
่ญฐ่ซ–ใ—ใŸใ€‚ๆœ€็ต‚็š„ใซใ€ๅฝผใฎๆกˆใŒๆŽก็”จใ•ใ‚ŒใŸใ€‚
We discussed. Finally, his proposal was adopted.

ใ“ใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใซ (konoyouni) - in this way, thus
Example:
ๅŠชๅŠ›ใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ“ใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใซใ€ๆˆๅŠŸใงใใŸใ€‚
I worked hard. In this way, I was able to succeed.

๐Ÿ“ Coherence Devices

Reference Words (ๆŒ‡็คบ่ชž)

ใ“ใ‚Œ/ใใ‚Œ/ใ‚ใ‚Œ - this/that/that (over there)
ใ“ใฎ/ใใฎ/ใ‚ใฎ + noun - this/that/that + noun
ใ“ใ†/ใใ†/ใ‚ใ‚ - like this/like that/like that
ใ“ใ“/ใใ“/ใ‚ใใ“ - here/there/over there

Example in context:
ๆ˜จๆ—ฅใ€ๆ–ฐใ—ใ„ใƒฌใ‚นใƒˆใƒฉใƒณใซ่กŒใฃใŸใ€‚ใใ“ใฏ้›ฐๅ›ฒๆฐ—ใŒ่‰ฏใ‹ใฃใŸใ€‚
ๆ–™็†ใ‚‚็พŽๅ‘ณใ—ใ‹ใฃใŸใ€‚ใพใŸใ€ใใ“ใซ่กŒใใŸใ„ใ€‚

I went to a new restaurant yesterday. The atmosphere there was good.
The food was also delicious. I want to go there again.

ใใ“ refers back to the restaurant mentioned earlier.

Topic Markers

ใ€œใซใคใ„ใฆใฏ (ni tsuite wa) - regarding, about
Example:
็’ฐๅขƒๅ•้กŒใซใคใ„ใฆใฏใ€ๆง˜ใ€…ใชๆ„่ฆ‹ใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ€‚
Regarding environmental issues, there are various opinions.

ใ€œใซ้–ขใ—ใฆใฏ (ni kanshite wa) - concerning
Example:
ใ“ใฎไปถใซ้–ขใ—ใฆใฏใ€ๅพŒใง่ฉฑใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚
Concerning this matter, I'll talk about it later.

ใ€œใจใ„ใˆใฐ (to ieba) - speaking of, when it comes to
Example:
ๆ—ฅๆœฌใจใ„ใˆใฐใ€ๅฏŒๅฃซๅฑฑใŒๆœ‰ๅใ ใ€‚
Speaking of Japan, Mt. Fuji is famous.

Perspective Markers

ใ€œใซใ‚ˆใ‚‹ใจ (ni yoruto) - according to
Example:
ๅคฉๆฐ—ไบˆๅ ฑใซใ‚ˆใ‚‹ใจใ€ๆ˜Žๆ—ฅใฏ้›จใ ใใ†ใ ใ€‚
According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.

ใ€œใ‹ใ‚‰่ฆ‹ใ‚‹ใจ (kara miru to) - from the perspective of
Example:
่ฆชใ‹ใ‚‰่ฆ‹ใ‚‹ใจใ€ๅญไพ›ใฏใ„ใคใพใงใ‚‚ๅญไพ›ใ ใ€‚
From a parent's perspective, children are always children.

ใ€œใซใจใฃใฆ (ni totte) - for, to
Example:
ๅญฆ็”Ÿใซใจใฃใฆใ€ๅคไผ‘ใฟใฏๆฅฝใ—ใฟใ ใ€‚
For students, summer vacation is something to look forward to.

๐Ÿ’ก Text Completion Practice

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Connector

ๅฝผใฏ็œŸ้ข็›ฎใ ใ€‚___ใ€้…ๅˆปใ™ใ‚‹ใ“ใจใ‚‚ใ‚ใ‚‹ใ€‚
A. ใ ใ‹ใ‚‰ B. ใ—ใ‹ใ— C. ใ•ใ‚‰ใซ D. ใคใพใ‚Š
Answer: B. ใ—ใ‹ใ— (however)
He's serious. However, he sometimes arrives late.
Contrasting two statements about the same person.
ไบค้€šไบ‹ๆ•…ใŒใ‚ใฃใŸใ€‚___ใ€้“ใŒๆททใ‚“ใงใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚
A. ใ—ใ‹ใ— B. ใจใ“ใ‚ใŒ C. ใใฎใŸใ‚ D. ใใ‚Œใซ
Answer: C. ใใฎใŸใ‚ (for that reason)
There was an accident. For that reason, the roads are congested.
Shows cause and effect relationship.
ใ“ใฎ่ฃฝๅ“ใฏๅฎ‰ใ„ใ€‚___ใ€ไฝฟใ„ใ‚„ใ™ใ„ใ€‚
A. ใ—ใ‹ใ— B. ใจใ“ใ‚ใŒ C. ใ•ใ‚‰ใซ D. ใคใพใ‚Š
Answer: C. ใ•ใ‚‰ใซ (furthermore)
This product is cheap. Furthermore, it's easy to use.
Adding positive information.

Exercise 2: Complete the Passage

ๆ—ฅๆœฌใฎไบบๅฃใฏๆธ›ๅฐ‘ใ—ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚(1)___ใ€้ซ˜้ฝขๅŒ–ใ‚‚้€ฒใ‚“ใงใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚
(2)___ใ€ๅŠดๅƒๅŠ›ไธ่ถณใŒๆทฑๅˆปใชๅ•้กŒใซใชใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚
(3)___ใ€ๅค–ๅ›ฝไบบๅŠดๅƒ่€…ใ‚’ๅ—ใ‘ๅ…ฅใ‚Œใ‚‹ๅฟ…่ฆใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ€‚

Options for (1): A. ใ•ใ‚‰ใซ B. ใ—ใ‹ใ— C. ใคใพใ‚Š
Options for (2): A. ใจใ“ใ‚ใŒ B. ใใฎ็ตๆžœ C. ไธ€ๆ–น
Options for (3): A. ใจใ“ใ‚ใŒ B. ใ—ใŸใŒใฃใฆ C. ไพ‹ใˆใฐ

Answers:
(1) A. ใ•ใ‚‰ใซ - adding information
(2) B. ใใฎ็ตๆžœ - showing result
(3) B. ใ—ใŸใŒใฃใฆ - showing conclusion/solution

Translation:
Japan's population is declining. Furthermore, aging is also progressing.
As a result, labor shortage has become a serious problem.
Therefore, it's necessary to accept foreign workers.

Exercise 3: Fix the Flow

โŒ ๅฝผใฏๅ„ชใ—ใ„ใ€‚ใ ใ‹ใ‚‰ใ€ๆ™‚ใ€…ๅŽณใ—ใ„ใ€‚
โœ… ๅฝผใฏๅ„ชใ—ใ„ใ€‚ใ—ใ‹ใ—ใ€ๆ™‚ใ€…ๅŽณใ—ใ„ใ€‚
Incorrect: He's kind. Therefore, he's sometimes strict.
Correct: He's kind. However, he's sometimes strict.
Use contrast connector for opposite characteristics.

๐Ÿ“– Reading Passage Analysis

่ฟ‘ๅนดใ€ๅœฐ็ƒๆธฉๆš–ๅŒ–ใŒๆทฑๅˆปใชๅ•้กŒใจใชใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚(1)็‰นใซใ€
ๅŒ—ๆฅตใฎๆฐทใŒๆบถใ‘ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ“ใจใŒๆ‡ธๅฟตใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚(2)ใใฎ็ตๆžœใ€
ๆตท้ขใŒไธŠๆ˜‡ใ—ใ€ไฝŽใ„ๅœŸๅœฐใŒๆฐดๆฒกใ™ใ‚‹ๅฑ้™บๆ€งใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ€‚(3)ใ—ใŸใŒใฃใฆใ€
ไบŒ้…ธๅŒ–็‚ญ็ด ใฎๆŽ’ๅ‡บใ‚’ๆธ›ใ‚‰ใ™ๅฟ…่ฆใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ€‚(4)ใ—ใ‹ใ—ใ€็ตŒๆธˆ็™บๅฑ•
ใ‚’ๆญขใ‚ใ‚‹ใ“ใจใฏใงใใชใ„ใ€‚(5)ใคใพใ‚Šใ€็’ฐๅขƒไฟ่ญทใจ็ตŒๆธˆ็™บๅฑ•ใฎ
ไธก็ซ‹ใŒๆฑ‚ใ‚ใ‚‰ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใฎใ ใ€‚

Analysis:
(1) ็‰นใซ - specifying a particular aspect
(2) ใใฎ็ตๆžœ - showing the result/consequence
(3) ใ—ใŸใŒใฃใฆ - concluding the solution needed
(4) ใ—ใ‹ใ— - introducing a contrasting challenge
(5) ใคใพใ‚Š - restating/summarizing the main issue

Translation:
In recent years, global warming has become a serious problem.
Especially, the melting of Arctic ice is a concern. As a result,
sea levels are rising and there's a danger of low-lying areas 
being submerged. Therefore, it's necessary to reduce CO2 emissions.
However, we cannot stop economic development. In other words,
achieving both environmental protection and economic development
is required.

๐ŸŽฏ Key Takeaways